Midway From The Japanese Perspective

Summary

On June 4th, 1942, Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi commands the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryū during a critical battle in the Pacific. Amid intense air raids, the Japanese carriers fend off relentless American attacks, but suffer devastating losses, including the Akagi, Kaga, and Sōryū. Despite a determined counterattack that damages the USS Yorktown, the Hiryū is ultimately overwhelmed by dive bombers. Admiral Yamaguchi and Captain Kaku remain with their doomed ship, which sinks after a heroic but futile defense. This dramatic account is part of a sponsored promotion for the game World of Warships.

Takeaways

• 🗓️ The script is set on June 4th, 1942, during the pivotal Battle of Midway in World War II.
• 🛥️ Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi commands two aircraft carriers, the Hiryū and the Sōryū, part of the elite Japanese task force, Kidō Butai.
• 🔥 A Japanese force of 108 planes was launched to attack the strategically important Midway Atoll, which houses a vital US military base.
• ✈️ The Hiryū and other carriers are initially successful in defending against American attacks, with Zero fighters intercepting and downing many American aircraft.
• 💣 The Japanese carriers are vulnerable during the rearming process, which leaves them ill-prepared to face an immediate counterattack.
• 🚨 News of an unidentified naval presence heightens the tension and urgency for the Japanese forces.
• 🔄 The Kidō Butai is forced to juggle between strategies, wasting precious time and leaving them exposed.
• 🎯 The American Naval Air Force locates the Japanese fleet and launches a devastating attack, targeting the carriers with precision.
• 💥 The carriers Kaga, Sōryū, and Akagi suffer catastrophic damage from American dive bombers, effectively neutralizing them.
• 🏴‍☠️ Yamaguchi, with the Hiryū, becomes the last hope for a Japanese counterstrike against the American forces.
• ⚔️ Despite heavy losses, Yamaguchi's remaining forces manage to hit the American carrier USS Yorktown, causing significant damage.
• 🌅 In a tragic turn, the Hiryū is eventually sunk by American dive bombers, and Yamaguchi goes down with his ship, posthumously honored for his bravery.

Q & A

What is the significance of June 4th, 1942, in the context of the script?

June 4th, 1942, marks the beginning of the Battle of Midway, a crucial encounter between the Japanese and American naval forces during World War II.

Who is Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi and what is his role in the script?

Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi is the commander of the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryū and is in command of both the Hiryū and Sōryū carriers during the Battle of Midway.

What is the Kidō Butai, and which ships are part of this task force?

The Kidō Butai is an elite Japanese carrier task force consisting of four aircraft carriers: Hiryū, Sōryū, Akagi, and Kaga.

What was the objective of the Japanese force on the morning of June 4th, 1942?

The objective was to launch an attack on Midway atoll, a vital US military base, with a force of 108 planes.

What challenges did Admiral Yamaguchi face after the initial attack on Midway?

Yamaguchi faced American air attacks from Midway, difficulties in rearming planes, and a vulnerable position due to hangars filled with explosives, which made the Kidō Butai susceptible to bombing attacks.

How did the Japanese forces initially respond to American torpedo bombers?

Japanese Zero fighters intercepted the American torpedo bombers, shooting down many of them, though some American planes managed to launch their torpedoes.

What happened to the Japanese carriers Kaga, Sōryū, and Akagi during the battle?

Kaga was hit by a series of catastrophic explosions, Sōryū was bombed, and Akagi suffered from a bomb that penetrated its flight deck, causing devastating secondary explosions.

Describe the final attack led by Lieutenant Michio Kobayashi.

Lieutenant Michio Kobayashi led 24 aircraft to attack the American fleet. Despite heavy losses and an American Wildcat fighter counterattack, his bombers managed to score three direct hits on the USS Yorktown.

What was the outcome of Lieutenant Jōichi Tomonaga's mission?

Lieutenant Jōichi Tomonaga led a one-way mission with his damaged plane, managing to release his torpedo before being shot down. His torpedo missed, but a subsequent force managed to hit and disable the Yorktown.

What ultimately happened to the Hiryū and Admiral Yamaguchi?

The Hiryū was heavily bombed and set ablaze by American dive bombers. Admiral Yamaguchi remained aboard and went down with the ship, which was eventually sunk by a Japanese destroyer.

Outlines

00:00

⏰ The Dawn of Battle on June 4th, 1942

At 7 am on June 4th, 1942, Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi paces on the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryū. Commanding the Hiryū and Sōryū, part of the elite Kidō Butai task force, he oversees an attack on the US military base at Midway. Despite initial successes, the Japanese carriers come under attack from American aircraft. The Japanese pilots, particularly in their Zeros, fiercely defend the fleet, but the intense combat leads to rearming and strategic dilemmas. Yamaguchi is torn between conflicting strategies as American forces relentlessly pursue. Amidst anti-aircraft fire and aerial dogfights, Yamaguchi watches with growing frustration as the battle rages on.

05:03

🎮 Sponsor Segment: World of Warships

A transition to a sponsorship segment introduces 'World of Warships,' a free-to-play game featuring over 600 historically accurate ships. The game offers stunning water effects, new monthly content, and a passionate community. Players can use the code YARNHUB for a starter pack with various in-game bonuses. Back in the historical narrative, Captain Kaku maneuvers the Hiryū to evade torpedoes, but the Kidō Butai loses formation. Despite avoiding immediate hits, Yamaguchi remains cautious, aware of the ongoing threat. The narrative returns to the battle, with American SBD Dauntless bombers launching devastating attacks on the Japanese carriers, inflicting significant damage.

10:04

⚔️ The Japanese Counterattack and Losses

The Japanese launch a counterattack on the USS Yorktown. Lieutenant Michio Kobayashi leads the dive-bombers, but they suffer heavy losses due to American Wildcats. Despite this, the remaining bombers inflict serious damage on the Yorktown. The Hiryū's dive-bomber unit is decimated, but the attack weakens the American fleet. Yamaguchi plans a third strike, now aware he's facing three American carriers. Lieutenant Jōichi Tomonaga, on a one-way mission due to his damaged plane, launches a desperate torpedo attack. Despite some initial failures, his force eventually cripples the Yorktown. However, the Japanese realize the scale of the remaining American threat.

15:06

🛡️ The Final Assault and Hiryū's Demise

Yamaguchi's fears are realized when American aircraft strike again. Despite initial evasive maneuvers, Hiryū is heavily bombed, resulting in uncontrollable fires. As night falls, Yamaguchi and the crew face their fate. The crew gathers for a final Banzai salute, and the ship is scuttled to prevent capture. Yamaguchi's messages to Admiral Nagumo and Captain Toshio Abe highlight the dire situation. The Hiryū sinks at 9:12 am, with Yamaguchi and Captain Kaku choosing to go down with the ship. They are posthumously honored for their bravery. The video closes with a reminder to check out 'World of Warships,' linking back to the sponsor segment.

Keywords

💡Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi

Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi was a key Japanese naval commander during the Battle of Midway, responsible for leading the aircraft carriers Hiryū and Sōryū. His actions and decisions were crucial during the battle, and his ultimate fate aboard the sinking Hiryū highlights the themes of duty and sacrifice central to the video.

💡Kidō Butai

The Kidō Butai was an elite task force of the Japanese Navy consisting of the aircraft carriers Akagi, Kaga, Hiryū, and Sōryū. This group's significant role in the Pacific Theater, particularly at Midway, emphasizes the strategic importance of naval aviation in World War II. The video's narrative centers around the operations and eventual downfall of the Kidō Butai.

💡Midway Atoll

Midway Atoll was a crucial U.S. military base targeted by the Japanese in the Battle of Midway. The Japanese attack on Midway was a key part of their strategy to gain control over the Pacific. The script details the initial Japanese air assault on Midway and the subsequent counterattacks by American forces.

💡Zeros

Zeros were Japanese fighter aircraft known for their agility and effectiveness in dogfights. In the video, Zeros are depicted intercepting American aircraft, showcasing their role in defending the Japanese carriers during the battle. Their prowess in combat underscores the technological and tactical aspects of the Pacific War.

💡Dauntless bombers

Dauntless bombers were American dive bombers instrumental in the Battle of Midway. The script describes how nearly 50 Dauntlesses attacked the Japanese carriers, resulting in significant damage and shifting the battle's tide. Their effectiveness highlights the importance of air power in naval warfare.

💡Torpedo attack

Torpedo attacks were a critical tactic used by both Japanese and American forces during the battle. The script narrates several torpedo runs, detailing the precision and risks involved. These attacks demonstrate the lethal nature of naval engagements and the bravery of the pilots.

💡Admiral Nagumo

Admiral Nagumo was the overall commander of the Japanese carrier strike force. His strategic decisions, particularly the hesitation and delay in launching attacks, are central to the video's narrative. The script highlights his role and the impact of his decisions on the battle's outcome.

💡USS Yorktown

The USS Yorktown was an American aircraft carrier heavily involved in the Battle of Midway. The video describes how Yorktown was attacked and damaged by Japanese forces, illustrating the fierce back-and-forth nature of the battle. Its resilience and eventual sinking reflect the intense struggle of the Pacific Theater.

💡Dive-bombers

Dive-bombers were aircraft designed to dive directly at their targets to deliver bombs with high accuracy. The script details several dive-bomber attacks, particularly by the American Dauntless bombers, emphasizing their destructive capability and their role in crippling the Japanese fleet.

💡Order of the Golden Kite

The Order of the Golden Kite was a prestigious Japanese military award. Admiral Yamaguchi and Captain Kaku were posthumously honored with this award for their bravery and sacrifice during the Battle of Midway. This underscores the video's themes of honor and valor in wartime.

Highlights

Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi commands two aircraft carriers, the Hiryū and the Sōryū, as part of the elite Kidō Butai task force.

108 Japanese planes launch an attack on the vital US military base at Midway Atoll.

The Hiryū comes under attack from American aircraft based at Midway, with Zeros intercepting the American torpedo bombers.

A second attack on Midway is planned, with sailors frantically rearming planes, leaving the Kidō Butai vulnerable.

Yamaguchi receives news of unidentified naval presence, causing immediate alarm and strategic dilemma.

American torpedo planes launch an attack on the Kidō Butai, with the Zeros engaging and shooting down many.

Despite the defense, American torpedoes are launched, narrowly missing the Hiryū and other carriers.

Nearly 50 US Navy SBD Dauntless bombers appear, catching the Japanese by surprise with their dive bombing.

The Kaga is hit by multiple bombs, causing catastrophic explosions and its eventual sinking.

The Sōryū and Akagi are also hit by bombs, with devastating secondary explosions on the Akagi.

Yamaguchi, with the Hiryū, is left as the last strike capability of the Kidō Butai, launching a counterattack led by Lieutenant Michio Kobayashi.

The counterattack on the American fleet results in the USS Yorktown being hit by three bombs, causing significant damage.

Lieutenant Jōichi Tomonaga leads a one-way mission in a damaged plane against the American carriers.

Despite heavy losses, Tomonaga's attack results in the Yorktown being hit by two torpedoes, causing it to halt and list.

Yamaguchi plans a third strike, but learns of two additional American carriers, complicating the situation.

The Hiryū is attacked by American aircraft, sustaining multiple bomb hits and uncontrollable fires.

Admiral Yamaguchi and Captain Kaku decide to go down with the Hiryū, with Yamaguchi posthumously awarded the Order of the Golden Kite, 1st class.

World of Warships is featured as the sponsor of the video, offering a free-to-play naval warfare game experience.

Transcripts

It's 7 am in the morning on June 4th, 1942.

In the midst of the Pacific Ocean, Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi

paces the bridge of the immense Japanese aircraft carrier, the Hiryū.

Today he bears the great honor of commanding two aircraft carriers, the Hiryū and the Sōryū.

Alongside two other carriers, the Akagi and Kaga,

the four ships make up an elite task force known as the Kidō Butai.

It’s a crucial day for both Yamaguchi and the Japanese Navy:

just two hours ago, a Japanese force of 108 planes was launched to attack Midway atoll,

a vital US military base in an ambitious operation.

Yamaguchi’s restless steps are halted by the captain of the Hiryū

Tomeo Kaku with the urgent message from their superior and head of the operation,

Admiral Nagumo.

The alarm is raised aboard the Hiryū.

The Hiryū comes under attack from American aircraft flying from the still operational Midway base.

They're spotted and Zeros come in quickly to intercept the Americans.

They savagely cut through the American torpedo bombers

who lack fighter escorts to keep them safe.

Some American aircraft still manage to launch attacks.

But the gods are with the Japanese.

They narrowly miss the Hiryū and the others in the Kidō Butai.

There is to be a second attack on Midway Islands.

The sailors frantically begin to rearm the planes.

Half an hour into rearming, they barely manage to switch bombs on just half of the planes,

leaving the Kidō Butai unfit to attack enemy ships.

And with the Japanese hangars filled with explosives they are especially vulnerable to bombing attacks.

That’s exactly when Yamaguchi receives the news that confirms his worst fears.

Although they can’t tell specifically what types of vessels they are,

any naval presence is a threat and cause for immediate alarm.

An order comes from Nagumo.

Precious time has been wasted,

and now they're stuck between two strategies.

Meanwhile, planes from Midway keep coming.

The Japanese anti-aircraft guns fire towards the attackers.

The awesome stopping power of the Japanese defense does its grim work.

An American plane goes down, then another.

The Americans, though, are relentless,

and the Hiryū is showered in near misses.

Yamaguchi grows ever more impatient with Admiral Nagumo.

Why don’t the other carriers launch an attack while Hiryū deals with the bombers?

But there's no time to launch.

The Japanese planes that attacked Midway earlier on arrive and they need to land immediately.

For half an hour the Kidō Butai carries out the painstaking, time-consuming effort

of recovering all the returning planes.

All the while Yamaguchi can barely hold his composure.

The last plane screeches to a halt.

Swarms of American torpedo planes appear over the water,

heading straight for the Kidō Butai.

And these are different to the Army Air Force planes from before.

It's not just American surface ships they're up against,

it's aircraft carriers.

The American Naval Air Force has found them.

The Zeros that are in the air jump into action.

The Zeros dive down and swoop behind the slow and vulnerable American torpedo planes.

The skill of the Zero pilots is unquestionable.

They let loose their guns and American planes are shot down in scores.

Yamaguchi watches the distant splashes as American torpedo bombers go down.

But in the lead, there are still bombers flying.

They get closer and closer, and somehow through the maelstrom manage to launch their torpedoes.

The deadly payload streaks silently beneath the blue waves.

On board the Hiryū five streaks are spotted approaching the starboard side.

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Back on Hiryū Captain Kaku puts her into a hard turn.

The ship swings round.

Despite her size, Hiryū is nimble.

Incredibly, under the skill of the Japanese captains no Japanese ships are hit.

But with all the maneuvers made, Kidō Butai has broken formation.

There's a brief celebration and the men cheer.

But Yamaguchi frowns, knowing that despite their victory in fielding off the American torpedo attack,

it’s far from over.

At 10:22 am he glances to the sky.

What he sees nearly stops his heart.

Nearly 50 US Navy SBD Dauntless bombers from two different flights appear above.

The Japanese Zero fighters are all engaged down low,

seeing off the last of the enemy torpedo bombers.

There are none in place to stop the swarm of Dauntlesses preparing to dive from high above.

Yamaguchi’s stomach sinks as he watches the Americans slowly edge into their dives and descend upon the Kidō Butai.

Southwest, 30 bombers dive straight for the Kaga,

anti-aircraft fire snakes skywards as the Japanese put up a wall of lead.

But it's not enough.

On board the Kaga her hangar decks are strewn with bombs and torpedoes.

A series of catastrophic explosions rip the Kaga apart.

Yamaguchi sees the fireball

and feels a shockwave,

but doesn't even have time to register the cataclysmic blast from the Kaga

as he spins round to the East to see 17 Dauntlesses dive on the Sōryū.

Bombs are dropped.

There's an explosion.

Through the flaming sea Yamaguchi turns to look upon the Akagi,

the flagship of his superior, Admiral Nagumo,

to see just 3 Dauntlesses dive upon the Akagi.

They bear right down on her and drop their payloads.

One bomb is released.

Two.

Two bombs miss, but there's a third.

And it smashes into the middle of the flight deck,

penetrating into the lower decks and exploding.

Devastating secondary explosions soon follow.

All that remains of the Kidō Butai is Yamaguchi and his ship,

the Hiryū.

As a wave of dive bombers, now out of bombs,

are forced to disengage and head for home.

Yamaguchi is in command of the last strike capability of the Kidō Butai.

He is gripped by a sense of determination.

Yamaguchi allows himself a slight smile and nods to his second-in-command.

The 24 aircraft launch, led by Lieutenant Michio Kobayashi, commander of Hiryū’s dive-bombers.

En-route to the American carriers,

the formation encounter a group of US aircraft.

The Japanese fighter escort peels off to engage and gets left behind,

leaving the bombers unprotected.

At 11:55 Kobayashi sights the American fleet some 25 miles away.

He takes his 18 dive bombers into a climb to gain altitude.

The Japanese planes fly in two groups of nine,

one slightly above the other, ready to make their attack.

Just as 12 American Wildcat fighters rush onto the scene

The first group of Japanese bombers is blasted by 5 Wildcats,

the other seven Wildcats attack the second group of the Japanese head on.

Without the fighter escort, it soon becomes a massacre as Japanese planes rapidly fall from the sky.

By the time 4 Zero fighters from the escort catch up the damage has already been done.

Only 10 Vals remain, 2 of which jettisoned their bombs during the melee in order to maneuver.

A desperate Lieutenant Kobayashi spots an American carrier below.

It’s the USS Yorktown.

Despite the casualties, he’s determined and signals for them to begin the attack.

The eight armed aircraft break into two groups, ready to dive.

One group of three heads East,

and the other group of five circles to approach from out of the sun.

Anti-aircraft fire snakes up towards the Japanese as the ship’s gunners throw all they have at the attackers.

Bravery of the Japanese pilots is unquestionable,

and they push on.

Bombs are released.

Lieutenant Kobayashi is last seen in the middle of the action over the Yorktown as his Val is hit

and goes down.

Then two more suffer the same fate.

But 3 bombs in succession make direct hits on the Yorktown!

The first bomb penetrates the hangar deck.

The second lands just next to the island amidships.

The last hits the elevator and detonates deep within her hull.

The 5 remaining Vals turn for home.

By the end of the attack Hiryū's dive-bomber unit has been shattered:

13 out of 18 Vals have been shot down with three Zero fighters also lost.

Despite their losses, the attack has not been in vain.

From the reports from scout planes Yamaguchi is aware that he’s facing 3 American carriers

He calls on Lieutenant Jōichi Tomonaga, who originally led the morning strike on Midway.

Tomonaga’s own plane was damaged during the morning strike and has technically been deemed unserviceable.

The technicians of Hiryū patch it up as best as they can, but the fuel tanks are leaking heavily.

He climbs into his damaged plane solemnly,

knowing that this is destined to be a one-way mission.

An hour into the flight,

Tomonaga sights the US carrier task force some 35 miles away with one seemingly intact carrier,

Tomonaga has no idea that this is actually the previously damaged Yorktown.

He immediately orders an attack.

The Japanese enter a gentle dive from altitude.

Tomonaga splits his force into two groups of five.

Each group will sweep ahead of the target and conduct an anvil attack.

Tomonaga coaxes his plane nearer and nearer to the Yorktown, aching to score a hit.

But before he’s close enough, an American Wildcat intercepts from behind and opens fire.

Tomonaga’s Kate catches alight but with grim determination and skill,

he holds the burning plane level, long enough for him to drop his torpedo.

He’s shot down and tumbles into the water.

The last thing he sees is his torpedo trail.

His torpedo doesn’t hit.

Neither do the two other two launched by his four-wing section.

All of them are shot down by fighters or anti-aircraft fire.

The damaged Yorktown turns as quick as she can, but as she does,

the second force of five planes streak towards the port bow.

The release system of one of the torpedo planes fails and 4 torpedoes are launched.

They streak towards the desperately maneuvering ship...

Two devastating explosions rock the port side and the ship immediately comes to a halt

and takes a 23-degree list.

Their work is done,

the surviving planes return to Hiryū.

In spite of the heavy losses,

the debriefing of the surviving pilots gives Yamaguchi cause for encouragement.

Yamaguchi believes he has disabled a second American carrier,

and he plans a third strike for 6 pm.

But before he can launch his plan into action,

Yamaguchi's optimism is shattered.

At 3:50 in the afternoon, a Japanese scout aircraft radios that two other American carriers

are operating in another large task force located to the northwest, some 120 miles from the Hiryū.

Yamaguchi’s worst fears come true, just over an hour later at 5 pm,

24 American aircraft appear overhead.

6 Dauntless bombers dive on Hiryū,

but the ship turns sharply to port.

Japanese gunners unleash their guns

and all enemy planes fail to make a hit.

Soon 14 more dive bombers turn for Hiryū.

The Hiryū is straddled with spouts of white water as she violently turns,

two bombs hit her on the forward flight deck.

Yamaguchi looks up to see a final group of 3 begin their dives.

In a matter of seconds, two more bombs hit the forward flight deck of Hiryū creating a deep crater.

The fires now burn out of control and the last hope of Yamaguchi's strike lie blazing down in the hangars.

At 9:23 pm, the ship goes dead in the water but with Yamaguchi still aboard.

Darkness settles across the flaming ocean.

At 2:30 am, some 800 survivors gather around Yamaguchi in the flickering light of the flaming ship.

With that, the men turn to face Tokyo.

"Banzai, Banzai, Banzai!"

The national ensign is then lowered.

As the Rising Sun flutters down from the yardarm,

a flourish of bugles rings through the night, playing the national anthem, “Kimigayo.”

Yamaguchi asks for 2 messages to be conveyed, the first to Admiral Nagumo:

The second message goes to Captain Toshio Abe,

commanding Destroyer Division 10 on the nearby flagship Kazagumo.

Captain Kaku chose to share the fate of the ship despite Yamaguchi's order.

The admiral understood and did not protest.

At 5:10 am the destroyer Makigumo fires 2 torpedoes: one misses, the other explodes with a roar.

The carrier finally sinks at 9:12 am.

Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi went down with this ship

and was posthumously awarded the Order of the Golden Kite, 1st class.

Captain Kaku who stayed with him till the end was posthumously promoted to Rear Admiral.

Thanks again to World of Warships!

Check out the link in the description.