Nimitz is overruled by King in Washington and TF16 (Enterprise and Hornet) stays in the South Pacific. Midway is reinforced but the US fleet does not sortie.
The IJN executes their plan. Kido Butai strikes Midway repeatedly, whittling down its air power and damaging facilities. CruDiv7 conducts a spectacular but largely ineffective bombardment. Japanese troops approach the reef in landing craft and the US Marines open up with every weapon they possess. The Japanese fight bravely, but few even reach the islands as they are killed almost to the last man (see Shattered Sword for the analysis).
Meanwhile, Nimitz, knowing the Midway operation will draw the enemy carriers, sends TF16 on a daring raid of Truk. The US strike force finds the base poorly defended and inflicts significant losses on Japanese shipping. TF16 hits and runs, evading Japanese bombers as it returns to New Caledonia.
Yamamoto, having lost his landing force, possessing no reserve troops, and with an enemy in his rear, withdraws his largely intact fleet, leaving Midway in American hands.
What happens next? Does the US land in the Solomons in August? Does Japan attempt further offensives? Are the future carrier battles in the South or Central Pacific?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The IJN executes their plan. Kido Butai strikes Midway repeatedly, whittling down its air power and damaging facilities. CruDiv7 conducts a spectacular but largely ineffective bombardment. Japanese troops approach the reef in landing craft and the US Marines open up with every weapon they possess. The Japanese fight bravely, but few even reach the islands as they are killed almost to the last man (see Shattered Sword for the analysis).
Meanwhile, Nimitz, knowing the Midway operation will draw the enemy carriers, sends TF16 on a daring raid of Truk. The US strike force finds the base poorly defended and inflicts significant losses on Japanese shipping. TF16 hits and runs, evading Japanese bombers as it returns to New Caledonia.
Yamamoto, having lost his landing force, possessing no reserve troops, and with an enemy in his rear, withdraws his largely intact fleet, leaving Midway in American hands.
What happens next? Does the US land in the Solomons in August? Does Japan attempt further offensives? Are the future carrier battles in the South or Central Pacific?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
statistics: Posted by TruculentTurtle — 3:22 AM - Today — Replies 4 — Views 107