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Prime Minister Winston Churchill
and President Franklin Roosevelt
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are navy men.
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They understand
that World War II will be won
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by the side that controls the seas.
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Early in the war,
Germany dominates the Atlantic
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and threatens Great Britain,
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while Japan is attempting
to build an empire
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across the Asia-Pacific theatre.
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The attack on Pearl Harbor
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and Germany's declaration of war
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brings America
directly into the conflict,
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a global struggle
that will range across many seas
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and many oceans.
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But the US Navy has a new weapon -
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the aircraft carrier -
which extends its reach
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and allows it to challenge an enemy
thousands of miles away.
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All wars change the world.
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But none of them changed the world
like the Second World War did.
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Japan's on the march,
Germany's on the march.
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No one can imagine
the nightmare
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they're about to unleash.
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The most destructive war
in human history.
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Suddenly, the world
is turned upside down,
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and all hell is let loose.
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The West is stunned
by the speed of the advance.
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You get the Allies
led by the big three -
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Roosevelt, Churchill, Stalin.
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Men who were dealing with
immensely complicated questions.
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It's the biggest military
operation of human history.
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The Allies have to come together
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not just militarily,
but industrial scale -
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it's a global perspective.
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They have to fight
in every climate
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from the Arctic,
to the jungles of the Pacific,
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to the deserts of Africa
and the depths of the ocean.
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But there was
no certainty of victory.
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It was going to be
a horrific bloodbath.
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We see humans
at their absolute worst,
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how they treat other human beings.
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And we see them
at their absolute best,
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willing to give their lives
that others might live.
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World War II was a struggle
in which there could be
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one victor and one vanquished.
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{\an8}In late 1940,
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{\an8}British cities are
pounded from the air
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{\an8}by the German Luftwaffe
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{\an8}almost every night.
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{\an8}Led by Prime Minister
Winston Churchill,
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{\an8}the people of Great Britain
show no sign of surrender.
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{\an8}But most of the food and material
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{\an8}the island nation needs to survive
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must be brought from abroad...
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...in British ships.
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And Nazi U-boats threaten
every one of them.
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More than two-thirds
of Britain's food comes in by ship.
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{\an8}Over 90% of Britain's oil
comes by ship.
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Britain also needs raw materials.
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You can't build
a Lancaster bomber
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or a Spitfire out of steel.
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You need aluminium.
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Britain has no aluminium,
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so it needs to ship it all
across the Atlantic.
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Most of what Britain
needs comes from one source -
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America.
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President Franklin D Roosevelt
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has declared the United States
an arsenal of democracy.
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A lifeline is established -
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American resources
carried by British convoys.
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But it's a perilous journey.
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In 1940 alone,
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over 500 British
merchant ships are lost.
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The Germans are able to sink three
million tons of British shipping
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between the summer of 1940
and the end of the year.
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That's unsustainable.
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If Churchill can't keep up
the flow of supplies to Britain,
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well, you're in existential trouble.
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The man directing
Germany's U-boat campaign
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is Admiral Karl Doenitz,
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a World War I
U-boat commander himself.
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Throughout the Great War,
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the Germans used
unrestricted submarine warfare
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to attempt to choke Britain
into submission.
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Doenitz's mind
is pure mathematics.
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You sink more merchant ships
than can be built...
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to starve the British,
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{\an8}to deprive Britain
of the raw materials
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{\an8}and the calories needed
to fight the war.
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In 1940,
Doenitz devises a new tactic.
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He groups up to 20 U-boats
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and orders them
to hunt British convoys.
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They're called "wolfpacks".
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{\an8}The moment one U-boat
finds a convoy,
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{\an8}it radios back to Doenitz.
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Doenitz then looks
at where all his U-boats are.
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{\an8}Doenitz then vectors
all other U-boats
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{\an8}in and around those waters
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onto the same target.
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The wolfpack tactic
requires good communication...
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...good coordination.
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Nobody attacks
until they're all present...
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...and then they pounce.
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Imagine what it's like
to be in a convoy under attack.
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Even if your ship
doesn't get hit,
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you cannot stop
to pick up survivors.
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You hear them screaming.
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You want to help them,
but you cannot stop.
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Because if you do,
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you know a submarine
is waiting to sink you.
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Through 1940,
the wolfpacks are so successful,
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their crews refer to it
as the "Happy Time".
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Doenitz's plan to strangle
Great Britain is working.
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Attacked by sea and by air,
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Britain's survival falls largely
on the shoulders of one man -
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Winston Churchill.
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In November 1940, Churchill
is told in no uncertain terms
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by government officials
that there are simply
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not enough supplies
getting into Britain.
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Britain is not going to be able
to continue the war.
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He said it gnawed at his bowels.
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He said it's the only thing
that kept him up at night
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in the Second World War...
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was the German threat
in the Atlantic.
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Desperate, Prime Minister Churchill
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writes to President Roosevelt.
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Franklin Roosevelt had been
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
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during the First World War.
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{\an8}He understood the role of sea power.
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In early December,
Roosevelt sets aside
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the burdens of office
for a few days in the Caribbean.
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And a seaplane brings
a letter from Churchill.
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And Churchill says,
this is the most important letter
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I will ever write.
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Churchill is terrified.
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He's coming closer to losing
than he ever has.
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He says, "I need help."
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"I need planes, ships,
guns, and money."
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Roosevelt has long understood
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the threat Nazi Germany poses
to the United States.
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But he's been constrained from
offering direct aid to the British
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because of Americans' anxiety
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over getting involved
in another world war.
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Roosevelt had read
Mein Kampf in German.
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He understood, in a way
that not many Americans did,
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what Hitler was about.
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But 80% or 90% of the country
had no interest
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in being involved in any way
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in military conflict
in the Old World.
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FDR understands
that if the United States
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is to take its place
as a leader of the world,
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he's got to do it
very, very carefully.
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Roosevelt returns
to Washington with a plan.
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He calls it Lend-Lease.
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{\an8}I ask this Congress
for authority and for funds
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sufficient to manufacture
additional munitions
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and war supplies of many kinds
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to be turned over to those nations
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which are now in actual war
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with aggressor nations.
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Churchill's letter
has been answered.
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As he put it, if my
neighbour's house is on fire,
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I lend him the hose.
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I don't make him pay for it.
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I just ask for it back afterward.
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Churchill had been thrown
a lifeline.
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Lend-Lease would keep Britain alive.
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President Roosevelt shepherds
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the Lend-Lease legislation,
designated HR-1776,
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through Congress.
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American weapons,
including tanks and planes,
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are headed for Great Britain.
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But these convoys will move
through hazardous waters.
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Spring, 1941.
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American ships carrying
Lend-Lease supplies to Britain
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are threatened
by Doenitz's wolfpacks.
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Roosevelt understands the risk.
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But because
he knows what's at stake,
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it's a risk
he believes worth taking.
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He writes
to Prime Minister Churchill.
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"I believe that the outcome
of this struggle
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is going to be decided
in the Atlantic.
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And unless Hitler can win there,
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he cannot win anywhere
in the world."
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FDR extends
the US maritime security zone
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to 26 degrees west.
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A significant part of the Atlantic
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is now patrolled by the US Navy.
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He takes over
more than half of the Atlantic
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and turns it into an American lake.
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Roosevelt is now saying,
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{\an8}we will attack anyone
who goes to war in those areas,
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knowing the only people
who are going to make attacks
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in that area
is the Germans in submarines.
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As American
and British interests align,
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President Roosevelt
and Prime Minister Churchill
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agree to a summit
to discuss strategy...
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...not just for
the battle in the Atlantic,
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but for the whole war.
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They will meet
in a bay just off Newfoundland
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on the eastern edge of Canada.
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Roosevelt tells
the Washington press
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that he's taking a vacation
on the presidential yacht,
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the Potomac.
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But once at sea, he transfers
to the heavy cruiser Augusta
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and sets sail to meet Churchill.
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And events were conspiring
to bring them on stage
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at the same hour
at a cataclysmic moment.
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Roosevelt wanted Churchill
as close as possible.
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Churchill travels to meet Roosevelt
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on the battleship
HMS Prince of Wales,
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escorted by Royal Navy destroyers.
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But summer storms
prevent the escorts
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from staying with
the Prime Minister's ship.
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Alone, the HMS Prince of Wales
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travels through
U-boat-menaced waters...
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...the same journey
that British ships
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continue to make every day.
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On August 9th,
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the President
and the Prime Minister meet.
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It's a deeply emotional
and powerful moment
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{\an8}because it's their first meeting
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as the leaders
of their respective countries.
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Franklin Roosevelt
and Winston Churchill
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were very similar men in many ways.
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{\an8}They both believed
that they were destined to play
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00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:26,000
{\an8}a great role in the lives
of their nations and of the world.
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It was very important to FDR
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to stand when he met Churchill.
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Because of the polio,
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this was a pure effort of will.
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He did not want to be seated
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in front of men who were fighting.
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You can see the beginnings
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of what would become
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arguably the most important
political friendship
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in history, in those first moments.
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Churchill's boyishly happy
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and is so excited that the President
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of the United States
is receiving him.
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It's also important
to remember the intimacy
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of being together at sea,
in the vast ocean,
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where they're looking
each other in the eye.
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They want to get along.
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They want to please the other.
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The two leaders also want
to map a way forward for the world.
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They produce the Atlantic Charter,
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with joint war aims and a blueprint
to prevent another world war.
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They knew that history
had mysteriously
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but unmistakably
cast them in this drama.
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And it was a reminder,
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00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,000
an emotional reminder...
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...of what was at stake.
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When Churchill departs for home,
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00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,520
FDR sends two American warships
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to accompany him as far as Iceland.
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In fall 1941,
Roosevelt orders the US Navy
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00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:26,440
to escort British convoys
halfway across the Atlantic.
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It puts US forces now
very close to Europe.
258
00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:35,960
Everything about that is a way
to be more aggressive to Germany.
259
00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,960
On September 4, 1941,
260
00:16:41,120 --> 00:16:44,320
the USS Greer is attacked
by a German U-boat.
261
00:16:45,760 --> 00:16:47,560
The Greer strikes back.
262
00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,880
Roosevelt responds
with a shoot on sight order.
263
00:16:54,280 --> 00:16:56,480
I tell you the blunt fact
264
00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:59,120
that the German submarine
fired first
265
00:16:59,280 --> 00:17:02,440
upon this American destroyer Greer
266
00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:05,280
with deliberate design to sink us.
267
00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:07,920
What we are seeing are
268
00:17:08,080 --> 00:17:10,480
{\an8}tensions ratcheting up
in the Atlantic,
269
00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,640
{\an8}an undeclared war
almost certainly at some point
270
00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,040
going to turn into a shooting one.
271
00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:19,720
On October 17th,
the USS Kearny
272
00:17:19,880 --> 00:17:22,760
is damaged by a torpedo
from a German U-boat.
273
00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,800
11 sailors are killed.
274
00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:32,960
Two weeks later,
275
00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:36,880
the USS Reuben James
is torpedoed and sunk.
276
00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,800
115 sailors are killed.
277
00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,280
Roosevelt again
condemns German barbarism,
278
00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,120
German brutality.
"How can they do this?"
279
00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:53,720
But Roosevelt doesn't declare war.
280
00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,320
He realises this isn't quite enough
281
00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,240
to base an entry
into the Second World War.
282
00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:06,960
At the end of 1941,
283
00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:09,720
preserving Great Britain's
Atlantic lifeline
284
00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:13,000
is FDR's chief naval concern.
285
00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,880
But in the Pacific...
286
00:18:18,040 --> 00:18:21,000
a different threat
is about to launch.
287
00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:41,680
December 7, 1941.
288
00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:44,280
Six Japanese aircraft carriers
289
00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,160
with over 300 dive bombers
and torpedo planes
290
00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,920
approach America's largest
naval base in the Pacific.
291
00:19:04,680 --> 00:19:06,080
We interrupt this broadcast
292
00:19:06,240 --> 00:19:08,400
{\an8}to bring you this important bulletin
from the United Press.
293
00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:09,920
{\an8}Flash, Washington.
294
00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,480
{\an8}The White House announces
Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
295
00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:18,920
{\an8}What is the country that finally
attacks America on American soil?
296
00:19:19,080 --> 00:19:20,200
It's Japan.
297
00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:22,360
{\an8}Messages from Tokyo say that
298
00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,120
{\an8}Japan has announced
a formal declaration of war
299
00:19:25,280 --> 00:19:28,040
{\an8}against both the United States
and Britain.
300
00:19:29,360 --> 00:19:32,520
Churchill learns about
Pearl Harbor from the BBC.
301
00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,560
{\an8}He hears the broadcast
announcing this.
302
00:19:34,720 --> 00:19:36,200
{\an8}He calls FDR.
303
00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:38,280
{\an8}FDR says, "It's true.
304
00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,200
We're all in the same boat now."
305
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:44,960
Four days later,
306
00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:48,040
Germany declares war
on the United States.
307
00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:53,120
America will fight a war
across both the Atlantic
308
00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:55,320
and Pacific oceans.
309
00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,720
And FDR is now a wartime president.
310
00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,320
Roosevelt comes under
a great pressure.
311
00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:09,000
{\an8}He really finds
the first few months of 1942
312
00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:10,880
{\an8}probably the most difficult
in the war.
313
00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:14,120
And if you're Roosevelt,
everyone's yelling at you.
314
00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,600
The British are yelling at you
to convoy in the North Atlantic.
315
00:20:17,760 --> 00:20:20,720
The navy's yelling at you for more
resources to go to the Pacific.
316
00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:24,960
To fight the war in the Pacific,
317
00:20:25,120 --> 00:20:27,400
FDR appoints Admiral Chester Nimitz
318
00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:31,800
as the new Commander-in-Chief
Pacific, CINCPAC.
319
00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:35,400
Nimitz arrives to assume
command of the Pacific fleet
320
00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:37,640
while Pearl Harbor
is still a burning mess.
321
00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:41,720
{\an8}It just stinks of death
and fire and destruction.
322
00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,840
Nimitz takes command
of a weakened Pacific Fleet.
323
00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,400
Most American battleships
are destroyed
324
00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:52,520
or damaged at Pearl Harbor.
325
00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,520
But its aircraft carriers
were at sea
326
00:20:56,680 --> 00:20:59,120
and escaped the attack.
327
00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:05,800
Nimitz is relying on admirals
like William "Bull" Halsey
328
00:21:05,960 --> 00:21:08,720
to press the fight
against the Japanese.
329
00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,880
He sees that
American naval strategy
330
00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:15,800
based on the battleship is all gone.
331
00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:20,920
But we still have aircraft carriers
and we still have submarines.
332
00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:23,080
Chester Nimitz understands,
333
00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,800
{\an8}OK, out with the old,
in with the new.
334
00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:33,960
Nimitz adjusts
American naval strategy
335
00:21:34,120 --> 00:21:39,640
to rely on aircraft carriers
and a series of raids.
336
00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:44,120
{\an8}Because those
aircraft carriers are available,
337
00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:46,560
{\an8}he does have a tool
to punch back at Japan.
338
00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:50,200
The Imperial Japanese Navy
339
00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:52,680
is well-trained and well-equipped.
340
00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:58,440
They dominate and control
the western half of the Pacific.
341
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:03,360
April 1942.
342
00:22:03,520 --> 00:22:05,520
Four months after Pearl Harbor,
343
00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,040
Admiral Nimitz is eager
to go on the offensive.
344
00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:11,200
But where?
345
00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:17,640
The navy's top cryptanalyst,
Commander Joseph Rochefort,
346
00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:19,720
and his team decode signals
347
00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:23,120
that reveal
the Japanese navy's plans.
348
00:22:26,360 --> 00:22:28,360
The intelligence that Rochefort
349
00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:32,080
{\an8}is bringing to Nimitz is not
necessarily all that clear cut.
350
00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:34,240
But the picture that is developing
351
00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,640
is one of continued Japanese
interest in the South Pacific.
352
00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,360
Rochefort believes
the Japanese are going
353
00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:47,920
{\an8}to invade southern New Guinea.
354
00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:50,120
From there,
they could block the sea lanes
355
00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:52,920
that connect the United States
and Australia...
356
00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,360
{\an8}and possibly strike Australia...
357
00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,640
...which is the key to the American
strategy in the South Pacific.
358
00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,080
The Japanese would control
everything from Japan to Australia,
359
00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:05,960
that entire linkage
to the Indian Ocean,
360
00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:08,240
and, oh, by the way,
a principal ally
361
00:23:08,400 --> 00:23:10,520
in the southern part
of the hemisphere.
362
00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,320
Nimitz dispatches
two aircraft carriers -
363
00:23:14,480 --> 00:23:16,840
the Lexington and the Yorktown -
364
00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:19,120
to intercept the Japanese force.
365
00:23:19,280 --> 00:23:21,800
They are the only
two carriers available.
366
00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:31,400
His basic game plan
is to cruise in the Coral Sea
367
00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:34,760
and wait for the Japanese moves
368
00:23:34,920 --> 00:23:37,880
and deliver an attack
against the Japanese.
369
00:23:40,200 --> 00:23:42,160
It's hard sometimes to remember,
370
00:23:42,320 --> 00:23:45,000
{\an8}because we have satellites
that illuminate the whole world
371
00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:46,480
{\an8}in real time,
372
00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:48,760
that for most of military history,
373
00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:51,600
the fog of war is huge.
374
00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:53,720
And at sea,
it's an even bigger deal.
375
00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:57,760
Trying to find your enemy
is half the battle.
376
00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,000
A large fleet can
become almost invisible.
377
00:24:02,160 --> 00:24:04,280
And then once you find it,
378
00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,720
you have to hit them
before they find you.
379
00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:17,840
Rochefort's intelligence is correct.
380
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,520
American reconnaissance aircraft
381
00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:22,480
spot the Japanese fleet
in the Coral Sea.
382
00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,720
Both American carriers
launch their plans.
383
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,600
This attack is really
the first sign
384
00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,280
that what we have here
is what's called an "RMA" nowadays,
385
00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,240
a Revolution in Military Affairs.
386
00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:55,080
The two fleets
are more than 100 miles apart.
387
00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:01,920
They're attacking with aircraft
from far away.
388
00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,440
They're not exchanging salvos
from big guns.
389
00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,800
The Americans had never done
anything like that
390
00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:09,840
with aircraft carriers before.
391
00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,520
American dive bombers strike first,
392
00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,080
finding the Japanese carrier Shoho.
393
00:25:19,480 --> 00:25:22,520
She's hit and sinks
in less than an hour.
394
00:25:27,640 --> 00:25:29,680
Shoho is the first
Japanese carrier
395
00:25:29,840 --> 00:25:32,280
that's going to be sunk
during this war.
396
00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,200
When you throw a punch
in boxing,
397
00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:43,680
you open yourself up
to a counterpunch.
398
00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,120
So your choices are "don't fight"
399
00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:50,640
or "fight and open yourself up
to a devastating blow".
400
00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,280
The United States Navy
has struck first.
401
00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:57,320
But now Nimitz's force faces
the Japanese counterattack.
402
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,240
The US Navy sinks their first
403
00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:11,080
Japanese aircraft carrier
in the Coral Sea.
404
00:26:12,120 --> 00:26:13,720
But the next day,
Japanese planes
405
00:26:13,880 --> 00:26:17,000
locate and target
the USS Lexington,
406
00:26:17,160 --> 00:26:20,800
America's oldest carrier,
nicknamed "Lady Lex".
407
00:26:34,080 --> 00:26:35,880
She takes four direct hits.
408
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:41,040
She's still seaworthy,
409
00:26:41,200 --> 00:26:43,640
but a gas line ignites
and she catches fire.
410
00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,080
She burns to the waterline...
411
00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:56,440
...and is scuttled to avoid capture.
412
00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,240
To protect their remaining carriers,
413
00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:12,000
the Japanese call off the invasion.
414
00:27:13,760 --> 00:27:15,240
The Battle of the Coral Sea
415
00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:17,440
is the first time
that the United States
416
00:27:17,600 --> 00:27:20,120
has turned back
a Japanese offensive.
417
00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,400
From Nimitz's standpoint,
418
00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,080
he's learned to trust
his intel officers.
419
00:27:26,240 --> 00:27:30,160
{\an8}He's also learned that the carriers
are going to be the way to go.
420
00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:31,920
Even though this is
kind of the Wild West
421
00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:35,200
of naval combat at this point,
carriers are effective.
422
00:27:35,360 --> 00:27:37,320
They can sink enemy warships.
423
00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,680
Fearing a long war
with America,
424
00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:47,400
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto,
the architect of Pearl Harbor,
425
00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:52,320
is always seeking a knockout blow
against the US Navy.
426
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,040
So he says, I need
to destroy these American carriers.
427
00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:56,960
But how do I do it?
428
00:27:57,120 --> 00:27:59,280
And so they cook up this plan,
the Japanese naval staff,
429
00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,200
{\an8}is that they'll attack
a vital American place.
430
00:28:02,360 --> 00:28:05,000
{\an8}And they decide Midway Island,
so called because it's midway
431
00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:08,840
between the West Coast
of the United States and China.
432
00:28:09,000 --> 00:28:10,960
It is American territory.
433
00:28:11,120 --> 00:28:12,840
It's something the Americans value.
434
00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:14,480
That might be enough to lure
435
00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,360
the Americans out
to defend that territory.
436
00:28:16,520 --> 00:28:19,080
{\an8}And if they do, then we can
annihilate their carriers
437
00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:20,920
{\an8}and have a free hand in the Pacific.
438
00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:27,880
Yamamoto's plan is to
launch a surprise attack on Midway
439
00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:30,120
with four of his carriers.
440
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:33,280
The Japanese will take
the strategic island
441
00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:36,960
and believe Midway will then
radio Pearl Harbor for help,
442
00:28:37,120 --> 00:28:41,240
prompting Nimitz to send his
carriers to defend the island.
443
00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:44,080
Once the American carriers
get to Midway,
444
00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:47,840
Yamamoto will appear
with the rest of his fleet.
445
00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,680
He will trap them in jaws of iron,
446
00:28:50,840 --> 00:28:53,840
crush them, and destroy
not only the American carriers,
447
00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:55,480
but also their battleships,
448
00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:57,880
at which point the Americans
will have no naval forces
449
00:28:58,040 --> 00:28:59,920
of any worth left in the Pacific.
450
00:29:05,880 --> 00:29:07,640
This could be a decisive strike
451
00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:10,760
against the US Naval forces
in the Pacific.
452
00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:27,680
In late May,
453
00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:30,640
the Japanese task force
head to Midway Island.
454
00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:36,160
There are 250 aircraft
on its carriers.
455
00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:43,880
But cryptanalyst
Joseph Rochefort, once again,
456
00:29:44,040 --> 00:29:47,600
has intercepted
the Japanese coded signals.
457
00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:49,600
Rochefort believes Japan
458
00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,960
is sending its fleet
to attack Midway.
459
00:29:53,120 --> 00:29:54,480
The problem is the Japanese
460
00:29:54,640 --> 00:29:56,920
aren't referring to Midway Island
as Midway Island.
461
00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:59,240
They're saying, "AF".
462
00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:01,760
"We're going to attack AF."
463
00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:08,200
Rochefort has a plan
to reveal the identity of "AF".
464
00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:11,920
Midway sends false radio messages
465
00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,280
on a channel the Japanese monitor,
466
00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:17,320
suggesting there's a problem
on the island.
467
00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:20,840
Midway is going
to radio back in the clear
468
00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:23,360
that, hey, our desalinisation plant
has just broken,
469
00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:25,760
and we're running out
of fresh water.
470
00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:31,040
And then they wait and listen.
471
00:30:37,880 --> 00:30:40,720
And shortly thereafter,
a Japanese radio station
472
00:30:40,880 --> 00:30:43,640
will send another message
back to the Japanese fleet
473
00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:46,400
that AF has just run out
of fresh water.
474
00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:49,720
And now, for the first time,
they know it's Midway.
475
00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:57,200
Nimitz dispatches his
three remaining aircraft carriers
476
00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:00,920
and a supporting fleet
towards Midway.
477
00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:21,200
The US Navy is lying in wait
478
00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:23,600
to intercept
the Japanese attack on Midway...
479
00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,720
...if they can locate
the Japanese carriers.
480
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:33,160
This is the first time
many young pilots
481
00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:35,040
will go into battle.
482
00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,840
There are some that had never even
taken off a aircraft carrier before.
483
00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:50,360
We do have a fascinating
bit of footage that shows VT-8,
484
00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:53,200
that torpedo squadron,
on the USS Hornet.
485
00:31:53,360 --> 00:31:55,640
When we look at that picture,
what you see is a bunch of
486
00:31:55,800 --> 00:31:58,040
20-something-year-old
naval aviators.
487
00:31:58,200 --> 00:32:00,000
And what you see is the swagger.
488
00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:03,320
Now, probably in that swagger
and the smoking of the cigarettes,
489
00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:06,720
{\an8}it's probably hiding a little bit
of the fear of the unknown.
490
00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,600
But even still,
you see that twinkle.
491
00:32:11,720 --> 00:32:13,560
"This is our time."
492
00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:30,200
At 6:30am,
493
00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:33,960
Japanese aircraft attack Midway
and inflict heavy damage.
494
00:32:41,080 --> 00:32:43,840
The battle starts off
really going perfectly,
495
00:32:44,000 --> 00:32:46,080
according to the Japanese plan.
496
00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:54,200
But the Japanese don't know
497
00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:56,800
that the American fleet
has moved into position
498
00:32:56,960 --> 00:32:59,440
to the northeast of Midway...
499
00:32:59,600 --> 00:33:03,280
and are now ready
to launch a surprise attack.
500
00:33:08,520 --> 00:33:11,640
Starting at 7:00am,
more than 100 aircraft
501
00:33:11,800 --> 00:33:14,840
launch from the Hornet
and the Enterprise.
502
00:33:21,760 --> 00:33:25,640
Squadrons search for
the Japanese fleet at 19,000 feet.
503
00:33:28,400 --> 00:33:30,520
As an aviator in World War II,
504
00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,320
you might have a set of binoculars
to help increase your vision.
505
00:33:33,480 --> 00:33:37,880
But otherwise, you're looking at
about 30 square miles' worth of sea
506
00:33:38,040 --> 00:33:40,320
and trying to figure out
where anything is.
507
00:33:45,360 --> 00:33:47,800
Three squadrons fly due west...
508
00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:52,880
...but can't find
the Japanese carriers.
509
00:33:56,720 --> 00:34:01,200
One squadron of
Devastator torpedo planes, VT-8,
510
00:34:01,360 --> 00:34:03,440
flies southwest.
511
00:34:04,760 --> 00:34:07,200
Just after 9:00am,
512
00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:11,760
through broken clouds,
they spot the Japanese fleet.
513
00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:19,840
The torpedo planes are terrible.
514
00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:21,720
It's only got a single machine gun.
515
00:34:21,880 --> 00:34:23,960
And so these things
are just lumbering,
516
00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:27,520
{\an8}slow, vulnerable targets that are
going to be horribly exposed
517
00:34:27,680 --> 00:34:31,400
to any sort of Japanese fighter
opposition if they run into it.
518
00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:37,560
As VT-8 lines up
to attack the carriers,
519
00:34:37,720 --> 00:34:40,000
they're intercepted
by Japanese Zeros.
520
00:34:42,160 --> 00:34:44,280
The Japanese Zero
is the most advanced
521
00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:46,160
Japanese aircraft that they have.
522
00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,440
It is a world-class fighter.
523
00:34:51,840 --> 00:34:56,240
It can manoeuvre like crazy.
It can climb like a banshee.
524
00:34:58,800 --> 00:35:01,560
The Zeros fire on VT-8.
525
00:35:01,720 --> 00:35:03,920
They just tear into
these formations
526
00:35:04,080 --> 00:35:06,520
and began very quickly
sending them,
527
00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:10,480
ones and twos, arrowing down
into the ocean in flames.
528
00:35:10,640 --> 00:35:13,040
And the entire squadron
is wiped out.
529
00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:19,400
Squadron VT-8 is destroyed.
530
00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:24,040
It takes less than 15 minutes.
531
00:35:27,680 --> 00:35:31,040
When we think about those guys
we see in the footage,
532
00:35:31,200 --> 00:35:34,400
of the 15 aircraft that attacked,
14 of them will be shot down.
533
00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:38,680
They get absolutely sacrificed.
534
00:35:41,720 --> 00:35:43,640
Some groups sacrifice
more than others,
535
00:35:43,800 --> 00:35:46,400
and in that case,
they sacrificed all.
536
00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,120
While Marine fighters
from Midway attack the Japanese,
537
00:35:57,280 --> 00:35:59,320
they don't inflict real damage.
538
00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:03,120
Other US squadrons
continue to search
539
00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:05,000
for the Japanese fleet.
540
00:36:07,720 --> 00:36:11,720
At about 9:30 in the morning,
things are going terribly.
541
00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,080
The Americans
are losing this battle,
542
00:36:14,240 --> 00:36:17,200
and Nimitz's battle plan
is falling apart.
543
00:36:18,760 --> 00:36:22,800
If navy pilots
don't locate the Japanese carriers,
544
00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:24,680
Midway will fall,
545
00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,200
and America's strategy
in the Pacific
546
00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:29,040
will be dealt a crushing blow.
547
00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:41,600
Fighting Squadron Six
of Dauntless dive bombers
548
00:36:41,760 --> 00:36:45,160
are searching for the Japanese fleet
that has attacked Midway.
549
00:36:49,760 --> 00:36:52,480
{\an8}This is the best aircraft
in the United States Navy
550
00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,480
{\an8}in 1941, '42.
551
00:36:54,640 --> 00:36:57,600
It carries a 1,000-pound bomb,
and it can be extremely effective.
552
00:36:59,480 --> 00:37:01,880
The squadron is led
by Navy Lieutenant Commander
553
00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:05,040
Wade McClusky, a 15-year veteran.
554
00:37:07,280 --> 00:37:10,560
{\an8}Wade McClusky goes out
to the portion of ocean
555
00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:12,760
{\an8}where he expects
the Japanese to be located,
556
00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:14,680
and there's nothing but sun
557
00:37:14,840 --> 00:37:17,240
and sea and sky
and some clouds.
558
00:37:19,640 --> 00:37:24,160
The squadron is in the air
for close to two hours.
559
00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:28,200
By 9:30am,
they're running low on fuel.
560
00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,880
But McClusky continues the search.
561
00:37:34,000 --> 00:37:37,440
This is an incredibly gutsy move
on McClusky's part.
562
00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,880
The fuel gauges are really bad.
563
00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:44,320
Deciding to continue his search
and continue looking for the enemy,
564
00:37:44,480 --> 00:37:46,280
that's really ballsy.
565
00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:48,240
Oh, by the way,
everybody's barking at him,
566
00:37:48,400 --> 00:37:50,880
"We're pretty low on fuel.
We got to get back."
567
00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:55,040
But he implements a box search
and starts looking for the Japanese.
568
00:37:55,200 --> 00:37:57,600
Flies north for a bit, nothing.
569
00:38:01,840 --> 00:38:04,040
But finally,
as he's about to turn for home,
570
00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:07,960
he sees a lone Japanese warship.
571
00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,360
He goes, "He looks like
he's headed somewhere in a hurry."
572
00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:17,040
"If I follow that ship,
it's going to take me someplace."
573
00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:18,760
And he does.
574
00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:23,960
30 minutes later,
575
00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:26,640
McClusky spots
the Japanese aircraft carriers.
576
00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:34,920
By chance, another squadron
of American dive bombers is nearby.
577
00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:39,440
These planes
would show up out of the blue
578
00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:41,400
through a break in the clouds.
579
00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:42,800
{\an8}And all of a sudden,
580
00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:45,480
{\an8}they're like a swarm of bees
closing in on your fleet.
581
00:38:45,640 --> 00:38:48,480
And it happens insanely fast.
582
00:38:53,280 --> 00:38:56,080
What you'd want to do
is come out of the sun.
583
00:38:56,240 --> 00:38:58,800
And then you'd roll over
and roll back out,
584
00:38:58,960 --> 00:39:02,000
and you'd set about
a 70-degree dive angle.
585
00:39:02,160 --> 00:39:04,120
You want to get as close
as you can to that carrier,
586
00:39:04,280 --> 00:39:05,760
about 1,500 feet.
587
00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:09,520
If you've got a really good pilot,
588
00:39:09,680 --> 00:39:11,960
you really can put this bomb
in a pickle barrel.
589
00:39:21,600 --> 00:39:23,920
Three carriers take multiple hits,
590
00:39:24,080 --> 00:39:26,840
the Akagi, Soryu, and Kaga.
591
00:39:29,040 --> 00:39:31,000
In the span of four minutes,
592
00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:32,640
United States dive bombers
593
00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:35,360
knock out three
Japanese aircraft carriers.
594
00:39:39,160 --> 00:39:41,800
The Japanese
have one remaining carrier,
595
00:39:41,960 --> 00:39:43,200
the Hiryu.
596
00:39:46,600 --> 00:39:48,440
At midday, its dive bombers
597
00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:51,560
find and attack
the American carrier Yorktown.
598
00:40:14,960 --> 00:40:18,440
After attempting
to save her for hours...
599
00:40:19,560 --> 00:40:22,200
...the Yorktown's captain
finally orders the crew
600
00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:23,800
to abandon ship.
601
00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:32,120
But the Hiryu's victory
is short-lived.
602
00:40:36,640 --> 00:40:38,560
American bombers find it
603
00:40:38,720 --> 00:40:41,560
and sink the fourth
Japanese carrier of the day.
604
00:40:46,560 --> 00:40:49,480
12 hours after the first
Japanese attack...
605
00:40:50,560 --> 00:40:53,520
...Yamamoto's plans
to deliver a decisive blow
606
00:40:53,680 --> 00:40:56,240
to the US fleet has collapsed.
607
00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:01,320
Instead, America has delivered
a devastating
608
00:41:01,480 --> 00:41:03,360
and decisive blow of its own.
609
00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:08,760
Four of Yamamoto's carriers
are at the bottom of the ocean.
610
00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,080
3,000 of his men are killed.
611
00:41:13,400 --> 00:41:15,960
This is a turning point.
612
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:23,680
It's easy to forget now...
613
00:41:23,840 --> 00:41:28,760
the feeling of revenge
that Americans felt
614
00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:32,840
when they were finally able
to strike back at the Japanese.
615
00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:42,160
President Roosevelt,
who has been monitoring the battle,
616
00:41:42,320 --> 00:41:46,120
finally receives word
that America has won.
617
00:41:46,280 --> 00:41:48,760
Midway is absolutely critical.
618
00:41:49,760 --> 00:41:52,920
It allows Roosevelt to get
out of this defensive crouch
619
00:41:53,080 --> 00:41:55,920
that we've been in for
the first seven months of this war
620
00:41:56,080 --> 00:41:58,560
and begin thinking about, OK,
621
00:41:58,720 --> 00:42:00,880
how would we like
to reshape this war?
622
00:42:01,040 --> 00:42:03,200
Where would we like
to go on the offensive?
623
00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:08,800
The emotional outcome of Midway
might be the biggest thing, right?
624
00:42:08,960 --> 00:42:10,880
This is the psychological blow.
625
00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:13,680
The idea that they come to Midway,
get smacked in the face,
626
00:42:13,840 --> 00:42:15,280
{\an8}and turn around and go back home,
627
00:42:15,440 --> 00:42:17,600
{\an8}psychologically devastating
to the Japanese.
628
00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:19,120
{\an8}Oh, by the way, for the Americans,
629
00:42:19,280 --> 00:42:20,680
{\an8}the idea that we can fight and win
630
00:42:20,840 --> 00:42:22,720
{\an8}against the Japanese...
631
00:42:22,880 --> 00:42:24,440
{\an8}that's powerful.
632
00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:36,000
After Midway,
633
00:42:36,160 --> 00:42:38,840
the United States takes
the upper hand in the Pacific.
634
00:42:39,000 --> 00:42:40,800
For the first time, the country wins
635
00:42:40,960 --> 00:42:44,280
a decisive victory
against the Japanese.
636
00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:47,280
America is now on the offensive
in the Pacific.
637
00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:48,960
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