Battle of Midway

"Midway is an island just big enough to hold an airfield and barracks. The two opposing fleets stand on either side of the island. This is mostly aero-naval combat."

— World War II Anthology Edition Manual

The Battle of Midway was a Pacific-theater battle of World War II, fought in 1942 and widely regarded as one of the most important naval battles of the Pacific campaign and in history. The battle is featured in the game Battlefield 1942.

Description[]

"American and Japanese fleets are once again preparing for a major showdown in the Pacific - this time near Midway Island. Within striking distance of either Hawaii or Japan, Midway is of obvious strategic importance. Fortunately for the US, American naval command has learned secret information regarding the Japanese attack plan. While Japan conducts diversionary attacks, the US knows that the bulk of the Japanese force is heading toward US-controlled Midway.

It's now a tense waiting game as the US fleet patrols the region, hoping to spot the Japanese force before it spots them. The winner at Midway will have a clear advantage in the war in the Pacific."

— American Map Briefing

"The US warships are on the run as the Imperial Fleet continues to win battle after battle. Japan will soon rule the Pacific from Tokyo to Hawaii, and everything in between. Early this morning, the first wave of carrier-based bombers set off to destroy the enemy airfield at Midway Island. During this sortie, a scout plane spotted the Enterprise battle group.

Japanese aircraft armed for a second wave over Midway have been diverted to engage the Enterprise before it can prepare for a counter-attack. Even though these planes have been armed with bombs instead of torpedoes, the Japanese are confident that they can send the Enterprise to the bottom of the ocean."

— Japanese Map Briefing

Conquest[]

"Midway is the key. Holding it will allow us to slowly but surely reduce the Japanese forces facing us. Their aircraft carrier is a high-priority target. If you see an opportunity to sink it, take it."

— American campaign briefing

"We can defeat the American naval forces by controlling the island of Midway. Sink their aircraft carrier to give our forces air superiority."

— Japanese campaign briefing

BF1942 Midway campaign — Campaign briefing

The map is centered around the two islands of the Midway atoll, linked by a small bridge. Two fleets are assembled, the allies to the North East and axis to the South West. The islands consist of an airfield outpost and another outpost with a Defgun. In multiplayer, two more flags are located at sea, North and South of the atoll.

Equipment[]


Imperial Japanese Navy
Light vehicle(s)	Type 95 Kurogane
Half-track(s)	Type 1 Ho-Ha
Medium tank(s)	Type 97 Chi-Ha
Fixed-wing aircraft	Mitsubishi A6M Zero Aichi D3A Val
Boat(s)	Daihatsu-class landing craft
Ship(s)	Shokaku-class aircraft carrier Akizuki-class destroyer Yamato-class battleship (Multiplayer) U-boat type VIIC (Multiplayer)
Emplacement(s)	Flak 38


United States Marine Corps
Light vehicle(s)	Willys MB
Half-track(s)	M3 Half-track
Medium tank(s)	M4 Sherman
Fixed-wing aircraft	Vought F4U Corsair SBD Dauntless
Boat(s)	LCVP
Ship(s)	Yorktown-class aircraft carrier Fletcher-class destroyer PrinceOW (Multiplayer) Gato-class submarine (Multiplayer)
Emplacement(s)	40mm Bofors


Neutral
Emplacement(s)	Defgun

Bases[]

Fleets[]

Each team begins the battle with a fleet of ships. In singleplayer, this comprises an aircraft carrier and a destroyer each, spawning to the direct north and south of the island. However, in multiplayer, each fleet is bigger, consisting of a carrier (either a Yorktown class - USS Enterprise - for the allies or a Shokaku class for the axis), a battleship (HMS Prince of Wales for the allies or IJN Yamato for the axis), two destroyers and a submarine. The Allied fleet spawns at the northeast of the island, and the Axis fleet at the southwest.

Each of the carriers, battleships and destroyers spawn landing craft, LCVPs for the Americans and Daihatsus for the Japanese. The carriers also house AA guns and spawn planes, a fighter and a dive bomber each. These are, for the US, the F4U Corsair and SBD Dauntless, and for the Japanese, the A6M Zero and the Aichi D3A Val, respectively.

Airfield[]

This is a large airfield, located on the largest of the islands, to the North and East of the atoll. This spawns two torpedo bombers aircraft for whoever holds it, as well as a jeep and a half-track. The base also has four AA guns and a defgun. The airfield contains several buildings, including a hospital with medical supplies and an aircraft hangar with vehicle repair facilities.

In singleplayer, the aircraft has been moved out of the bunkers and onto the airstrips, so that bots can more easily raise them into battle.

Coastal Defences[]

Another outpost is located on the smaller island to the South West of the atoll, linked to the larger island by a small bridge. This spawns a tank and an APC, as well as a Defgun.

Ocean points[]

In the multiplayer map there are also two ocean flags, Point Luck and Point Charlie, respectively located due north and south of the central island. These can be captured by ships or even planes. They can't spawn infantry or vehicles, but do contribute to tickets.

Team Deathmatch[]

The vehicle layout is the same as Conquest. The Airfield is now uncapturable under the Axis, and Coastal Defences is now uncapturable under the Allies. This gives the Axis a slight advantage in air superiority. Point Luck and Point Charlie remain neutral.

Outcomes[]

"The US fleet chalked up a decisive victory at Midway. Many are declaring this the most significant naval battle of the war so far. Thanks to key intelligence information, US naval commanders stayed one step ahead of the Japanese fleet throughout the battle. Having lost their most modern carriers, Japan is most surely on the run after this defeat."

— American Victory

"Though they lost the element of surprise, the Japanese didn't lose the battle. The US fleet was well prepared for the attack, but the Imperial Navy was just too strong. Now the Americans are going to have to hope that its ground troops in the Pacific will be able to withstand the enemy long enough for the Navy to regroup for the next great battle at sea. "

— American Defeat

"The road to Japanese victory in the Pacific is now paved with the sunken carriers Enterprise and Yorktown and all the other US warships that were destroyed in this glorious battle. With the capture of Midway Island, Japan now has the capability to send land-based bombers on missions to Hawaii and other key points in the Pacific."

— Japanese Victory

"It seemed as if the US commanders knew what the Japanese fleet was going to do at every step. Most importantly, the enemy had many more ships in the area than anyone could have imagined. Even the Yorktown, crippled at Coral Sea, returned to action and provided the enemy with another carrier to attack the Imperial Fleet. This humiliating loss will be difficult to overcome."

— Japanese Defeat