Atlas of Battles

naval engagement, landmark, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Midway

Battle of Midway was a naval engagement fought on 4 June 1942 at Midway Atoll, in what is now United States; it lasted 3 days. It was part of the Pacific War, which ran from 1941 to 1945. The recorded result: American victory.

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Aerial photograph of Midway Atoll, looking just south of west across the southern side of the atoll, 24 November 1941. Eastern Island, then the site of Midway's airfield, is in the foreground. Sand Is
Aerial photograph of Midway Atoll, looking just south of west across the southern side of the atoll, 24 November 1941. Eastern Island, then the site of Midway's airfield, is in the foreground. Sand Is. Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought4 June 1942lasted 3 days
WhereMidway Atoll, United States30.000N, 178.000W
OutcomeAmerican victory
BelligerentsUnited StatesagainstEmpire of Japan
Part ofPacific War1941 to 1945

Where it sits in the Pacific War

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1945Bombing of Odawara, 1945Bombing of Isesaki, 1945Seishin Operation, 1945Philippines campaign of 1944–1945, 1945Operation Jurist, 1945Operation Tiderace, 1945Operation Agas, 1945UN Offensive Campaign, 195019401950Battle of Midway, 1942
415 placed engagements of the Pacific War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date4 June 1942
to 7 June 1942
PlaceMidway Atoll, United States
30.000N, 178.000W
KindNaval engagement, interwar and Second World War
Strength3 fleet carriers; 7 heavy cruisers; 1 light cruiser; 15 destroyers; 233 carrier-based aircraft; 127 land-based aircraft; 16 submarines; 9 PT boats1st Carrier Striking Force: 4 fleet carriers; 2 battleships; 2 heavy cruisers; 1 light cruiser; 12 destroyers; 248 carrier-based aircraft; 16 floatplanes; 13 submarines; Midway Support Force: 4 heavy cruisers; 2 destroyers; 12 floatplanes; Did not participate in battle: 2 Light aircraft carrier
Casualties and losses1 fleet carrier sunk; 1 destroyer sunk; fleet tonnage destroyed: 21300; ~150 aircraft destroyed; ~307 Killed in action including 3 killed as prisoners4 fleet carriers sunk; 1 heavy cruiser sunk; 1 heavy cruiser damaged; 2 destroyers damaged; fleet tonnage destroyed: 119100; 248 aircraft destroyed; 3,057 KIA; 37 captured
Commanders
Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway100 km30.000N, 178.000W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1942

Battle of Midway is one of 4,429 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 1,264 in present-day United States.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q173034, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Midway, revision 1385352517, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.