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What China is learning from the battle that changed the course of World War II in the Pacific
Business Insider ^ | 6/4/21 | Benjamin Brimelow

Posted on 06/04/2021 4:46:39 PM PDT by MAGA2017

On June 4, 1942, the US and Imperial Japanese navies faced off a few hundred miles from Midway Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean.

The US Navy learned many lessons from the battle that helped win the war. Even now, 79 years later, the battle is still studied extensively — including by China.

Today, however, a similar fight between the US and Chinese navies would likely play out much differently.

Longer-range weapons would increase the distance over which both sides' could operate. Anti-ship missiles in particular have raised the stakes for surface ships and added to the importance of airpower and submarines. Satellites have also made it harder for navies to hide.

Moreover, China would be in a much different position than Japan.

While Japan never recovered from losing four of its best fleet carriers, China has in recent years proved itself a highly capable shipbuilder, albeit in peacetime. (By the end of World War II, the US had built another 28 fleet carriers and 71 smaller escort carriers.)

With China's navy now the largest in the world and its relationship with the US tense, it makes sense for the Chinese to study one of history's greatest naval battles, even if times have changed.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Germany; Japan; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: battleofmidway; ccp; china; germany; japan; midway; midwayatoll; navy; pacific; usn; usnavy; war; worldwareleven; wwii
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To: GreyFriar

One of the best and simple breakdowns of the battle I’ve seen.

https://youtu.be/Bd8_vO5zrjo


21 posted on 06/04/2021 5:37:49 PM PDT by Bogey78O
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To: MAGA2017

Various US bomber and fighter groups harried the Japanese protective fighter cover over their carriers for several hours. Finally, the Japanese fighters had to be recovered while the Japanese staff debated over which bombs to arm their craft for their second strike. That’s when the US Navy dive bombers found and hit them: with scant opposition in the air and enemy carriers full of fueling aircraft laden with bombs on their top and middle decks. Three carriers were wrecked in a matter of minutes.


22 posted on 06/04/2021 5:42:44 PM PDT by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: No_Mas_Obama

Yes, the new “Midway” movie was quite good.


23 posted on 06/04/2021 5:43:05 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: Bonemaker

—”I think China’s ultimate goal is to “get even” with Japan.”

Is that possible?
The late Iris Chang did not seem to think so.


24 posted on 06/04/2021 5:43:11 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
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To: wny

—”The Chinese simply need to stand, watch and laugh as the US self-destructs”

“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

Napoleon Bonaparte


25 posted on 06/04/2021 5:46:43 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
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To: Leaning Right; ClearCase_guy

The battleship force was primarily to provide gunfire support to the Japanese Naval Infantry landing force.

And Yamamoto also was reluctant to put his battleships in action with the US Navy still having one or two carriers to the Japanese no carriers. Thus he learned the lesson of the sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, as well as the sinking of the US battleships at Pearl Harbor.


26 posted on 06/04/2021 5:49:42 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: BradyLS

There’s a picture of the battle where a Japanese ship is executing evasive maneuvers during an American bombing run. The curl of the wake as the ship artfully dodges the bombs speaks to the craftsmanship and skill of their sailors. I’m not surprised the Americans struggled to land hits at the start. But keeping their ships dancing in the water kept those planes on deck and played a major role in our victory.

A lot of things went right for America.


27 posted on 06/04/2021 5:51:06 PM PDT by Bogey78O
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To: MAGA2017

The Democrat and Republican leadership costs far less than one carrier.

China buys politicians.


28 posted on 06/04/2021 5:58:46 PM PDT by UnwashedPeasant (Trump is the last legally elected U.S. President.)
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To: Bogey78O

“the US kept all their abilities hidden from the Japanese”...

And now the Chinese make the parts and software, and provide workers, studenta, and reaearchers to be sure they miss nothing.


29 posted on 06/04/2021 6:04:33 PM PDT by epluribus_2 (He, had the best mom - ever.)
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To: dynachrome
"They learned that spreading the rot from within an enemy country is much easier than a pitched battle."

Yeah, we have been completely infiltrated, from top to bottom.. From sappy young pole dancers to old demented women AND men who worry far more about their pocketbook then they do their country or even their grandchildren... :(

30 posted on 06/04/2021 6:08:50 PM PDT by unread (Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities - Voltaire)
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To: MAGA2017

Have better intelligence gathering capabilities?


31 posted on 06/04/2021 6:09:06 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: MAGA2017

Never take on the world’s biggest industrial power (at the time). Might be a lesson for US to consider.


32 posted on 06/04/2021 6:09:43 PM PDT by ealgeone
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To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

The main lesson Japan learned (too late) was, don’t **** with the US.

Made in China: 37 Bridges collapsed in 5 years
YouTube | September 4, 2020 | China Observer
Posted on 6/4/2021, 7:04:27 PM by SunkenCiv
https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3965117/posts

sidebar:

Naval Heritage | Jonathan Parshall: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9rkKtK1b44


33 posted on 06/04/2021 6:10:53 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: MAGA2017

China is prime for a revolution from within.

They showed their hand in Hong Kong.


34 posted on 06/04/2021 6:11:41 PM PDT by tired&retired (Blessings )
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To: MAGA2017

I am not sure what lessons can be learned from Midway. There were elements of being over arrogant, certainly. The results of that battle, I think most historians would agree, was due far more to luck and sheer courage and definitely having Providence on your side, rather than any particular guidance that can be taught.


35 posted on 06/04/2021 6:21:20 PM PDT by Attention Surplus Disorder (Apoplectic is where we want them)
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To: Attention Surplus Disorder

If the Naval operations center that operated from Suitland, Md., and that I recall from the old days, is still in operation, the Chinese navy has no possibility of sucess.


36 posted on 06/04/2021 6:27:59 PM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: buckalfa

Targeting isn’t as simple as some here believe. Most missiles can’t differentiate between an aircraft carrier and a car carrier, and there are significantly more merchants on the seas than military ships. Try to track a DDG in a gaggle of fishing boats - they all have the same RCS.


37 posted on 06/04/2021 6:28:18 PM PDT by GreyHoundSailor
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To: No_Mas_Obama
I'll bet they could not help but rejoice that the sole survivor of the torpedo attack by VT-8 was Ensign George Gay.
38 posted on 06/04/2021 6:28:58 PM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: GreyHoundSailor

See #36 above. One of the great cartoon of World War II shows Willie and Joe looking at a tank and saying, “A moving foxhole attracts the eye.” Truth be told, aside from submarines and landing craft to deposit troops on shore, the Navy is an attenuated force—sitting ducks. That’s why it really doesn’t matter if most sailors are f-ups.


39 posted on 06/04/2021 6:33:21 PM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: SunkenCiv

Shattered Sword
The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully
Foreword by John B. Lundstrom
640 Pages

https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/potomac-books/9781574889239/

No major publishers interested.


40 posted on 06/04/2021 6:39:11 PM PDT by Western Phil
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