A Ruler may not order his soldiers to go to
the war only because to fulfill his narrow-minded intention; a Commander may
not go to the war only because he feels irritated.
(Sun Tzu)
(Sun Tzu)
.jpg)
In the historical record,
in the year 1588, the
Spanish King Philip II felt irritated to the conduct of Queen Elizabeth I, because this Queen of England as his main
competitor in trade, even granted the Noble Title to the pirate leaders who
frequently pirated the Spanish trading ship. Philip was very furious, and sent his 131 warships to conquer British.
The Spanish Fleet was
confronted by British with its fleet in smaller power, however applying the
strategy of " fleet in being "
and various tactics of attack, and
assisted by its fierce pirate ships. During
the ''ten -day battle'' at the Channel Strait, the Spanish Fleet was put into
jeopardy and disorganized. Some of its ships which tried to escape through the
North, was attacked by the storms in the North Sea, so many of them got sunk.
Spain was unequivocally defeated in this battle, although the amount of its
ships was much bigger in number.
The battle of
Midway, from June 4 until June 14, 1942,
was also the ''ten-day battle.'' On May 27, Admiral Yamamoto departed the
power of his fleet consisting of 131
warships, was also in furious and
irritating situation :
First, in the month of April 1942, America succeeded in carrying out the
bombardment from air to Japanese cities, including Tokyo, and this threatened
the safety of Caesar Hirohito and his family.
The second, the failure of Japan's maneuver to Port Moresby at the beginning of
May, 1942.
Yamamoto's fleet was
actually very big : '' 131 warships'' including 7 carriers, 11 battle ships, 10 cruiser, 60
destroyer, 16 submarines, and supporting ships. The US Fleet consisting of only
50 battle ships, including 3 carriers, 8 cruiser, 17 destroyer, 19 submarines,
and supporting ships.
The Japan's Fleet were under the command of Admiral Yamamoto, and the stricking task force under the command
of Vice Admiral Nagumo, with core power consisting four carriers
: Akagi,
Kaga, Soryu , and
Hiryu.
The US Fleet were under
the command of Admiral Nimitz , and the
stricking task force under the command of
Vice Admiral Fletcher, with core
power consisting of three carriers :
Enterprise, Hornet, and
Yorktown. These three US
carriers were under the command of Rear
Admiral Spruance.
Although Japan had
superiority in its number, the American had More Important Superiority, namely
information about the Enemy's power and Its maneuver plan. The other advantage
was that the Spruance's carrier had already been in the battle field awaiting
for the arrival of enemy in fresh condition and ready to face the combat. Admiral Nimitz gave command from Pearl
Harbor base, he prepared " a warm welcome " to greet Nagumo's
presence by the sudden maneuver.
Cunningly Spruance set up
position of his carriers in Northwest of Midway, away from the reach of
Japanese spying planes launched from their carriers. Meanwhile the spying by
airplane from their carriers was continuously carried out, assisted by the plane
spying from Midway base.
The first day of battle
in Midway, on June 4, 1942, was really a ''Decisive Battle'', and the
position of Yamamoto who was on board of Yamato battle ship was far enough from
the position of his core power of task force, that becoming the " sitting
duck target " of the American air raid. On the second day, on June 5, 1942, four
Japanese carriers : Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu, had already gone from the sea
surface and got sunk into the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Yamamoto's plan
completely failed, and he had no other choice other than ordering his ships to
flee away from Midway, though in disorganized condition.
