Battle of Midway
The Pacific Ocean covers an area of nearly 170 million square kilometers, making it the largest body of water on the planet. Aptly named for its central location, the Midway Atoll served as an important rest stop and refueling station for transpacific voyages. During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy saw its strategic importance, attacking United States Navy forces stationed there in an attempt to capture the group of islands. Considered the most important maritime battle of World War II, the four-day Battle of Midway in June 1942 occurred just six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. But this time, unlike the Pearl Harbor strike, the U.S. was ready. Over 300 Americans and 2,000 Japanese died in the fierce battle — Japan lost four of its aircraft carriers and a heavy cruiser, compared to one U.S. aircraft carrier and a destroyer. The Japanese reversals marked the beginning of the country's decline in the war's Pacific theatre.