Battle of Midway order of battle

This is the order of battle for the Battle of Midway, a major engagement of the Pacific Theatre of World War II, fought 4–7 June 1942 by naval and air forces of Imperial Japan and the United States in the waters around Midway Atoll in the far northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
The Japanese had two purposes for the campaign: to occupy Midway for use as a base for long-range search planes, and to draw the US Pacific Fleet out of its base at Pearl Harbor for a decisive showdown battle.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet and mastermind of the Pearl Harbor Attack, was tasked with drawing up the operational plan. The Japanese Naval General Staff, responsible for strategic planning, required him to include a diversionary move as part of his detailed battle plan; they told him to include a side operation that would result in the capture of two islands in the Aleutians chain, believing that the occupation of even a tiny portion of a US possession would be sufficient to draw out the bulk of the Pacific Fleet.
US Navy code-breaking, Japanese overconfidence and the courage of American carrier fliers combined to create both a strategic and a tactical defeat for the Japanese: they failed to capture Midway and they suffered much greater losses in ships and planes than did the Americans. Midway put an end to Japanese expansion in the Pacific.
Because the Japanese assumed the tactical initiative, their forces are listed first.

Overview

Ships involved in the Midway operation
''Losses indicated by *, counts in parentheses''

Japan

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto
Commander, Combined Fleet
Significant combat was experienced by Nagumo's First Striking Force and Kurita's Midway Support Force. The vast majority Japanese ships saw no action during the entire Midway campaign.

First Fleet

First Fleet Main Force

Admiral Yamamoto in Yamato

1st Battleship Division
* 1
** '
* 2 s
** '
** '
Carrier Group:
* CVL '
** Air Unit: 8 Yokosuka B4Y1 'Jean' biplane torpedo bombers
* 1
** '
Special Force
* CVS '
* CVS '
Screening Force
* 3rd Destroyer Squadron
* Rear Admiral Shintaro Hashimoto in Sendai
** 1
*** '
** 11th Destroyer Division
*** 4 s
**** '
**** '
**** '
**** '
** 19th Destroyer Division
*** 4 s
**** '
**** '
**** '
**** '
1st Supply Group
Captain Shigeyasu Nishioka in Naruto
* AO Naruto
* AO 'Toei Maru'''''

First Carrier Striking Force / [First Air Fleet]

Vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo in Akagi

1st Carrier Division
Vice Admiral Nagumo
* '
** Air Unit
*** 18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters
*** 18 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers
*** 18 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
* '
** Air Unit :
*** 18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters
*** 18 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers
*** 27 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
2nd Carrier Division
Rear Admiral Tamon Yamaguchi† in Hiryū
* '
** Air Unit
*** 18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters
*** 18 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers
*** 18 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
* '
** Air Unit
*** 18 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters
*** 16 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers
*** 18 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
*** 2 Yokosuka D4Y1 'Judy' dive bombers
Support Group
* 8th Cruiser Division
* Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abe in Tone
** 2 heavy cruisers
*** '
**** Air Unit: 3 Aichi E13A1 Type 0 'Jake' float planes, 2 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes
*** '
**** Air Unit: 3 Aichi E13A1 Type 0 'Jake' float planes, 2 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes
* 3rd Battleship Division, 2nd Section
* Rear Admiral Tamotsu Takama in Haruna
** 2 fast battleships
*** '
**** Air unit: 3 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes
*** '
**** Air unit: 3 Nakajima E8N2 Type 95 'Dave' float planes
Screening Force
* 10th Destroyer Squadron
* Rear Admiral Susumu Kimura in Nagara
** 1 light cruiser
*** '
** 4th Destroyer Division
*** 4 s
**** '
**** '
**** '
**** '
** 10th Destroyer Division
*** 3 s
**** '
**** '
**** '
** 17th Destroyer Division
*** 4 s
**** '
**** '
**** '
**** '
Supply Group 1
Captain Masanao Ota in Kyokuto Maru
* 1
** '
* AO Kyokuto Maru
* AO Shinkoku Maru
* AO '
* AO Nippon Maru
* AO 'Kokuyo Maru'''''

Second Fleet (Midway Invasion Force)

Second Fleet Main Body

Vice Admiral Nobutake Kondō in Atago

3rd Battleship Division less 2nd Section
Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa
* 2 fast battleships
** '
** '
4th Cruiser Division less 2nd Section
Vice Admiral Kondo
* 2 heavy cruisers
** '
** '
5th Cruiser Division
Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi
* 2 heavy cruisers
** '
** '
Screening Force
* 4th Destroyer Squadron
* Rear Admiral Shoji Nishimura in Yura
** 1 light cruiser
*** '
** 3rd Destroyer Division
*** 4 s
**** '
**** '
**** '
**** '
** 9th Destroyer Division
*** 3 s
**** '
**** '
**** '
Carrier Group
Captain Sueo Obayashi
* CVL '
** 12 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters
** 12 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
* 1
** '
Supply Group
Captain Jiro Murao in Sata
* AO Sata
* AO Tsurumi
* AO Genyo Maru
* AO Kenyo Maru
* AR 'Akashi'''''

Midway Occupation Force

Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka in Jintsu

Transport Group carrying about 5000 troops under Captain Minoru Ōta, IJN and Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki, IJA
* Transports
** Kiyosumi Maru
** Keiyo Maru
** Zenyo Maru
** Goshu Maru
** Toa Maru No. 2 Go
** Kano Maru
** Argentina Maru
** Hokuroku Maru
** '
** Kirishima Maru
** Azuma Maru
** Nankai Maru
* Patrol Boats
** Patrol Boat #1
** Patrol Boat #2
** Patrol Boat #34 also carrying SNLF detachment
* AO Akebono Maru
Escort Force
* 2nd Destroyer Squadron
* Rear Admiral Tanaka
* 1
** CL '
* 15th Destroyer Division
** 2 s
*** '
*** '
* 16th Destroyer Division
** 4 s
*** '
*** '
*** '
*** '
* 18th Destroyer Division
** 2 s
*** '
*** '
** 2 s
*** '
*** '
Seaplane Tender Group
Rear Admiral Ruitaro Fujita in Chitose
* 11th Seaplane Tender Division
** CVS '
*** 16 Nakajima A6M2-N 'Rufe' floatplane fighters
*** 4 Aichi E13A 'Jake' scout floatplanes
** AV
*** 8 Nakajima A6M2-N 'Rufe' floatplane fighters
*** 4 Aichi E13A 'Jake' scout floatplanes
* 1
** '
* 'Patrol Boat #35'''''

Midway Support Force

Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita in Kumano

7th Cruiser Division
* '
* '
* '
* '
8th Destroyer Division
* 2 s
** '
** '
Attached Oiler
* AO Nichiei Maru
Minesweeper Group
Captain Sadatomo Miyamoto
* 4 auxiliary minesweepers
** Tama Maru #3
** Tama Maru #5
** Showa Maru #7
** Showa Maru #8
* 3 subchasers
** Subchaser #16
** Subchaser #17
** Subchaser #18
1 supply ship
* Soya
2 cargo ships
* Meiyo Maru
* 'Yamafuku Maru'''''

Advance ([Submarine]) Force (Sixth Fleet)

Vice Admiral Teruhisa Komatsu in at Kwajalein

1
* '
3rd Submarine Squadron
Rear Admiral Chimaki Kona in Rio de Janeiro Maru at Kwajalein
* 19th Submarine Division
** '
** '
** '
** '
* 13th Submarine Division
** '
** '
** '
* 30th Submarine Division
** '
** '
** ''''''

Shore-based Air Force

Eleventh Air Fleet
Vice Admiral Nishizo Tsukahara at Tinian

Midway Expeditionary Force
* 36 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters
* 10 Mitsubishi G4M 'Betty' level bombers at Wake Island
* 6 flying boats at Jaluit
24th Air Flotilla
* Chitose Air Group at Kwajalein
** 36 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters
** 36 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
* 1st Air Group at Aur and Wotje
** 36 Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighters
** 36 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
* 14th Air Group
** 36 Kawanishi H6K 'Mavis' flying boats at Jaluit and Wotje

Northern Area Force

Fifth Fleet Main Body

Vice Admiral Boshirō Hosogaya in Nachi

1 heavy cruiser
* '
2 s
* '
* '
Supply Group:
* AO Fujisan Maru
* AO Nissan Maru
* AC Muroto
* AP Akashisan Maru

* AF Tōkō Maru No. 2 Go'''''

Second Carrier Striking Force

Rear Admiral Kakuji Kakuta in Ryujo

4th Carrier Division
* CVL '
** Air Unit
*** 16 Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 'Zeke' fighters
*** 21 Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' torpedo bombers
* CV '
** Air Unit
*** 24 Mitsubishi A6M Zero Type 21 'Zeke' fighters
*** 15 Aichi D3A1 'Val' dive bombers
4th Cruiser Division, 2nd Section
* 2 heavy cruisers
** '
** '
7th Destroyer Division
* 3 s
** '
** '
** '

AO Teiyo Maru'''''

Aleutian Support Force

'Vice Admiral Shiro Takasu in Hyūga

2nd Battleship Division

* '
* '
* '
* '
Screening Force
* 9th Cruiser Division
** CL '
** CL '
* 20th Destroyer Division
** 4 s
*** '
*** '
*** '
*** '
* 24th Destroyer Division
** 4 s
*** '
*** '
*** '
*** '
* 27th Destroyer Division
** 2 s
*** '
*** '
** 2 s
*** '
*** '
Supply Group
* AO San Clemente Maru
* AO Toa Maru'''''
Attu">Attu Island">Attu Invasion Force

'Rear Admiral Sentarō Ōmori in Abukuma

* 1st Destroyer Squadron
* Rear Admiral Ōmori

CL '
21st Destroyer Division
* 4 s
** '
** '
** '
** '
ML Magane Maru
AP Kinugasa Maru carrying 1,200 army troops under Major Matsutoshi Hozumi
[Kiska] Invasion Force

'Captain Takeji Ono in Kiso

21st Cruiser Division
* 2 s

** '
** '
* 2 auxiliary cruisers
** Asaka Maru
** Awata Maru
Screening Force
* 6th Destroyer Division
** 2 s
*** '
*** '
** 1
*** '
13th Minesweeper Division
* Hakuhō Maru
* Kaihō Maru
* Shunkotsu Maru
Transports
* Hakusan Maru carrying 550 troops under Lt. Cmdr. Hifumi Mukai
* Kumagawa Maru carrying 700 labor troops with construction equipment
Submarine Detachment
* 1st Submarine Squadron
** '
** 2nd Submarine Division
*** '
*** '
*** '
** 4th Submarine Division
**** '
*** '
Aleutian Seaplane Tender Force
* AV Kimikawa Maru
** Air Unit: 8 3-seat floatplanes
* 1
** ''''''

United States

The US Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas were under the overall command of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz.

Task Force 17

Rear Admiral Frank J. Fletcher in Yorktown

Task Group 17.5
* '
**Yorktown Air Group
*** 25 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighters
*** 18 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers
*** 19 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers
*** 13 Douglas TBD-1 Devastator torpedo bombers
Task Group 17.2
Rear Admiral William W. Smith in Astoria
* 1 New Orleans-class heavy cruiser
** '
* 1 Portland-class heavy cruiser
** '
Task Group 17.4
Captain Gilbert Hoover, COMDESRON 2
* 5 Sims-class destroyers
** '
** '
** '
** '

** '
* 1 Gleaves-class destroyer
** ''''''

Task Force 16

Rear Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in Enterprise

Task Group 16.5 :
* '
** Enterprise Air Group
*** 27 F4F-4 fighters
*** 19 SBD-2/3 dive bombers
*** 19 SBD-2/3 dive bombers
*** 14 TBD-1 torpedo bombers
* '
** Hornet Air Group
*** 27 F4F-4 fighters
*** 19 SBD-2/3 dive bombers
*** 18 SBD-1/2/3 dive bombers
*** 15 TBD-1 torpedo bombers
Task Group 16.2
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid, COMCRUDIV 6
* 1 Pensacola-class heavy cruiser
** '
* 1 Northampton-class heavy cruiser
** '
* 3 New Orleans-class heavy cruisers
** '
** '
** '
* 1 anti-aircraft light cruiser
** '
Task Group 16.4
Captain Alexander R. Early, COMDESRON 1
* Destroyer Squadron 1
** 1 Porter-class destroyer
*** '
** 3 Farragut-class destroyer
*** '
*** '
*** '
* Destroyer Squadron 6
** 1 Gridley-class destroyer
*** '
** 2 Benham-class destroyer
*** '
*** '
** 1 Mahan-class destroyer
*** '
** 1 Porter-class destroyer
*** '
Oilers Group
* AO '
* AO '