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24 Januari 2013

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF







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)




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. 

















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