The Battle of Midway, fought in June 1942, was a major turning point in the Pacific Theater during World War II. This naval battle saw the United States Navy decisively defeat an attacking fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, marking a pivotal shift in the balance of power in the Pacific. American cryptography successes allowed U.S. forces to anticipate Japanese strategies, leading to the sinking of four Japanese aircraft carriers. The victory at Midway halted Japanese expansion and shifted the initiative to the Allies, eventually paving the way for U.S. offensives in the Pacific that contributed to Japan's eventual defeat.