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zulumike — Final Battle at Midway

Published: 2012-09-07 17:08:44 +0000 UTC; Views: 35986; Favourites: 455; Downloads: 2085
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Description On 4 June 1942, the Hiryu took part in the Battle of Midway. An American carrier-plane attack around 10:25 am disabled IJN carriers Kaga, Soryu and Akagi but left Hiryū untouched.

By 4 pm, Admiral Yamaguchi of the Hiryu decided to launch a third strike against the American carriers at dusk, though at this point in the battle Hiryū had only four air-worthy dive-bombers and five torpedo-planes left. She also retained nineteen of her own Zero fighters on board as well as a further thirteen Zeros on combat air patrol (a composite force left over from the carriers Akagi, Kaga and Sōryū).

While preparing to launch a third strike, Hiryū was attacked at 5:03 pm by 13 SBD Dauntless dive bombers from the Enterprise and hit with four 1000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs, three on the forward flight deck and one on or near the forward elevator . The explosions started fires among the aircraft on the hangar deck. The forward half of the flight deck collapsed into the hangar bay while part of the elevator was hurled against the ship's bridge. Fire and explosion continued to move toward the aft decks were the ship’s aircraft, bombs, fuel and the wooden deck became an inferno.

I have tried to convey the collapsed forward deck and final fires based on sequence of damage based on photos and other references.

Hiryu, though incapable of offensive action, kept moving until about midnight, when flames and explosions finally stopped her engines. She was ordered abandoned and then torpedoed to hasten sinking.

Link: [link] >hiryu
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Comments: 50

griffwolf [2021-11-19 02:03:23 +0000 UTC]

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Jacky13844 [2018-01-22 03:42:21 +0000 UTC]

Salute to Admiral Yamaguchi.

tho he really should've just retreat after three carriers got wrecked....should the Hiryu participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz it would make lots of differences....

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SirOtis [2017-10-24 17:26:55 +0000 UTC]

Just reward.

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traveleroftime1982 [2017-09-22 03:12:21 +0000 UTC]

AWESOME!  One of my FAVORITE pictures on here!   ^____^

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Heart-und-Seoul [2017-02-02 23:59:52 +0000 UTC]

that's epic water

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zulumike In reply to Heart-und-Seoul [2017-02-03 00:57:26 +0000 UTC]

Thank You.

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BorisFedorov [2016-09-08 15:34:05 +0000 UTC]

Yep, it was thing that the US and Russian armed forces defeated the Japanese in the Pacific division of the Second World War. 

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Mizukiskouhai In reply to BorisFedorov [2016-10-19 18:14:13 +0000 UTC]

Hurray for Superpowers  

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KoseV3 [2014-07-31 22:52:15 +0000 UTC]

How do you do, I claim to be KoseV3.
I want to use this picture in one's own game.
Permission
I think that this picture is very beautiful.
The subject supports PC, Android, iOS by "the Battle of Midway".
I would like it.

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zulumike In reply to KoseV3 [2014-07-31 23:05:30 +0000 UTC]

Yes, with credit my name:

Mike Newland, zulumike, DeviantArt

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KoseV3 In reply to zulumike [2014-08-01 01:00:30 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for your contacting me.
In addition, I thank for permission.
Because it is almost completed,
the game sends screenshot or the URL of the animation in a few days.
Thank you very much for your advice.

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IamHaden [2014-01-21 21:46:20 +0000 UTC]

do you mind if I use this in a college report?

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zulumike In reply to IamHaden [2014-01-21 22:23:43 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for your interest in my artwork.


Yes, if given credit and would like to see the report when completed.


Regards,


Mike

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IamHaden In reply to zulumike [2014-01-26 18:24:27 +0000 UTC]

well, i just got finished with it, so if you note me your email address, i'll promptly let you give it a look. thanks for letting me use it!

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zulumike In reply to IamHaden [2014-01-26 23:41:48 +0000 UTC]

I appreciate it. Look forward to reading it.


Email: novalander46@yahoo.com

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IamHaden In reply to zulumike [2014-01-27 19:21:27 +0000 UTC]

just sent it

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zulumike In reply to IamHaden [2014-01-28 02:55:19 +0000 UTC]

We'll written, but my copy you sent shows my illustration in the background of the first two paragraphs of the story.



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IamHaden In reply to zulumike [2014-01-28 15:30:00 +0000 UTC]

Something must have gone wrong with the file I sent you because the image is cengered in the background of each page on mine. Still, thanks for that!

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Silent-Steve [2013-06-23 18:17:40 +0000 UTC]

Excellent work; I think you've done a great job of interpreting and visualising Hiryu's known battle damage (i.e., the demolished flight deck forward)

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zulumike In reply to Silent-Steve [2013-06-23 21:08:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. I like to research on all my work as much as possible. Historical events should be close to the actual events and respect to the men who served these times of war. Glad you notice the details, it means a lot to me.
Cheers.

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Silent-Steve In reply to zulumike [2013-06-26 14:11:35 +0000 UTC]

Couldn't agree more!

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Monsterhunter-xD [2013-05-20 17:57:10 +0000 UTC]

[link] .
Fits.

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AWB2012 [2013-01-25 16:20:04 +0000 UTC]

A BLONDE GERMAN AMERICAN MARINE-SEND EM ALL TA HELL AND LET GOD SORT EM OUT!!!!

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eyepilot13 [2013-01-19 03:23:11 +0000 UTC]

Amazing work! I've been a WWII history nut since the 7th grade!

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zulumike In reply to eyepilot13 [2013-01-19 04:26:42 +0000 UTC]

Thank You, I am military history fan and enjoy putting the history to art form.

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eyepilot13 In reply to zulumike [2013-01-19 04:58:29 +0000 UTC]

...and I love it!!!!

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warrior1944 [2012-09-13 08:16:22 +0000 UTC]

Once again you amke one hell of a painting and just wow, just perfect and you got that moment perfectly

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zulumike In reply to warrior1944 [2012-09-13 15:17:28 +0000 UTC]

Thank You warrior.

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mobiusonedt [2012-09-11 04:15:07 +0000 UTC]

For the record, it was 24 Dauntlesses from the Enterprise that crippled the Hiryu, a mix of Enterprise and Yorktown squadrons.

This is an awesome picture to say the least. I have two little nitpicks, the sky seems a little too dark for the time of the attack considering it was still the middle of the afternoon. Also that explosion looks a little too far back considering all the bomb hits were well forward. Other than that nicely done.

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zulumike In reply to mobiusonedt [2012-09-11 15:01:57 +0000 UTC]

Take a look at the link I attached in my description.

Wilkipedia has a U.S.Navy photo showing the aftermath of the destruction the Hiryu. Yes, four bombs struck the forward deck of the carrier as shown in my composition. Also note the wilkipedia photo, the smoke is in the aft area of the engine room, top deck, this was an inferno due tothe explosion of bombs, torpedoes and fuel throughout the second deck from fore to aft of ship.
The explosions from the forward deck set off a chain reaction that finally settled in the aft area as shown. The woodwn decks and aircraft burned in this area well into the evening befor it was finally sunk by the IJN.

I studied five sources of this event and they were all different. I went with Wilkipedia because of photos. The Enterprise's ( 13) Dauntlesses four bombs were credited with fatal damage to the Hiryu.

The time of day was around 5:30pm with a hazy and cloudy sky.

Out of respect to our WW II veterans as my dad was I always try to be as accurate as possible with the sources available.

Look at the photo though of the destroyed forward deck and smoldering aft deck. By my clock mid afternoon is 2:00 -3:00 pm. not 5:30pm. Also it was not a clear day therfore less lighting on the ocean.

So depending on what source is "accurate" we could debate many historical events forever.

Thank you for the feedback.

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GrahamTG [2012-09-10 20:12:53 +0000 UTC]

I think this is up there as one off your finest Mike. Great composition and effects. Top job my friend.

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zulumike In reply to GrahamTG [2012-09-10 20:40:57 +0000 UTC]

Thanks Graham, I am trying to work toward dramatic illustrations that tell a story of history.

I was always fascinated with the illustrator's art of war. Putting good research to the artwork is very appealing to me.

Cheers, Mike

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Tara-E-H [2012-09-09 13:05:20 +0000 UTC]

This looks amazing!

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zulumike In reply to Tara-E-H [2012-09-09 13:19:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank You Much.

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Hoenn-Master [2012-09-08 14:49:59 +0000 UTC]



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zulumike In reply to Hoenn-Master [2012-09-08 16:45:57 +0000 UTC]

Appreciate the feedback. More to come.

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Hoenn-Master In reply to zulumike [2012-09-09 03:04:18 +0000 UTC]

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zulumike In reply to Hoenn-Master [2012-09-09 13:20:44 +0000 UTC]

Thank You.

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Hoenn-Master In reply to zulumike [2012-09-09 23:40:06 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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Sev808 [2012-09-08 09:36:45 +0000 UTC]

Scuse me while I shit myself.

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zulumike In reply to Sev808 [2012-09-08 16:45:00 +0000 UTC]

Glad you like it, There is nothing like fire to stimulate our senses.

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Transportphotos [2012-09-08 01:40:06 +0000 UTC]

Great art.

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zulumike In reply to Transportphotos [2012-09-08 01:48:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank You, appreciate the feedback.

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Tank50us [2012-09-07 17:57:02 +0000 UTC]

"SCRATCH ONE FLAT TOP!"
"LOOK AT THAT SUCKER BURN!"

~from the day before

Very nice work on this man. This was the battle that turned the tide of the war in the pacific, since after this, the Japanese Navy began its slow decline from which it would never recover. While the US lost the Yorktown, she would be replaced by the next year by not one, but a full class of carriers (the Essex Class), this was something the Japanese could not match, the US production capability, something Admiral Yamamoto himself even warned against to the Imperial Japanese Military high command.

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zulumike In reply to Tank50us [2012-09-07 19:00:09 +0000 UTC]

Thank You,

I keep going back to the stories of The Battle Midawy.........the loss of all the U.S. Torpedoe planes from the carriers, the loss of aircraft from Midawy Island, McClusky's hunch of following a destryer to the Hiryu, Nagumo's indecisions to load land bomb vs. torpedoes,and luck. The Yorktown being repaired in three days for this battle, the stories heroism and sacrifice. An amazing piece of history.

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Rekalnus [2012-09-07 17:55:17 +0000 UTC]

My favorite moment in the film 'Midway' was with H. Fonda playing Cincpac and being advised to break off the battle with three carriers sunk to his credit and he says "There's just one problem , gentlemen...I WANT that fourth flat-top!" and so went the Hiryu!

Great results. The water, ship and the effects, and the SBD's

Maybe R. Ballard will make a second expedition and find more of the IJN ships as he did the Yorktown.

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zulumike In reply to Rekalnus [2012-09-07 19:13:00 +0000 UTC]

Great movie and yes a good.

It is kind a like Lincoln sacking Gen. Meade for letting Lee's Army escape after Gettysburg, because Mead's troops were "tired".

With different outcomes though and aggresive leadership on the part of the US Navy.

I am following Ballard's project.

Iread that these aircraft carriers had over 90 to 150 tons of wooden decks, with fuel, bombs and torpedoes on the decks they were time bombs. Also the decks were painted light yellow with red rising sun symbol on the top forwrd deck. As one US pilot stated, it was a perfect "bullseye".

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Jacky13844 In reply to zulumike [2018-01-22 03:46:02 +0000 UTC]

those fuel, bombs and torpedoes werent on the decks, they were in the hanger when they got hit. the japanese navy were not that stupid to put all those flammable stuff on the flight deck

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zulumike [2012-09-07 17:34:46 +0000 UTC]

Thank You

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DingoPatagonico [2012-09-07 17:27:18 +0000 UTC]

! x3

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