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Americans learned of the planned attack on Midway Island through intercepted Japanese communications. U.S. Navy cryptographers, particularly those working on breaking the Japanese naval code, deciphered messages indicating that Midway was the target of an impending assault. This intelligence allowed American forces to prepare and ultimately set a trap for the Japanese fleet, leading to a decisive victory at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

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How was the Japanese attack at Midway foiled?

The Japanese had planned a surprise attack on Midway. The surprise was foiled because the US had broken Japan's military code and the US was prepared for the attack.


Ask us anythingIn June 1942 decoded Japanese messages alerted the US to the Japanese attack on?

Decoded Japanese military radio messages let U.S. forces know that the Japanese Navy was planning a very large attack on Midway Island, along with a smaller attack on Wake Island.


Which island was not attacked on December 7 1941 by the Japanese?

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked several locations in the Pacific, including Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. However, the island of Midway was not attacked on that day. Midway was strategically important but was not targeted during the initial assault, as the Japanese focused on crippling the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor. The attack on Midway would come later, in June 1942, during the pivotal Battle of Midway.


Was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor a surprise attack?

The attack was not a surprise to the US. The Battle of Midway took place only six months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. We had already suffered a series of humiliating and tactically important defeats, but the Americans had at least partially broken the Japanese Naval Code and knew another attack was coming somewhere. We didn't know precisely where, though, until we noticed a code word, "AF," in the Japanese transmissions. We deduced that "AF" was Midway, but we couldn't be sure until we had the garrison at Midway send a radio message "in the clear" (uncoded) that they were having a problem with their fresh water distillery. No sooner had this radio message gone out than a coded message from the Japanese noted that "AF" was having trouble with its fresh water supply. This confirmed that "AF" was Midway, and we were able to begin planning for the big showdown. The opposing Japanese admiral, Yamamoto, wanted the Americans to come out and fight so that he could sink our remaining carriers. He decided to attack Midway (technically the westernmost island in the Hawaiian chain), a strategically important island because of its literal location midway across the Pacific. It was an important refueling stop for both ships and planes transiting the Pacific. To take it would give the Japanese a base farther to the east than any other, giving them a cushion against attack by the Americans, and Yamamoto also planned to trap the Americans into a battle which would cost them their remaining carriers. Yamamoto was looking for the "decisive battle" that was part of overall Japanese naval strategy. What he got was the "decisive battle," all right, except the Japanese were the losers, not us. Yamamoto divided his forces in the hope of luring the Americans into thinking that the attacking force was much smaller than it really was, but because we were reading the Japanese codes we practically knew Yamamoto's whole plan, a fact of which Yamamoto was completely ignorant. The upshot was that the surprise was on the Japanese, who lost four of their fleet carriers along with hundreds of irreplaceable veteran pilots. No one knew it at the time, but the Battle of Midway is now recognized as the "turning point" in the Pacific War. After Midway, the Americans were never again on the defensive. The losses to the Japanese Navy could never be made up, and it was from Midway on only a question of time before the Japanese Empire would be defeated.


Why were the border lakes of strategic importance during the War of 1812?

The Americans planned to win the war by conquering Canada and needed control of the lakes to do so.

Related Questions

How was the Japanese attack at Midway foiled?

The Japanese had planned a surprise attack on Midway. The surprise was foiled because the US had broken Japan's military code and the US was prepared for the attack.


What island in the north Pacific Ocean was an American victory over Japan?

This was a failed attack against the US base at Midway. The island was northwest of Hawaii. The Japanese raid on the island was foiled because the US had broken the Japanese military codes and knew when the attack was planned. The Japanese were caught off guard and lost the battle there.


What time did the Japanese launch their planes to attack Midway Island?

0600 dawn


Who was yamaoto isoroku?

Vice Admiral Yamamoto was overall strategest of the Pearl Harbor attack. He also planned the attack of Midway Island and was soundly defeated in that battle. He was later killed when American Forces intercepted radio traffic and were waiting for his plane as he was headed to inspect some of his troops.


Where did America attack in the Pacific?

Guam, Wake Island, all Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Coral Sea and Midway.


Why might the Americans send their entire pacific fleet to defend midway island?

Midway Island was a crucial strategic place in the Eastern Pacific region - it had a very good anchorage for ships, and a well-developed airfield (though only marginal repair/refueling facilities). Capture of Midway Island by the Japanese would allow them to base strong forces there which could potentially attack the Hawaiian Islands. That is, by owning Midway, the Japanese would be able to effectively attack and harrass supply shipments from the mainland U.S.A. to the Hawaiian Islands. This in turn would force the Americans to fight for the Hawaiian Islands, rather than have them as a "safe" base. Think of the attack on Midway as a "island-hopping" strategy for the Japanese: attack and hold Midway means it's much easier to attack (then hold) Hawaii, which makes it easy to attack the U.S. West Coast... Yamamato was well aware that the Americans understood this concept and the strategic value of Midway, and thus aware that they would be forced to make a strong defensive response to any major Japanese attack on them. Essentially, attacking Midway put the Americans in a "back-against-the-wall" situation, where they would be forced to fight; if the Americns did not fight for Midway, then they would be in an even worse strategic position for the next fight (which would be for the Hawaiian Islands themselves).


Did the Doolittle Raid convince Japanese leaders to attack Midway Island?

Indirectly, yes. The Doolittle attack in April, 1942, showed that the US carriers were as much of a threat to Japan as they had thought. The attack on Midway (June 4-7, 1942) was planned as a way to draw out the US carriers, since Pearl Harbor was now heavily defended. Unfortunately, the US, alerted to the Japanese movements, turned the tables with a trap of their own, sinking 4 Japanese carriers at the cost of one of their own, the Yorktown.


The Doolittle Raid convinced Japanese leaders to attack Midway Island?

Indirectly, yes. The Doolittle attack in April, 1942, showed that the US carriers were as much of a threat to Japan as they had thought. The attack on Midway (June 4-7, 1942) was planned as a way to draw out the US carriers, since Pearl Harbor was now heavily defended. Unfortunately, the US, alerted to the Japanese movements, turned the tables with a trap of their own, sinking 4 Japanese carriers at the cost of one of their own, the Yorktown.


Who was the commanding officers in Battle of Midway?

Admiral Nimitz was in overall command of the American Fleet, with Admirals Spruance and Fletcher in operational command. Yamamoto planned the attack, but it was carried out by Kondo and Nagumo.


Why was it so important for the US to beat Japanese at midway?

the US called it "island hopping" which was a strategy to invade Japanese occupied islands. Their strategy was to fire an artillery barrage on the island shores by naval ships and then land infantry/armour on the island. Once the island was taken, the US would leave back a handful of ships and men to defend the island until the war was over. They did this to every Japanese occupied island. It was a turning point in the war because the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour earlier in the war and now it's the island of Midway for the Americans to avenge the attack. The mission was to secure Pearl Harbour from the Japanese since Midway was in between P.H and Japan itself.


Did the US remove its forces from Pearl Harbor after the attack?

No. However some were transferred to the fleet for the Coral Sea, Midway, Alutian (sp) Island campaigns.


What military resources were used during the attack on cuba?

In the Bay of Pigs it was Americans and Cubans, but in 62 it was the Navy that boycotted the island with no attack.