Original subtitles

Yes ... We should attack the enemy ships immediately.

But we're still replacing torpedoes with bombs to attack Midway.

I know that! And we need fighters to escort our attack on the enemy carriers!

Just send our bombers.

Urgent message from the Hiryu:

'Request permission to attack enemy ships'

Captain?

Admiral?

We cannot send our bombers out without fighter protection.

Attack the enemy ships.

Land our fighters for re-fueling.

While doing that, replace bombs with torpedoes on the bombers!

Enemy ships have been sighted! We will attack them! Replace bombs with torpedoes! Go!

Have you finished reinstalling the torpedoes? Hurry! Urgent!

- If the Americans attack now, we are helpless. - Tell them to finish as quickly as possible.

Any messages?

Scout planes reporting many enemy planes heading toward us!

At 50 miles, 340 degrees north of Midway.

- 50 miles? - When will they arrive?

30 minutes!

- Hurry! Finish preparations for the attack! Urgent!

Five minutes. They will be ready in five minutes.

Take off when ready.

Take off as they become ready.

Pilots! Take off now!

Enemy aircraft!

Starboard side!

There! Fire!

Captain! Are we alone in the air!

The Kaga is sinking!

Captain!

Admiral?

Read it.

Attacked by enemy aircraft. Akagi, Kaga and Soryu destroyed.

Message from Admiral Yamaguchi: Hiryu undamaged.

Hiryu ready to launch attack.

Send a message to the Hiryu. Wish them a good fight.

We'll join up with the planes taking from off the Hiryu.

Captain, we're low on fuel.

Low? How much longer can we fly?

We've been flying 30 minutes. We have fuel for 300 miles more.

Not enough. We won't make it back.

- So what? - Our ship has been sunk anyway.

All right, we will continue.

U.S. Navy aircraft carrier "Yorktown"

Now!

The attack sank the Yorktown. But the Americans struck back and sank the Hiryu.

All four Japanese carriers that participated at the Battle of Midway were lost.

Yamamoto, willing to gamble everything in a night battle,

proceeded aboard the Yamato toward the American fleet.

- Where is the enemy? - 400 miles away.

- Still that far? - Looks like they are trying to elude us.

Admiral, I do not think there will be a battle tonight.

Captain, why not attack Midway instead?

We could bombard the bases.

We should join up with the other ships for a joint attack.

- But ... - Why not?

It makes no sense that we continue playing a game we've already lost.

We must retreat.

Admiral, how will we apologize to the Emperor?

Leave that to me. I must go and apologize to His Majesty.

We lost four carriers. But this does not mean we cannot build others.

We are back at square one. Wars are like this.

Make a list of all casulties from this operation.

Yamamoto had again lost hope for a quick victory.

What was left of the Japanese fleet retired to the west. Then, three days later ...

- I just saw the Bonin Islands. - Yes, we're not far from Japan.

We received a message from General Headquarters.

They decided to inform His Majesty.

And so it goes ...

I do not want anyone to blame Admiral Nagumo.

Tell everyone that I am responsible for everything.

Admiral, my poor management of this operation has had very serious consequences. I'm sorry ... I'm sorry.

We are deeply ashamed. Admiral, we beg you for another chance.

You will.

You have my trust.

The defeat at Midway was a blow to the Japanese Navy.

But the people were never told about it.

IWAKUNI AIR BASE

I'm Lieutenant Kimura. I'll be taking you to the Saeki air base.

From there, you'll be assigned to aircraft carriers or land air bases.

But first, the Commander-in-Chief will inspect our ranks.

Hold your heads high as the Commander-in-Chief passes by!

- Pilot. - Yes!

- How many hours have you flown? - 220, Sir.

- And you? - 230 hours, Sir.

- And you? - 200 hours, Sir.

They have very few flight hours. They really need about six months of practical flying.

But we badly need carrier pilots.

We had pilots at Midway with over 1,000 hours of flight.

- How many hours have you had? - 210 hours, Sir.

- Flying time? - 230, Sir!

- No need to raise your voice. - Understood.

- You can shout if you want. How old are you? - Eighteen!

These men remind me of a young officer who came to visit me ...

... at the Navy Ministry when I was Deputy Minister.

Admiral, do you mean me?

Yes, I do.

Do what you can to guide these young people. I trust you.

A few months after the Battle of Midway, the U.S. Navy headed west ...