by Matthew Adams

Created on: November 05, 2010   Last Updated: November 11, 2010

The United States Navy is the largest in the world. As such, it has been involved in a number of naval battles, esp during the 1940s where the US Navy first rose to war-time prominence during the 20th century. The war in the Pacific provided a perfect platform for the United States Navy.

Battle of Midway:

The Battle of Midway was not the first naval battle of the Pacific War, but it was perhaps the most significant. After Pearl Harbor, the Japanese had sunk many US battleships but the US carrier fleets were out of port. These US navy ships would be essential at the Battle of Midway and further naval battles.

In 1942 Admiral Yamamoto of the Imperial Japanese Navy had targeted Midway Island as a position where the US Navy carrier fleet could be trapped and removed. To do this, a potent Japanese fleet of some four Japanese carriers headed for Midway Island along with escorting battleships.

However, the US had deciphered Japanese codes and were aware of the Japanese fleet heading for Midway. As such, US Navy carriers and other US Navy ships headed for Midway to prevent the Japanese landing at Midway.

The Japanese were surprised to find the US Navy carrier fleet arrive far earlier than expected. Their plan was further jeopardized as US bombers headed towards the Japanese fleet. While a good number were shot down, a few SBD bombers struck at the Japanese carriers below. Three Japanese carriers were hit and lost during this devastating sortie.

During the battle the Japanese were able to hit the US carrier the Yorktown. However, it took two sorties to finally displace this US carrier as its crew attempted repairs. The US carriers launched further planes towards the remaining Japanese carrier, which was then also hit and sunk. As such, the battle ended with four Japanese carriers lost and hundreds of supported aircrafts.

Battle of Leyte Gulf:

The Battle of Midway was a great victory for the US Navy, but not the last. In 1944 the remainder of the Imperial Japanese Navy met the US Navy at leyte Gulf to prevent Allied landings at Leyte. With few carriers the Japanese were at a disadvantage for this battle, and the Allies also had air-superiority.

As such, the battle did not go their way. 12 Japanese destroyers were lost during the battle, 8 cruisers, and three battleships. With such losses the Japanese could not defend Leyte Gulf and the Japanese fleet withdrew from Leyte.

Although, the US Navy also lost a light aircraft carrier the defeat of the Imperial Japanese Navy at Leyte left the US Navy with clear naval superiority in the war in the Pacific. From Leyte, the rest of the Philippines fell to the Allies which cut-off Japanese oil supplies. In addition to this, in further land battles the Japanese could no longer provide naval support to their armies.

These were two notable battles for the US Navy. Both battles were won decisively enough, and went some way to winning the Pacific War. By 1945 the US Navy had emerged as the largest navy in the world, the first navy to eclipse the Royal Navy in over 100 years. As such, the US Navy has remained the largest since these battles.

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