Except Nagumo's orders put reducing Midway #1, not sinking any U.S. CVs, expected or not. And the fact is, it didn't matter, because Nagumo was screwed once Fletcher (or Spruance, in the event) did launch. I maintain the only chance Nagumo had was to hit first.
Carriers first, Midway second.
Neither Akagi nor Kaga were sinking from their damage at 1030 if Nagumo doesn't have armed aircraft packed on them. Soryu probably doesn't either. On the other side, if Nagumo had done his job, two US carriers are hors de combat and the third has to run. Game over.
I won't disagree, but Yamamoto needed to look in a mirror, too: he should never have been afloat, & his BBs should not have been so damn far back their CCs couldn't provide aid to Nagumo. If it had been up to me (& this is contrary to IJN practise, AIUI), Yamato and the Mogamis would have led the attack, shelling Midway to destruction, acting as bait for Midway & Fletcher.
Yes.
No option to reach Midway after attacking? That I didn't know.(And unable to support any attack should have crossed my mind.
)
Specifically, Midway had suffered damage to its fuelling system and had to fuel by hand. At the point of attack on the Japanese fleet, US aircraft could have flown to Midway instead of flying back to the ship. But, if they returned to the US carriers to find them damaged, then they could not turn around and reach Midway.
IDK if I'd call it a defeat, if Midway didn't fall (& it wouldn't). IJN couldn't replace her losses whatever happened. That said, maybe I'm trying to hard to give Nimitz a win.![]()
Nimitz got the win, but it was hairier than he was expecting it to be, I think.
If it had been up to me, he would've been. Not a fan.
With a little more salt Fletcher could have kept carrier command. He needed a Spruance as his chief of staff sometimes. For example, at Midway, there was no substitute for planting his flag on the Hornet. Instead, he stays on a cruiser. That's not action of an alpha.