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The War in the Pacific. Pearl Harbor. Japan looks to colonies for economic prosperity. America is competition. The Japanese are looking for a decisive and crippling victory.
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Pearl Harbor • 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…”
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.
Conquest of Southeast Asia • In the coming months various territories fall to the Japanese including Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines. • Japanese claim “liberation”
Aleutian Islands 1942 • 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.
Doolittle Raid, Coral Sea and Midway • 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.
Guadalcanal August – October 1943 • 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.
Tarawa November 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.
Peleliu Sept. – November 1944 • 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.
Iwo Jima February 1945 • General Kuribayashi had different, controversial defense strategy. • “Sulfur Island” • Capture airfields to allow bombers to hit the Japanese mainland. • Japanese Soil and 22,000 Defenders • Kill around 6,500 Americans. • The Flag Raising
Okinawa April – June 1945 • Jump point to invade Japan. • 120,000 Japanese Defenders • 84,570 American Casualties,105,755+ Japanese and around 150,000 civilians. • Operation Ten-Go • Rainy, diverse environment. • Civilians. • Massive Banzai raids.
Invasion of Japan • 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.
