9. Japanese plans negated their own numerical advantage
The Japanese attack on Midway included a simultaneous attack on the Aleutian Islands. Contrary to what many reported, the operations in the Aleutians were not a diversion. They were a planned occupation of American territory to prevent long-range bombing missions from being launched from island bases. Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the Japanese Imperial Isoroku Yamamoto was forced to agree with the operation in order to gain Army support for his attack on Midway. The massive Japanese naval force was divided into four units, none of which were positioned to support each other when the attack began. Nimitz was aware of the Japanese deployment, down to an order of battle for each unit.
The manner in which the Japanese deployed their forces removed most of the numerical advantage they enjoyed before the battle began. The only of the four units of the Japanese fleet which was engaged in the battle was the carrier force commanded by Admiral Nagumo, and some Japanese submarines. Japanese plans for a line of submarines to deploy in late May positioned to detect the movement of American ships and relay sightings to Yamamoto, did not materialize. Yamamoto commanded the entire operation from the massive battleship Yamato, over 300 miles west of Nagumo’s carriers. All of the Japanese ships advanced on Midway blind, unaware that Nimitz had prepared an ambush for them.