Japan repeatedly failed to implement its own decisive-battle concept when opportunities appeared. At Midway, planners did not expect the American carriers and did not prepare a coherent contingency for their arrival. Better counterintelligence and staff work could have treated an unexpected American response as an opportunity to destroy a critical portion of the fleet. The extra fuel and preparation required might have prevented the surprise from reversing the trap against Japan and reduced the later need to shore up positions after the defeat.
Notable Point · 21:45-23:55
Midway and the contingency Japan did not plan
Midway becomes a case study in failing to prepare for an unlikely American response even when that response offered the battle Japan claimed to want.