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Midway Submerged

An Analysis of American and Japanese Submarine Operations at the Battle of Midway, May–June 1942

Mark W. Allen

Casemate, Philadelphia, 2023, 240 pages

Book Review published on: October 13, 2023

Midway Submerged: An Analysis of American and Japanese Submarine Operations at the Battle of Midway, May–June 1942, takes another historical view of the highly researched Battle of Midway. For most people, the famous World War II battle marked the change in momentum between American and Japanese naval forces in the Pacific. The context of the plan was for Japan’s naval forces to attack and occupy the small atoll in the Central Pacific. The intent was to draw out the remnants of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, particularly U.S. carriers, and defeat them. The Japanese believed that this decisive battle would ensure Japanese naval dominance in the Pacific.

The Midway finale was a conclusive U.S. victory. A combination of an American naval intelligence breakthrough along with luck enabled U.S. naval aviation to destroy all four Japanese fleet carriers and a heavy cruiser, which was part of the Japanese naval task force. But there was another element of this major naval battle that has been largely neglected: the use of submarines.

Here the author, Mark W. Allen, takes a unique view of the Battle of Midway by analyzing belligerents' submarine actions and their contributions to the conflict’s outcome. Allen exposes the reader to a review of naval doctrine, submarine strategy, and tactics by both Japan and the United States. The author illuminates the decision-making of the senior commanders on how they chose to best employ their submarine capabilities to achieve their objectives. Although the submarine was designed for offensive action, in the Battle of Midway neither side used it as such. For the Japanese, this meant using submarines as a reconnaissance element for their strike force. The Americans used their subsurface assets to defend the island

Through detailed research and a compelling narrative, the author takes both the novice and naval expert on an immersive experience. Allen weaves classic warfare theorists throughout, including Carl von Clausewitz, Sun Tzu, Alfred Thayer Mahan, and Julian Corbett, while explaining the three levels of warfare: strategic, operational, and tactical. He concludes that for the Japanese, there were numerous operational and tactical failures, but their submarines were not the reason for their failure. Rather, they failed strategically due to Isoroku Yamamoto’s faulty plan. For the Americans, there was operational brilliance and tactical success and their submarines succeeded in their defensive role of the island.

Midway Submerged was well researched, written, and enjoyable. I would suggest it to anyone who has interest in the World War II Central Pacific Campaign or naval operations. I think it also provides insights for anyone interested in potential future naval conflicts in the Western Pacific or the South China Sea region. The joint practitioner will also gain a greater appreciation of the challenges and opportunities of massing effects in a contested maritime environment. I highly recommend Midway Submerged.