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.
See it on the globe Read the article
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 .
Fought 4 June 1942 lasted 3 days
Where Midway Atoll, United States 30.000N, 178.000W
Outcome American victory
Belligerents United States against Empire of Japan
Where it sits in the Pacific War Battle of Guam, 1941 Battle of Hong Kong, 1941 Battle of Wake Island, 1941 Battle of Corregidor, 1942 Battle of Manado, 1942 Battle of Kuala Lumpur, 1942 Battle of Balikpapan, 1942 Battle of Port Moresby, 1942 Battle of Singapore, 1942 Battle of Kranji, 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach, 1942 Battle of Bukit Timah, 1942 Battle of Palembang, 1942 Battle of Pasir Panjang, 1942 Battle of Badung Strait, 1942 Battle of Tjiater Pass, 1942 Indian Ocean raid, 1942 Battle of Midway, 1942 Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo, 1942 Battle of the Tenaru, 1942 Battle of Edson's Ridge, 1942 Actions along the Matanikau, 1942 Battle for Henderson Field, 1942 Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 1942 Koli Point action, 1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942 Battle of Tassafaronga, 1942 Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse, 1942 Battle of Rennell Island, 1943 Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 1943 Battle of Blackett Strait, 1943 Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 1943 Battle of Attu, 1943 Battle of Wickham Anchorage, 1943 Battle of Viru Harbor, 1943 Battle of Kula Gulf, 1943 Landing at Nassau Bay, 1943 Battle of Enogai, 1943 Battle of Kolombangara, 1943 Drive on Munda Point, 1943 New Georgia counterattack, 1943 Battle of Bairoko, 1943 Battle of Munda Point, 1943 Battle off Horaniu, 1943 Landing at Nadzab, 1943 Huon Peninsula campaign, 1943 Battle of Scarlet Beach, 1943 Naval Battle of Vella Lavella, 1943 Bougainville Campaign, 1943 Landings at Cape Torokina, 1943 Battle of Koromokina Lagoon, 1943 Battle for Piva Trail, 1943 Battle of the Treasury Islands, 1943 Battle of Sattelberg, 1943 Battle of Piva Forks, 1943 Battle of Wareo, 1943 Battle of Arawe, 1943 Battle of Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A, 1943 Pacification of Rabaul, 1943 Battle of Mindoro, 1944 Formosa Air Battle, 1944 Action of 11 January 1944, 1944 Battle of the Green Islands, 1944 Battle of Biak, 1944 Battle of Saipan, 1944 Battle of the Philippine Sea, 1944 Battle of Tinian, 1944 Battle of Angaur, 1944 Battle of Morotai, 1944 Battle of Leyte, 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944 Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 1944 Battle off Samar, 1944 Battle of Cabo Engaño, 1944 Battle of Ormoc Bay, 1944 Battle of Peleliu, 1944 Battle of Pearl Ridge, 1944 Battle of Tarakan, 1945 Action of 8 June 1945, 1945 Battle of Sulu Islands, 1945 Battle of Luzon, 1945 Battle of Camotes Islands, 1945 Battle of Tsimba Ridge, 1945 Battle of Baguio, 1945 Battle of Balete Pass, 1945 Invasion of Palawan, 1945 Battle of Mindanao, 1945 Battle of the Visayas, 1945 Battle of Bacsil Ridge, 1945 Battle for Cebu City, 1945 Battle of Slater's Knoll, 1945 Operation Ten-Go, 1945 Battle of the Hongorai River, 1945 Battle of Davao, 1945 Battle of the Malacca Strait, 1945 Battle of Bessang Pass, 1945 Battle of Ratsua, 1945 Battle of Porton Plantation, 1945 Battle of North Borneo, 1945 Battle of Labuan, 1945 Battle of Balikpapan, 1945 1941 1945 Battle of Midway, 1942
101 placed engagements of the Pacific War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.
Record
Date 4 June 1942to 7 June 1942
Place Midway Atoll, United States30.000N, 178.000W
Kind Naval engagement, interwar and Second World War
Strength 3 fleet carriers; 7 heavy cruisers; 1 light cruiser; 15 destroyers; 233 carrier-based aircraft; 127 land-based aircraft; 16 submarines; 9 PT boats 1st 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 losses 1 fleet carrier sunk; 1 destroyer sunk; fleet tonnage destroyed: 21300; ~150 aircraft destroyed; ~307 Killed in action including 3 killed as prisoners 4 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 Midway Battle of Midway 100 km 30.000N, 178.000W
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.
Battle of Midway is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 1,148 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.