Talk:First Bombardment of Midway

Does it really make sense to classify the result as US victory? If the Japanese plan was to cause damage to the base by bombarding it and move on, I think they succeeded and this could even be considered a Japanese victory. But since both forces seemed to inflict some damage to each other, my vote for the result would be indecisive. 88.112.226.224 (talk) 13:30, 8 May 2010 (UTC)

The Japanese bombarded the base without resistance until coming with range of American guns. When the two destroyers came within range they were engaged and a short gunnery duel was fought. The Japanese scored no hits on the American battery and the Americans hit one Japanese destroyer. Instead of continuing the action and silencing the American defenses, the Japanese retreated. Thus the Americans repulsed the attack. The only American casualties sustained were at the command and communications building which was bombarded before the gunnery duel meaning that during the actual fight, only the Japanese took casualties who fled as result. The Japanese failed to destroy the only threat they encountered. That is a U.S. victory. That is how duels between land based guns and warships has always been decided. If your ship engages a fort or something and retreats without silencing it, that is a defeat.--Az81964444 (talk) 08:31, 15 June 2010 (UTC)

Who wrote this???

Is it just me or does this Wiki kinda "read funny"? It's as if the phrasing and syntax reflect the writer was not a native speaker of English. If nobody minds I'll put this on my "to do" list for a workover. Sector001 (talk) 03:48, 4 June 2011 (UTC)

Towards the end of the article it says something about American sailors diving into the water as airplanes attack. Maybe I'm just reading it wrong and misunderstanding but that doesn't make any sense to me with the rest of the article that is about Japanese destroyers attacking a US island base. 173.12.205.25 (talk) 21:31, 11 August 2017 (UTC)

So did the Japanese plan to invade Midway or merely bombard it as they passed by?

What was the Japanese objective -- to occupy Midway or merely bombard it as they passed by? If their objective was to bombard it it would that they accomplished their mission. No mention is made of Japanese naval landing troops being prevented from landing so it would seem that it was not an American "victory." Perhaps someone who in an expert in this aspect of the Pacific War can expand this entry. Thanks {71.22.47.232 (talk) 09:04, 20 September 2011 (UTC)}

Good questions. The opening paragraphs are indeed a bit ambiguous (I've got this article on my to-do list for a rewrite but been too busy yet). As far as I know the bombardment was more along the lines of a raid, with no intention at all of invading the islands The IJN destroyers were detached from Nagumo's main strike force, which had no accompanying troopships, landing craft, or troops (other than what Japanese Marines might be carried aboard for normal ship operation). As far as it being a victory that is true in the sense that the counterfire from the Midway defenders drove off the Japanese destroyers and forced them to stop their bombardment before more damage was done. My suspicion (and only that) is Nagumo was concerned about an air search or airstrike being launched from Midway on his retreat through the area and hope the quash it by sending the destroyers to lob some rounds at the airfield. Hope that explanation helps. Sector001 (talk) 18:32, 20 September 2011 (UTC)

Added

I have added the coords for Sand Island. (27.34.39.97 (talk) 11:28, 16 August 2012 (UTC))

Airplanes?

This sentence seems out of place in the discussion of an attack by surface vessels, "Several others were injured. Navy Chief mechanics engineer John J. Szajkowski survived with another sailor by jumping in the water when they saw the planes coming for the hangar." --Kevin Murray (talk) 06:44, 19 March 2018 (UTC)