Battle Of Midway Essay

The Battle of Midway revealed that the U.S Navy and more importantly their leader, Admiral Chester Nimitz, was capable of strategizing. After breaking Japan’s code, America had gathered enough information to figure out a game plan before Japan reached Midway. Admiral Nimitz’s plan was to fight and defend Midway, but to ultimately ruin Japan’s naval fleet and leave them with nothing. Compared to Admiral Yamamoto’s plan, Nimitz’s seemed very plain and simple. Instead of concentrating on such elaborate operations like his enemies, Nimitz planned to attack the enemy with one goal: sink the Japanese aircraft carriers. According to Jonathan Parshall, author of the Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of Midway, said that “Admiral Chester Nimitz, was determined to fight, not from desperation, but in a coolly calculated bid …show more content…
Nimitz had prepared his troops and guided them with clear instructions. Even though there was no elaborate, concrete plan, his tasks were clear to his forces and “there was no doubt about what they were supposed to do, how they were supposed to do it, and what level of risk was acceptable.” (history.navy.mil). Nimitz’s operation at Midway is an example of macro-management. In contrast, Japan didn’t have a clear goal. They had other obstacles to deal with before they could attack full force on their target. On the other hand, Nimitz had a better, clearer vision of what he needed to, which was destroying Kido Butai, and he expressed this vision to his team. He gave out orders and left it in the hands of his commanders to carry out and fight with his vision in mind. The U.S Navy displayed even the simplest of strategies with the right execution, can be enough to gain victory. A good strategy is worthless if you don’t have the people to execute it and thoroughly understand what to do. Admiral Chester Nimitz had great knowledge of the enemy’s plans from