Sea Power and Maritime AffairsSea Power and Maritime Affairs
Lesson 12: The US Navy in Lesson 12: The US Navy in the Pacific, 1941-1945the Pacific, 1941-1945(Part 2)(Part 2)
Break Time…………….
When We Resume: The US Navy and the Offensive PhaseWhen We Resume: The US Navy and the Offensive Phase
U.S. Aircraft ProductionU.S. Aircraft Production Japan and Germany had early advantage in air war:
– Messerschmit ME-109
– Mitsubishi A6M Zero
U.S. aircraft industry produces higher performance aircraft– American industrial base allows rapid and mass production
New flight training programs developed
U.S. gains advantage in air warfare
Air supremacy eventually established in both European and Pacific theaters
A6M “Zero” or “Zeke”A6M “Zero” or “Zeke”
Fighter
F2A “Buffalo”F2A “Buffalo”Fighter
F4F “Wildcat”F4F “Wildcat”
Fighter
Wildcats on the ProwlWildcats on the Prowl
F6F “Hellcat”F6F “Hellcat”
Fighter
F4U CorsairF4U Corsair
Fighter
SBD “Dauntless”SBD “Dauntless”
Dive Bomber
SB2C “Helldiver”SB2C “Helldiver”
Dive Bomber
TBF “Avenger”TBF “Avenger”
Torpedo Bomber
PBY “Catalina”PBY “Catalina”Scout
U.S. Submarine ForceU.S. Submarine Force
U.S. Submarine WarfareU.S. Submarine Warfare
Simultaneously with Dual advance, US conducts war on commerce
Unrestricted Submarine Warfare ordered immediately after Pearl Harbor -- new role for U.S. submarines
Early operational problems - 1942-43:– Undependable torpedoes - poorly designed magnetic fusing.– Many commanders were excessively cautious.
Subs in BattleSubs in Battle
Bataan and Corregidor, Philippines– Supplied by submarines from the Asiatic Fleet– Evacuation of personnel
Battle of Midway– Guarded approaches to the island
Guadalcanal Campaign– Begin to be more effective at fleet operations
U.S. Submarine WarfareU.S. Submarine Warfare
Late 1943:– Torpedo fusing problems corrected– Radar installed and sonar improved
Central Pacific Advance– Initially uncontested by Japanese Navy
Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf– U.S. submarines support fleet and amphibious operations– Japanese battleship and carriers sunk
U.S. Submarine WarfareU.S. Submarine Warfare
Search and rescue of downed naval aviators
Commerce raiding of Japanese shipping from East Indies– By 1945 - 3/4 of the Japanese merchant fleet sunk
High casualty rates among submarine crews:– Rotation policy: 20% of crew transferred after each
patrol.
Japanese Submarine WarfareJapanese Submarine Warfare
Long Lance torpedo - smaller variant for submarines
Focused attacks on U.S. warships and avoided supply ships– Used to screen and scout for battle fleets– “Warrior ethos” of Japanese naval leaders
Used for supply of bypassed garrisons
Japanese Submarine WarfareJapanese Submarine Warfare
Battle of Midway– Failed to intercept U.S. carrier forces– Torpedoed USS Yorktown under tow
Guadalcanal Campaign– USS Saratoga torpedoed January 1942– USS Wasp sunk
USS Indianapolis sunk -- July 1945 - shark attacks
Prelude to GuadalcanalPrelude to Guadalcanal
Japanese leadership shocked by defeat at Midway
Cancel plans to take Fiji, Samoa, and New Caledonia
Must proceed with plan to take Port Moresby
Within bomber range of major naval operating base at Rabaul
Japanese begin building airfield at Guadalcanal
Prelude to GuadalcanalPrelude to Guadalcanal
Nimitz moves to reinforce South Pacific Area
– Protect vital sea lines of communication with Australia.
– Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley
Commander South Pacific Ocean Area (Subordinate to Nimitz).
– Two bases established in New Hebrides.
Army - Navy DisputeArmy - Navy Dispute
MacArthur proposes retaking Rabaul– Wants Navy to let him borrow First Marine Division
Admiral King– Objects to Macarthur's plan– Proposes step-by-step advance through Solomons to re-take
Rabaul.– Nimitz and Ghormley in command with Marines making
amphibious assaults and Navy providing support. Army forces used as garrisons for islands
Operation WatchtowerOperation Watchtower
Compromise Three-Stage Plan of Operations
Initial advance in Eastern Solomons under Nimitz
Boundary between Areas moved west
MacArthur takes command after Tulagi secured
Gudalcanal CampaignAug 1942-Feb 1943
Whoever controlled an airfield would control air over the Solomons
Vital SLOC
For both sides it symbolized offensive rather than defensive warfare
GuadalcanalGuadalcanal
Force CommandersForce Commanders
Admiral Robert L. Ghormley overall command of Watchtower
Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner - Amphibious Forces
Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher carrier group– Provided support against Japanese fleet during day
GeneralGeneralArcher VandegriftArcher Vandegrift Commander - First
Marine Division
Amphibious landing virtually unopposed– Marines take Henderson
Field - “Cactus Air Force”.
Guadalcanal River Crossing
““See-Saw” PatternSee-Saw” Pattern
Japan dominates nighttime action.– “Tokyo Express” down “The Slot” into “Ironbottom
Sound”
U.S. dominates daytime with shore and carrier aircraft
ActionsActionsBattle of Savo Island, 8-9 August 1942
Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 24 August 1942
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26-27 October, 1942
“Naval Battle of Gudalcanal”, 12-13 November, 1942
Guadalcanal CampaignGuadalcanal Campaign Battle of Savo Island - Allies
defeated in night surface action
Battle of the Eastern Solomons - carrier battle
– USS Enterprise damaged by bombers
– USS Wasp sunk and Saratoga damaged by Japanese submarines
Battle of Santa Cruz IslandsBattle of Santa Cruz Islands
Halsey relieves Ghormley - 18 October 1942
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
Hornet sunk and Enterprise damaged – No operational carriers left
Zuiho and Shokaku badly damaged
Tactical defeat by strategic victory?…maybe
Naval BattleNaval Battle
Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee– uses RADAR to his advantage to win nighttime
naval battle
Washington and South Dakota outfight Japanese battleships– Warships flee– Transports beach themselves
Guadalcanal CampaignGuadalcanal Campaign 1st Marine Division relieved by Army’s 25th Infantry Division
Japanese forces evacuate Guadalcanal
U.S. forces begin advance up Solomon Islands– Land-based airfields established
Marine Corps’ “Black Sheep” Squadron (VMF-214)– Commanded by Maj Greg “Pappy” Boyington
• Medal of Honor Recipient
MacArthur drives Japanese from eastern Papua– Captures main Japanese base at Buna
AftermathAftermath
Both sides suffered heavy losses– U.S loses more tonnage at sea, carriers– Japan loses more lives
Japan allowed to dominate sea at night while U.S. dominates day
Battle drags on from Aug 42- Feb 43
AftermathAftermath
MacArthur successful in driving Japanese from Papuan Peninsula– By Feb 43 Jap plans for offensives in S. and W Pacific
stopped cold
King uses Casablanca Conference to allocate more resources to Pacific
Reconquest of Attu and Kiska Reconquest of Attu and Kiska Aleutian IslandsAleutian Islands (January - May 1943)(January - May 1943)
No real threat to security.
Necessary to end Japanese control of American territory for political reasons.
Battle of the Komondorskis– Last classic surface ship battle.
– Americans attack heavily guarded Japanese convoy.
Minimal resistance on Attu, none on Kiska.
Operation CartwheelOperation Cartwheel The Solomons Campaign
Halsey goes to work for McArthur
– Leads Amphibious Assault from Guadalcanal along Solomons
McArthur wants direct assault on Rabaul
– King and Marshall overrule him
– Capture every island BUT Rabaul to isolate it
Rabaul becomes isolated and insignificant– On to the Phillipines (October 1944)
The Defeat of JapanThe Defeat of Japan
Objective: The Philippines and the penetration of the Japanese inner defense zone!
The AdvanceThe Advance
Pacific “Thrust”– Amphib support
Vice Admiral Raymond Spruance
Significant campaigns:– Gilberts– Marshalls– Marianas
EssexEssex
ClassClass
Fast Fast CarrierCarrier
The Gilberts (Tarawa)The Gilberts (Tarawa)
New fleet organization due to new Essex Class carrier fleet production
Objective to gain airfield on Betio Island to launch further attacks in Central Pacific Drive
3 days cost US > 3,000 marines
Marines at TarawaMarines at Tarawa
TarawaTarawa
Kwajalein AtollKwajalein Atoll
The MarshallsThe Marshalls
After the Gilberts, concern for death toll in Marshalls
Nimitz orders RADM MITSCHER attack on Airpower– Destroys Japanese Force
Kwajalein success furthers to the rest of the islands
Total Marshall loss less than first day of Tarawa
Onto Marianas
The MarianasThe Marianas
Draws out Japanese Fleet
Battle of Philippine Sea, 19-20 June 1944 “The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot”– 346 Jap planes downed– 3 Jap carriers sunk– Classic Mahanian
engagement
Liberation of the PhilippinesLiberation of the Philippines
U.S. advance continues after Marianas Campaign– Macarthur's forces capture New Guinea
Air strikes in the Phillipines wipe out two hundred aircraft
Bypass smaller islands and head to Leyte Gulf early– from 20 December to 20 October
BattleBattleofof
Leyte GulfLeyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte Gulf Battle of Leyte Gulf 24-25 October 194424-25 October 1944
Largest battle in all of naval history
U.S. command structure remains divided and confused
U.S. landings in Leyte Gulf– MacArthur “returns”
BattleBattleofof
Leyte GulfLeyte Gulf “In case opportunity for
destruction of the major portion of the enemy fleet is offered or can be created, such destruction becomes the primary task.”
-- Standing Order of Fleet Admiral Nimitz
“Where is, repeat where is, Task Force 34? The world wonders.”
-- Nimitz’ (message to Halsey during the battle.)
AdmiralAdmiralMarc Marc
MitscherMitscher
CommanderFast Carrier Task
Force
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte GulfBattle of Leyte Gulf
Japanese Combined Fleet divided into three forces:– Northern
– Central
– Southern
Japanese defeated in a series of separate engagements.– Effective end of Japanese Navy’s ability to control the
sea.
Battle of Leyte GulfBattle of Leyte Gulf
Japanese Kamikaze SquadronsJapanese Kamikaze Squadrons Explosives loaded aboard aircraft. Japanese pilots fly one-way suicide attack
missions against U.S. fleet. First used at Leyte Gulf.
USS USS LexingtonLexington (CV 16) (CV 16)Essex Class Fast Carrier
Mitscher’s Flagship -- Battle of Leyte Gulf
AdmiralAdmiralThomas KinkaidThomas Kinkaid
Commander
U.S. Seventh Fleet
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Sands of Iwo JimaThe Sands of Iwo JimaMount SuribachiMount Suribachi
The Road to JapanThe Road to Japan
Iwo Jima
Okinawa
Iwo JimaIwo Jima Emergency landing field and fighter escort base desired.
– Midway between Marianas and Tokyo– Support B-29 strategic bombing of Japan
26,000 casualties– 2,400 Emergency landings - 27,000 aircrew
General Holland Smith– “Iwo Jima was the most savage and most costly battle in the history of the Marine Corps.”
Admiral Nimitz– “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Okinawa Campaign Okinawa Campaign April-June 1945April-June 1945
Staging base for invasion of Kyushu
Joint amphibious operation– Marines under Army command
Japanese use delaying tactics at the beach– Continued heavy resistance inland
Okinawa CampaignOkinawa Campaign
Kamikaze raids continue– 34 U.S. ships sunk– 4,900 Sailors killed in action
Over 40,000 U.S. casualties
Carrier groups begin raids on Japanese home islands.– U.S. has established complete control of the seas.
USS USS Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin-- Damaged in Kamikaze raid during invasion of
Okinawa - March 1945.
Japanese Battleship Japanese Battleship YamatoYamatoSunk by U.S. carrier-based aircraft during Okinawa
Campaign.
7 April 1945
U.S. Carrier U.S. Carrier RaidsRaidson theon the
JapaneseJapaneseHome IslandsHome Islands
July 1945July 1945
Manhattan Manhattan Project =Project =Atomic Atomic BombsBombs
President Truman orders two bombings.– Hiroshima - 6 August 1945– Nagasaki - 9 August 1945
Believed potential for casualties during a prolonged struggle for the Japanese home islands is too high.
HiroshimaHiroshima
Japan Japan SurrendersSurrenders
Japanese officially surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945.
MacArthur commands U.S. army of occupation.
Discussion
Next time: The US Navy in the Early Cold War, 1945-1953