The War in the Pacific

Japan looks to colonies for economic prosperity. America is competition.

The Japanese are looking for a decisive and crippling victory.

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, “If I am told to fight regardless of the consequences, I shall run wild for the first six months or a year, but I have utterly no confidence for the second or third year…”

Pearl Harbor

On the morning of December 7, 1941 the Imperial Japanese Navy launches a strike against the American fleet anchored at Pearl Harbor Hawaii.

The American fleet is caught totally off guard and lose 2,402 men along with numerous ships and aircraft.

The Pacific Fleet Carriers (Lexington, Saratoga and Enterprise) are luckily out at sea.

In the coming months various territories fall to the Japanese including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

Japanese claim “liberation”

Conquest of Southeast Asia

Japanese forces invade the Aleutian Island chain near Alaska to keep the US from a Northern advance.

American and Canadian forces responded with air strikes and naval bombardments.

Ground forces landed at Attu where the Japanese carried out one of the largest banzai charges of the war.

Aleutian Islands 1942

April 18, 1942, James Doolittle leads B25 bombers on a bombing run of Tokyo meant to boost morale.

June 1942, turning point of the war in the Pacific. Irreparable damage to the Japanese fleet. By the time the Japanese replaced 3 carriers, the US had cranked out 2 dozen.

Doolittle Raid, Coral Sea and Midway

Marked the first offensive ground invasion by the Allies.

The island needed to be captured to protect Australia and also to utilize the airfield as a staging area for further operations.

The island consisted of jungle, coconut plantations and mountains.

The environment proved difficult, but the Japanese “Superman” myth was shattered.

Guadalcanal August – October 1943

An air base was needed to launch operations against the Philippine islands.

First time US forces landed on a heavily defended beach.

The Japanese were well prepared.Within 76 hours 6,000 Americans and

Japanese were dead.The island was captured, but with

tremendous casualties. Only 17 Japanese surrendered.

Tarawa November 1943

Most controversial battle of the Pacific.Marines loose almost 2,000 men.Japanese switch up defensive plans.“3 day battle” goes on for 2 months.115 Degrees F during the day.Lack of drinking water.Americans eventually take the island.

Peleliu Sept. – November 1944

General Kuribayashi had different, controversial defense strategy.

“Sulfur Island”Capture airfields to allow bombers to hit the

Japanese mainland.Japanese Soil and 22,000 DefendersKill around 6,500 Americans.The Flag Raising

Iwo Jima February 1945

Jump point to invade Japan.120,000 Japanese Defenders84,570 American Casualties,105,755+

Japanese and around 150,000 civilians.Operation Ten-GoRainy, diverse environment.Civilians.Massive Banzai raids.

Okinawa April – June 1945

Operation Downfall set to begin in October of 1945.

Kanto Plain was obvious choice for both sides.

Estimates for casualties were in the Millions for the Americans and 7x that for the Japanese.

Blockade and starve or invade.Could be disastrous due to terrain.

Invasion of Japan