Was This WWII’s Greatest Battle?

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• The Battle of Midway was one of the most significant conflicts of World War II and crippled the naval forces of Imperial Japan.
• Many famous aircraft carriers participated in this epic battle, although nearly all of Japan’s were destroyed in the conflict.
• Also: Discover the next Nvidia.

Japan’s strategy in World War II centered on eliminating the United States’ power in the Pacific, aiming to create a critical advantage. The attack on Pearl Harbor was part of this approach, in addition to the assault on Midway. At Midway, however, the U.S. was prepared for the attack and destroyed nearly all of Japan’s aircraft carriers. (These World War II battles had by far the most casualties.)

The Battle of Midway is widely regarded as one of the most significant events of World War II, and one of the largest aerial battles in the Pacific Theater, showcasing the importance and dominance of aircraft carriers.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the warships and submarines that fought in this pivotal battle. To identify the warships and submarines that fought in the Battle of Midway, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of naval vessels from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft. We ordered warships and submarines chronologically. We also included supplemental information regarding the type, armament, speed, displacement, and aircraft for each vessel.

Many of the most prominent WWII aircraft carriers fought in the Battle of Midway. On the side of the United States, the USS Enterprise, USS Yorktown, and the USS Hornet played very important roles. For Japan, the IJN Soryu, IJN Kaga, and IJN Akagi each rose to meet them. (These are the most important events of World War II: a timeline.)

Why Are We Covering This?

The Battle of Midway was one of the largest and most significant aerial battles in the Pacific during World War II, especially in terms of its impact and strategic outcome. It would ultimately shape the outcome of the conflict while demonstrating the power of aircraft carriers.

Here is a look at all of the naval vessels that fought in the Battle of Midway:

IJN Kongo

• Type: Cruiser
• Year introduced: 1913
• Top speed: 31.6 mph
• Displacement: 26,230 tons
• Armament: 356mm main guns, 152mm guns, 127mm dual-purpose guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

IJN Hiei

• Type: Cruiser
• Year introduced: 1914
• Top speed: 34.5 mph
• Displacement: 37,200 tons
• Armament: 356mm main guns, 152mm guns, 127mm dual-purpose guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 530mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 2 navy floatplanes

IJN Fuso

• Type: Dreadnought battleship
• Year introduced: 1915
• Top speed: 26.5 mph
• Displacement: 36,500 tons
• Armament: 356mm twin-gun turrets, 152mm guns, 127mm dual-purpose guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 533mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

IJN Haruna

• Type: Cruiser
• Year introduced: 1915
• Top speed: 34.5 mph
• Displacement: 37,200 tons
• Armament: 356mm main guns, 152mm guns, 76mm guns, 530mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

IJN Kirishima

• Type: Cruiser
• Year introduced: 1915
• Top speed: 34.5 mph
• Displacement: 37,200 tons
• Armament: 356mm main guns, 152mm guns, 127mm dual-purpose guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

IJN Nagato

• Type: Dreadnought battleship
• Year introduced: 1920
• Top speed: 28.8 mph
• Displacement: 39,130 tons
• Armament: 409mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm dual-purpose guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 13mm anti-aircraft guns, 533mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 3 navy floatplanes

IJN Hosho

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1922
• Top speed: 28.8 mph
• Displacement: 9,500 tons
• Armament: 140mm guns, 80mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 15 aircraft of various types, mainly torpedo bombers

IJN Akagi

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1927
• Top speed: 36.8 mph
• Displacement: 33,800 tons
• Armament: 50 caliber guns, 120cm anti-aircraft guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 21 Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, 21 Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, 21 Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

IJN Kaga

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1929
• Top speed: 32.2 mph
• Displacement: 38,800 tons
• Armament: 20mm anti-aircraft guns, 127mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns, 25mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 90 total aircraft including, Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

USS Narwhal

• Type: Diesel-electric attack submarine
• Year introduced: 1930
• Top speed: 16.1 mph
• Displacement: 2,770 tons
• Armament: 533mm torpedo tubes, 152mm deck guns
• Aircraft: N/A

USS Nautilus

• Type: Diesel-electric attack submarine
• Year introduced: 1930
• Top speed: 20.1 mph
• Displacement: 2,770 tons
• Armament: 533mm torpedo tubes, 152mm deck guns
• Aircraft: N/A

USS Portland

• Type: Cruiser
• Year introduced: 1933
• Top speed: 38.0 mph
• Displacement: 10,000 tons
• Armament: 200mm main guns, 127mm anti-aircraft guns, 3-pounder saluting guns, 12.7mm heavy machine guns
• Aircraft: 4 navy floatplanes

USS Cuttlefish

• Type: Diesel-electric attack submarine
• Year introduced: 1934
• Top speed: 19.6 mph
• Displacement: 1,150 tons
• Armament: 533mm torpedo tubes, 76mm deck gun
• Aircraft: N/A

USS Minneapolis

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1934
• Top speed: 37.6 mph
• Displacement: 9,950 tons
• Armament: 200mm triple-mounted turrets, 130mm anti-aircraft guns, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns
• Aircraft: 4 navy floatplanes

USS New Orleans

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1934
• Top speed: 37.6 mph
• Displacement: 10,000 tons
• Armament: 203mm triple-gunned turrets, 127mm secondary guns, 12.7mm heavy machine guns, 3-pounder saluting guns
• Aircraft: 4 navy floatplanes

IJN Mogami

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1935
• Top speed: 42.6 mph
• Displacement: 8,500 tons
• Armament: 200mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm twin-gunned turrets, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 610mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 11 Aichi A13E floatplanes

IJN Soryu

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1937
• Top speed: 39.1 mph
• Displacement: 16,000 tons
• Armament: 127mm twin-barreled dual-purpose guns, 25mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 70 total aircraft including, Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

USS Yorktown

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1937
• Top speed: 37.4 mph
• Displacement: 20,000 tons
• Armament: 127mm dual-purpose cannons, 28mm quadruple mount anti-aircraft cannons, 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons
• Aircraft: Up to 90 aircraft including fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers

IJN Chiyoda

• Type: Light aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1938
• Top speed: 33.3 mph
• Displacement: 11,400 tons
• Armament: 12.7mm machine guns, 25mm anti-aircraft machine guns
• Aircraft: 30 aircraft of various types

IJN Tone

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1938
• Top speed: 40.3 mph
• Displacement: 12,000 tons
• Armament: 203mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm guns, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 610mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 8 Aichi A13E floatplanes

USS Enterprise

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1938
• Top speed: 36.8 mph
• Displacement: 25,500 tons
• Armament: 127mm single mount cannons, 28mm quadruple mount cannons, 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine guns
• Aircraft: Up to 90 aircraft including fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers

IJN Chikuma

• Type: Heavy cruiser
• Year introduced: 1939
• Top speed: 40.3 mph
• Displacement: 11,215 tons
• Armament: 200mm twin-gunned turrets, 127mm cannons, 25mm anti-aircraft guns, 610mm torpedo tubes
• Aircraft: 6 navy floatplanes

IJN Hiryu

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1939
• Top speed: 40.3 mph
• Displacement: 17,300 tons
• Armament: 127mm twin gunned turrets, 25mm anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 64 total aircraft including, Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters, Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers, and Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers

IJN Zuiho

• Type: Light aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1940
• Top speed: 32.2 mph
• Displacement: 11,265 tons
• Armament: 127mm twin-barreled guns, 25mm twin-barreled anti-aircraft guns
• Aircraft: 30 aircraft of various types

IJN Akigumo

• Type: Destroyer
• Year introduced: 1941
• Top speed: 40.3 mph
• Displacement: 2,530 tons
• Armament: 127mm dual-purpose turreted main guns, 25mm twin-gunned anti-aircraft cannons, 13mm machine guns, 610mm torpedo tubes, depth charges
• Aircraft: N/A

USS Gato

• Type: Diesel-electric attack submarine
• Year introduced: 1941
• Top speed: 24.2 mph
• Displacement: 1,525 tons
• Armament: 533mm torpedo tubes, 102mm deck gun, 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft cannon, 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon
• Aircraft: N/A

USS Hornet

• Type: Aircraft carrier
• Year introduced: 1941
• Top speed: 37.4 mph
• Displacement: 20,000 tons
• Armament: 127mm dual-purpose cannons, 28mm quadruple mount anti-aircraft cannons, 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons
• Aircraft: Up to 90 aircraft including fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers

USS Growler

• Type: Diesel-electric attack submarine
• Year introduced: 1942
• Top speed: 24.2 mph
• Displacement: 1,550 tons
• Armament: 533mm torpedo tubes, 76mm deck gun, 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft cannon, 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon
• Aircraft: N/A

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