Midway is often treated as Japan's all-in Kantai Kessen. The deployed force did not meet decisive-battle doctrine's demand for concentration. Most Japanese battleships remained too far behind the carriers to affect the air battle, while only Kirishima and Haruna accompanied the striking force. Japan also assigned Ryujo and the newly commissioned Junyo to Operation AL in the Aleutians instead of concentrating every usable flight deck on Operation MI at Midway. The two operations formed a wider attempt to restore Japanese initiative. Force allocation, rather than headline totals, determined what could fight and support the carrier action.
Chapter · 0:51-9:28
Why Midway was not Japan's fully concentrated decisive battle
Midway is reassessed against Japanese decisive-battle doctrine: major battleship and carrier strength was dispersed or held far from the action.