Operational Intelligence at the Battle of Midway
Abstract
The Battle of Midway showcased the application of operational intelligence as a function of operational art. Planning and execution for the Midway operation required fusion of strategic, operational and tactical intelligence by the commanders involved; most notably Admiral Chester Nimitz. Having fully integrated operational intelligence into his decision making with emphasis on enemy intent derived from code breaking Nimitz designed an operation that was truly the turning point of war in the Pacific. Four main lessons about operational intelligence emerge as a function of operational art: 1) To be effective, operational intelligence requires the existence, in peacetime, of a theater-wide system for collecting, processing, evaluating and disseminating intelligence information to the operational commander; 2) Integration of strategic/operational/tactical level intelligence is key to victory; 3) Operational planning based on enemy intent rather than enemy capability treads on dangerous ground rely on enemy intentions only when you possess absolutely reliable information; and 4) The operational commander must have vision to see where intelligence can help his decision making. The proper, insightful and confident use of fused, finished operational intelligence allowed Admiral Nimitz to extract unambiguous indications of enemy intent and develop an operational plan that capitalized on own force strength and critical enemy weaknesses. In the end, the skillful and effective use of operational art proved that a numerically inferior force can, under enlightened leadership, defeat an otherwise superior foe. It is an enduring lesson that stands the test of time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 18, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA351751
Entities
People
- Paul J. Jaeger
Organizations
- Naval War College