Hello and welcome to the Battle of Midway historical campaign. This campaign is a little experiment I made for myself and thought to send this into the world. The campaign consists of 13 missions recreating all significant events that have occured during the battle (except for the Japanese airstrike on Midway - that's not doable in WotS) and also one alternate reality mission. I hope that you enjoy this short campaign. If you do and you would like to see more (possibly the prequel Battle of Coral Sea) let me know in comments.

On June 4th 1942 at 0620 aircraft of Japanese 1st Carrier Striking Force attacked a US naval base on a small atoll in the Pacific called Midway. Little did they know that they walked right into the trap. US code breakers knew that Japanese were coming and set up an ambush north of midway at "Point Luck". The battle that followed would become a turning point in the Pacific war.

Prelude
In the aftermath of the Battle of Coral Sea, the Japanese sunk the aircraft carrier USS Lexington and heavily damaged USS Yorktown. In return the Japanese lost a light carrier Shoho. Although the Japanese won a tactical victory, they failed to complete their objective of capturing Port Moresby. Also their 2 fleet carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku were rendered out of action for some time due to damage and low number of aircraft. This left Admiral Yamamoto with just 4 operational fleet carriers of the yet undefeated 1st Carrier Striking Group also known as Kido Butai commanded by Admiral Nagumo.

On the other hand Admiral Nimitz of US Navy has put together a force of fleet carriers Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown which was repaired in just 3 days. Added to that a reinforced air group from Midway airfield. While not knowing this Nimitz had got himself a fair fight with air power of both Americans and the Japanese in relative balance. And as such when at 0534 a PBY flying boat spotted the enemy task force north west of Midway, Americans got themselves an upper hand.


1. 1st airstrike from Midway
At 0710 6 USN TBF Avengers and 4 USAAF B-26s armed with torpedoes. Attackers were met with heavy resistance that forced them to drop torpedoes at extreme range, not being effective. 5 TBFs and 2 B-26s were shot down. One of the shot down B-26s headed towards Nagumo's flagship Akagi. Aircraft nearly missed the bridge where Nagumo was standing.

2. 2nd airstrike from Midway
At 0755 group of Marine dive bombers led by Maj. Henderson attacked the Japanese fleet. However with most of marine aviators lacking experience conduct not as effective glide bombing instead of dive bombing. Attacks are not effective with marines losing several aircraft with Maj. Henderson died in the attack.

3. 3rd airstrike from Midway
At 0810 17 USAAF B-17s attacked. Their altitude puts them above the effective range of AA fire. However because of this their bombing is highly inaccurate.

4. Nautilus attacks Haruna
At 0820 submarine USS Nautilus (in-game represented by USS Tambor) slips undetected into the vicinity of the Japanese fleet attacking the battlecruiser Haruna. Attack is unsuccessful and destroyer Arashi is ordered to pin down Nautilus while the fleet gets out of range.

5. VT-8 attacks
At 0925 15 TBD Devastators of Hornet's Torpedo Squadron 8 led by Lt. Cdr. Waldron attacked the Japanese fleet targeting carrier Soryu. Slow flying TBDs were intercepted by Zeroes. Only a few torpedoes were released but all missed their target. In exchange all 15 TBDs were shot down. Ens. George Gay would be the sole survivor of VT-8.

6. VT-6 attacks
Just 5 minutes after the attack of VT-8, a group of 14 TBDs from Enterprise's Torpedo Squadron 6 led by Lt. Cdr. Lindsey makes their attack on carrier Hiryu. Also intercepted by Zeroes VT-6 suffered heavy losses with only 3 TBDs coming back to Enterprise

7. VT-3 attacks
At 1000 Yorktown's Torpedo squadron 3 starts their attack. This time however they come with an escort of Wildcats led by Cdr. Thach keeping the Zeroes away from the TBDs. TBDs drop their torpedoes without scoring any hits.

8. 6 minutes of terror
At 1025 the Japanese ran out of luck. With their CAP being drawn down to defend the fleet from the TBDs. This cleared the skies for the dive bombers from VB-6 and VS-6 from Enterprise led by Cdr. McClusky and VB-3 led by Cdr. Leslie from Yorktown who arrived above the Japanese fleet at the same time. VB-6 starts an attack on Kaga and by mistake are joined by VS-6 which was according to doctrine supposed to attack Akagi instead. After seeing this Lt. Best and his 2 wingmen recover their dives and attack Akagi instead. Kaga is hit with multiple bombs and is set ablaze from bow to stern. Around the same time SBDs from Yorktown scored several hits on Soryu. Just after that flight of Lt. Best attacks the Akagi scoring a single hit on the carrier. In just 6 minutes 3 out of 4 carriers were on fire and later one by one they would sink.

9. 1st attack on Yorktown
At 1205 18 Vals and 6 Zeros from Hiryu attacked Yorktown. Yorktown was prepared for the strike by Wildcats serving as CAP. Several Vals get through and score 3 hits. This damage would however be fixed and Yorktown would sail on.

10. 2nd attack on Yorktown
At 1430 10 Kates and 6 Zeros attacked Yorktown again believing it to be a different carrier since it wasn't on fire nor it showed signs of damage. 2 torpedo hits were scored leaving Yorktown dead in the water.

11. Airstrike against Hiryu
At 1700 remaining US SBD dive bombers attack Hiryu from VS-6, VB-6 and VB-3. Although they were met by heavy fighter cover, dive bombers break trough and scoring 4-5 hits. Hiryu would be scuttled on the following day.

12. Sinking of Mikuma
After the attack of the submarine USS Tambor cruisers Mikuma and Mogami have collided. During the following 2 days the stragling cruisers were evading airstrikes from Midway and remaining carriers. At last SBDs from Enterprise sank Mikuma on 6th of June

13. Sinking of Yorktown
On the afternoon of June 6th, submarine I-168 had sighted crippled Yorktown and destroyer Hammann which was conducting salvage works. I-168 fired salvo of torpedoes sinking both Hammann and Yorktown.

In the end the battle would proove as a fatal wound to the Japanese navy. With their powerfull Kido Butai lying on the ocean floor, US was able to launch their first counteroffensive since start of the war at Solomon Islands.

Nagumo strikes back (alternate history)

Encouraged to avenge the loss of his carriers Admiral Nagumo closes in with the TF 16 of Admiral Spruance for the nighttime surface engagement. With his 2 battlecruisers, 2 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser and several destroyers he manages catch the americans by suprise. Spruance in haste orders his 2 carriers Enterprise and Hornet to open distance while his screen of 5 heavy cruisers and 4 destroyers attempts to hold off the Japanese onslaught.

If you want to try this campaign you can download it with folowing link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iyxofYRzs2YTT_nXXo2WUrzOAvRLpXec/view?usp=sharing

Install it simply by putting it into C:\Users\username\AppData\LocalLow\Killerfish Games\War on the Sea\save\custom (if you put it into custom it allows you to edit the missions however you want.)