With the exception of a small diversionary force that attacked the base at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, the Japanese Midway strike forces comprised the bulk of the Japanese navy. This force comprised one hundred and sixty-two ships including four heavy carriers: Akagi, Soryu, Hiryu, and Kaga. The balance of the Japanese forces were: four light carriers, eleven battleships, twenty-two cruisers, sixty-five destroyers, and twenty one submarines. In the Pacific to meet this force, the US had ready only three carriers: Enterprise, Hornet and the Yorktown. Yorktown was heavily damaged in the battle of the Coral Sea. The balance of the U.S. Naval forces were: eight cruisers, fifteen destroyers, and no battleships. (Source four page 32) The US's chances were slim.
The film did a good job depicting Yamamoto's battle plan. The standard Japanese battle plan pattern was to lure the enemy into an unfavorable tactical position, cut off the enemies retreat, drive in on the enemies flanks, and then concentrate their forces for the kill. The film was very clear in the fact that surprise was the key element in Yamamoto's plan. When it comes to the US's battle plan the film betrayed it just as well as they did Yamamoto's plan. The Yorktown was so badly damaged at Coral Sea to the point that the Japanese presumed that it had sunk. In fact, in anticipation of a major Japanese action somewhere in the Pacific, Yorktown was given emergency repairs, and in less than three days was in nominal readiness for action.
The battle itself was portrayed very well in the film. As a result of a decoy radio message deliberately sent from Midway, the U.S. Pacific Naval Command knew that the next Japanese objective in the Pacific was Midway. The U.S. also had an approximation when the attack was going to occur because of the commencement of the diversionary action in the Aleutians. The wave of Japanese carrier air forces was expected long before the Japanese even thought of launching it.