Battlestations: Midway/United States of America

The United States uses tougher but slower ships in their campaigns. The heaviest unit in the game, unfortunately, goes to the Japanese - at least until the Iowa mission expansion.

United States Navy/Royal Navy
The USN features generally tougher units. A lot more of the USN is playable since you play them throughout the campaign.

Elco PT Boat
The Elco controls similarly to the Gyoraitei, and you get to control these small, swift boats for the first two missions of the campaign. Both have a single depth charge rack and both are too shallow to be struck with torpedoes, making both types of PT boats highly effective against enemy submarines. Both are also easily sunk with machine gun fire.

Power-wise, the two are roughly comparable. The Elco lacks the massive cannon the Gyoraitei has, making the Gyoraitei effective at longer ranges. The Gyoraitei's cannon is also a flak gun, which allows it to strike at high-flying dive bombers, whereas the Elco only sports machine guns, which lack the power and range to strike high.

The Elco, however, sports two more torpedo tubes than the Gyoraitei, making the Elco superior in attacking warships at closer ranges. The Gyoraitei's cannon is difficult to aim, especially against fast-moving surface targets, especially Elcos. This means that a typical battle between a Gyoraitei and an Elco tends to favour the Elco. The Gyoraitei's slow loading time for its cannon and single machine gun also detriments it against the Elco's fast-firing triple machine guns.

One notable PT boat is PT-109, which is under the command of Lieutenant John F. Kennedy. It only makes one appearance, in Defence of the Phillipines.

Official Description: ''There are several PT (patrol torpedo) boat designs in service with the U.S. Navy, but the most common is the 80-foot long model built by New Jersey's Elco Boat Company. These sleek, very fast boats - well-armed with torpedoes, depth charges, and 20mm antiaircraft guns - are capable of engaging any target, be it in the air, on the sea, or below it. However, they are very vulnerable to enemy fire, particularly mahine gun fire, and are best employed to harass enemy merchant shipping or to attack submarines.''

Clemson class
The Clemson is an old, venerable warship and you can easily tell by its massive smokestacks. Its weapons are quite outdated now, but it can try to hold its own against enemy warships, particularly the Minekaze-class. For the first several missions though, all you'll have is the Clemson, and it should serve you well for the first missions. Once you manage to get your hands on the Fletcher-class though, you'll learn to love it far more than the Clemson. It's a good warship, but as one of the weakest in the game, it will have issues trying to find its place in the battlefield.

Notable Clemson-class warships include the Gamble, Kane, Parrot, Tucker, Walke, and Wordern.

Official Description: ''These venerable destroyers have been in service since 1919, but they are still worthy ships that are useful in a variety of roles. They carry a depth charge launcher, making them capable of engaging enemy submarines, and they feature a number of torpedo tubes, which gives trhem a powerful punch against larger ships. unfortunately, they are quite weak in the antiaircraft role, thanks to their small number of AA guns and the fact that they do not mount any dual-purpose guns.''

Fletcher class
Probably one of the best and most famous destroyers, the Fletcher-class is capable of attacking all kinds of targets given its weaponry, and like the Fubuki, is a jack-of-all-trades. Unfortunately this means it cannot truly excel in any area - save perhaps the anti-aircraft role. If they can get in really close, they can even torpedo battleships, although that is a difficult manoeuvre to accomplish.

Heavier warships can have an easy time sinking Fletchers, particularly those of cruiser class and above. The Fletcher may be a jack of all trades, but heavier armour can still prevent it from causing much damage to a heavier opponent. At the same time, bigger guns will have an easy time penetrating the Fletcher's thin hulls.

Notable warships of this class include the Dewey, Jenkins, Monaghan, John D. Ford, Perkins, Hotspur, and Sands.

Official Description: ''The Fletcher class has a state-of-the-art destroyer design that came into service in early 1942. Much larger than normal destroyers, it is nearly comparable to a light cruiser in both size and armament. rmed with the new dual-purpose 5" guns, it is particularly strong in the AA role, though it is also a formidable submarine hunter thanks to its dual depth charge launchers. In addition, both its torpedo tubs mounts can swivel to either side of the ship, allowing it t unleash a salvo of torpedoes that can put down an opponent of any size. These are very potent warships.''

Atlanta class
A substantial step up from the Fletcher class, the Atlanta-class has done away with depth charges and torpedoes in favour of more guns. Since it has dual-purpose weaponry, it is quite effective against both ships and aircraft. Unfortunately, it uses the same cannon as the Fletcher-class destroyer, so it will have difficulty sinking heavy targets. The Cleaveland class is a stronger light cruiser, more adept at sinking other cruisers.

Notable warships of this class include the pathfinder - Atlanta - as well as the Oakland, Ogala, Phoenix, Argonne, and the Sacramento.

Official Description: ''These modern light cruisers have only recently entered service. Originally designed to lead destroyer divisions, they carry a very large number of 5" dual-purpose guns, which gives them three times as much firepower as a destroyer. As a result, they make excellent antiaircraft platforms, as they can put a tremendous amount of flak into the air. Unfortunately, because of the light shell fired by the 5" gun, they are unable to effectively engage heavier surface targets, and generally struggle against any ship larger than a light cruiser. However, they do carry torpedo tubes, which gives them a chance against bigger opponents.

Cleveland class
These light cruisers are pretty good for a light cruiser and sports more weapons than the Atlanta class. The bad news is that it's still only a light cruiser, and sending it up against bigger guys is just asking for it to be smacked around. Japanese cruisers in particular carry 8" guns. When compared to the 6" guns of the Cleveland, the Cleveland is clearly at a disadvantage. However, for a cruiser, it can put up a lot of antiaircraft firepower, moreso than the Japanese Kuma class.

There are only two warships of this class that make an appearance in the game: the Cleaveland and the Denver.

Official Description: These state-of-the-art cruisers are just coming into service now at the start of the war, and they are probably the best ships of their type in the world. Their main weapon battery of twelve 6" guns gives them very considerable firepower against any ships lighter than a battleship. This is backed up by twelve 5" dual-purpose guns, making for a broadside of awesome porportions. These dual-purpose guns also form part of an excellent AA suite, which affords the cleaveland heavy antiaircraft firepower in any direction. Although they do not carry torpedo tubes and are thus useless against battleships and the link, the Cleveland class is superior as a carrier escort.''

Northampton class
These heavy cruisers are similar in most respects to the Mogami and Takao class of heavy cruisers of the Japanese. The Mogami and Takao's guns are slightly smaller than the Northampton's, but they have ten turrets versus the Northampton's nine. Additionally the Mogami and Takao both have torpedo tubes, something the two cruisers can use against the Northampton in close-ranged broadside engagements.

The two machine guns in the crow's nest of the ship allow for easy targeting of individual enemy aircraft approaching from the front, but since aircraft almost always appear in groups of three or more, they are of limited use.

Notable warships of this class include the Houston, Chester, Astoria, Minneapolis, and Chicago.

Official Description: Commissioned in 1930, this class of heavy cruiser is powerfully armed, carrying nine 8" guns in triple turrets, along with a varied antiaircraft suite However, they carry no torpedo tubes, which puts them at a disadvantage against heavier opponents - they are forced to engage solely with gunfire. Nevertheless, these are potent ships, ideally suited to carrier escort duty or as the flagships of a cruiser division. The Houston is currently serving as the flagship of Admiral Thomas Hart, commander in chief of the US Asiatic Fleet.

York class
The only Royal Navy heavy cruiser, the York class unfortunately isn't all too impressive. It is in fact the weakest heavy cruiser in the game, but it can still give smaller ships a run for its money. Interestingly, it is also the only Allied heavy cruiser to sport torpedo tubes. These can give it a chance, but given how few it has (compare the York's six to the Mogami's twelve) it can't cause much damage with them. Additionally, they lack dual purpose guns as well as a large AA suite (the Atlanta class has 27 AA guns, versus the York's eight). As a result, they are best used against light cruisers and destroyers.

There are only two notable warships of this class that make an appearance in the game: the class' pathfinder - the York, and the Exeter.

Official Description: ''Built in the 1920s, these were the only heavy cruisers ever commissioned by the Royal Navy. They carry a wide range of armaments, including six 8" guns and torpedo tubes, meaning they are capable of engaging any target. However, as a result, they do not excel in any one area, which can make them less effective in a particular role than a specialized ship. In particular, their small number of torpedo tubes means that they struggle against heavily armoured opponents.''

King George V class
The King George V class is the second-biggest warship in the game, next only to the legendary Yamato. Although it could stand up to its own against other battleships, other battleships could still put the hurt on this leviathan. Submarines are its biggest problem, so always give it destroyer escort when possible, especially anti-aircraft units.

There are only two warships of this class. The pathfinder - King George V - and the Prince of Wales.

Official Description: ''These modern British battleships have very heavy armour and can withstand all but the largest enemy guns. They also have enough firepower to sink any ships they encounter. They could have had even heavier armament but were built according to the Treaty of Washington, which restricted the maximum size of battleships. Their main weakness is that their 14" guns are mounted in just three turrets. If one of these malfunctions or is damaged, then much of their firepower is lost. Only one ship of this class, the Prince of Wales, is in the Pacific at this time, where it serves as the flagship of Admiral Tom Philips, commander in chief of the British Eastern Fleet.''

Renown class
Either the official description is wrong or the Renown doesn't have 20 dual-purpose guns - if it does have that many dual-purpose guns, the Renown is in fact an able antiaircraft platform. It would be capable of engaging enemy bombers at high altitude as well. It appears to be lacking in the machine gun role, however, so it can be easily torpedoed as any ordinary battleship would.

Interestingly, the Renown is the fastest battleship in the game - it is 5 knots faster than the New York and its Japanese counterparts. While 5 knots isn't much, it does mean its fast enough to pull out of range and stay out when faced with overwhelming odds.

To all British readers and those of British descent - observe the flag flying on the Renown's bow. Be happy. Unfortunately for some reason the US flag flies on the Renown in the Islands of Solomon multiplayer level.

There are only two warships of this class. The pathfinder - Renown - and the Repulse.

Official Description: ''Built during World War I, these British battlecruisers are rather outdated now. They carry a relatively small number of main guns and are lightly armoured in comparison to modern battleships. As they were built prior to the emergence of attack aircraft as a viable weapon, they also carry a light AA suite, which makes them very vulnerable to air strikes. Nevertheless, they remain a potent adversary for any enemy shipping lighter than a battleship.''

New York class
These aged, venerable battleships are similar to the Fuso in that they are old and have received improved armour and engines. The New York class, however, can definitely hold their own in a battle against other battleships, whereas the Fuso might have issues. Regardless, the battleships of both sides are roughly identical, so similar tactics should work for both. If the New York has a weakness, it's due to its lack of secondary cannons, which prevents it from having a very fast refire rate against smaller, swifter ships. This battleship is definitely made for long-range attacks with its 14" guns.

Notable warships of this class include the pathfinder New York, Arizona, Nevada, Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Tennessee.

Official Description: ''These American battleships were launched before World War I but were updated with improved engines, thicker deck armour, and new fire control towers, bringing them up to modern standards. They carry twelve 15" guns mounted in six dual turrets, giving them considerable firepower, and are a capable opponent against all but the heaviest modern battleships.''

Iowa class
These massive battleships are actually quite fast. Comparable to the Japanese Iowa, four of these leviathans face off in the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. Standard battleship tactics work, but great care must be taken to avoid torpedoes especially, since these ships have very little armour at the waterline. A mass of torpedoes, coupled by shells from Yamato and Musashi, are the main way of taking down the Iowa-class.

Dive bombers have little to no effect on the warship due to its strong deck and belt armour. Destroyers, surprisingly, can cause quite a bit of damage at close range due to their torpedoes - but destroyer shells will merely bounce off of the Iowa's hardened exterior.

The Iowa was in fact so powerful during the Second World War, it is still in active service today.

Notable warships of this class include the pathfinder Iowa, and her sister ship, the New Jersey. Official Description: ''The Iowa-class battleships were the most powerful and advanced battleships built for the United States Navy. Designed as 'fast' battleships, these ships had very high top speeds and were capable of escorting a quick carrier force. Mounting nine 16"/50 naval guns in three turrets as main guns, combined with the improved radar tracking system, no ship can beat the Iowa-class in a long range combat, and the large number of 5" secondary batteries provide excellent anti-air protection. Although Yamato's armour is slightly better, the high speed and manoeuvrability can mean victory for the Iowa in a duel between these super battleships.''

Lexington class
Use typical carrier tactics when captaining a carrier. Don't expose it to attacks, use its air wing, all that jazz. It can be quite an antiaircraft ship, but sending it into battle is tantamount to suicide.

The only warship of this class is the Lexington herself.

Official Description: The Lexington ''was the first fleet carrier to enter service with the USN and is still the largest aircraft carrier in the world. She was originally designed as a battlecruiser, and she still carries some heavy armament as a reminder of her pats. This, however, does not stop her from carrying a complement of aircraft that is just as large as any other carrier afloat. Known to her crew as the "Lady Lex", she is a veteran ship with a highly trained crew and is one of the most valuable assets the USN has in the Pacific.''

Yorktown class
Again with the Yorktown, use standard carrier tactics. Interestingly, the Yorktown has more flak guns but less machine guns than the Lexington. Theoretically, this makes the Yorktown more vulnerable to low-altitude bombers but less vulnerable to high-altitude bombers. Regardless, aircraft carriers in all their forms sport tough antiaircraft armament. Only warships pose a significant threat to them.

Official Description: ''The Yorktown-class carriers are the most modern aircraft carriers the United States has, and they are built according to the latest carrier design theories. They carry a large complement of fighter and bomber attack aircraft and are capable of effectively engaging any target. Their only weakness is light underwater armour, which means they are vulnerable to torpedo attack. The USS Yorktown is currently serving as the flagship for Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher, as a part of Task Force 17.''

Narwhal class
Use typical submarine tactics when commanding the Narwhal. There are no differences as to the Narwhal and the Type B, but keep in mind that as a submarine you can't engage other subs, not even with torpedoes (you can on the surface, but not while underwater). Interestingly enough, you can see other submarines when they cross under you. It is unknown what happens when two submarines collide, but it is probably nothing major.

Notable warships of this class include the class' pathfinder - the Narwhal - as well as the Tautog and the ever-famous Nautilus.

Official Description: Built in the late 1920s and commissioned in 1930, this submarine class was designed for hunting down enemy commerce ships, either with its deck-monted 5" gun or with its six torpedo tubes. like all submarines, it is very vulnerable when on the surface, thanks to its lack of armour and firepower, but when submerged it is a danger to any ship.

Non-Playable Ships
The US has a distinction from the Japanese in that one of their aircraft carriers, and one aircraft along with it, are completely non-playable.

Hermes class
The Hermes class is the weakest carrier in the game, sporting only little armament and only one type of fighter. Fortunately, the four wings of Hawker Hurricanes it deploys more than compensates for its lack of weapons. It appears only in one map as an adversary - the map is Attack on Force Z and is a necessary target to prevent the enemy from spawning Hawker Hurricanes. Since it has only machine guns, sending high-altitude level bombers at it is the way to go.

The Hermes is the only warship of its class.

Official Description: HMS Hermes ''was the first aircraft carrier commissioned by the Royal Navy and was only the second ever built in the world. Although she is a veteran ship with a long and noble past, she suffers from several design flaws - such as having a very small hangar, which means she carries a comparatively light complement of aircraft compared to modern carriers. She has recently been assigned to the British Eastern Fleet to provide air cover as the Royal Navy prepares to challenge the might of the IJN.''

Higgins Boat
Just strafe them and sink them with machine gun fire. Considering they only appear in the challenge mission Saving Tulagi, you will only have aircraft to use against them. Unlike Daihatsus, which are slow, easy targets - Higgins Boats move twice as fast, so work swiftly when having to strafe them down.

Official Description: ''These small, wooden, shallow-draft boats were the brainchild of New Orleans shipbuilder Andrew Higgins and allow for the rapid deployment of men and material onto enemy-held beaches. Without these remarkably innovative little boats, the invasion of enemy islands would be difficult, if not impossible. However, they are very easy to destroy, and their machine gun armament is of minimap danger to any opponent.''

LST Mark 2
The only role these ships have in the campaign is that they need to be protected in Strike on Tulagi. You will never captain or even have to attack these ships.

Official Description: ''The landing ship tank (LST) is a recently commissioned amphibious assault ship, designed for landing heavy equipment and large numbers of troops on enemy beaches. Known to their crews as "large slow targets", these ships are lightly armoured and are very vulnerable to attack. They do carry some AA armament and a single 5" main gun, but they are no match for any warship.''