The War in the Pacific Part 2: The Tide Turns

Coral Sea (May 4-8, 1942) “Magic” intercepts alerted the Americans that the Japanese planned to launch an invasion of southern New Guinea – Positioned Nimitz’s 2 carriers off the eastern tip of New Guinea to be ready for them Both sides suffered heavy losses but the Japanese were forced to call off an amphibious attack on Port Moresby, leading to their disastrous defeat at Kokoda Trail by the Australians Battle waged exclusively via air strikes Opposing surface ships never made direct contact Significance: first time since Pearl Harbor that a Japanese invasion had been stopped and turned back Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief Pacific and Pacific Ocean Areas

June 1942, Midway Leader: Chester W. Nimitz What happened: American troops managed a surprise attack and turned back a Japanese invasion force headed for Samoa and Hawaii This battle marks a turning point in the war

Midway (June 4-7, 1942) Japanese diversionary attack on the Aleutian Islands was planned; this was meant to distract the Americans while the Japanese destroyed the American fleet, carriers, and submarine base at Midway Part of a larger “barrier” strategy which formed after Dolittle’s Raid (create an ever-widening barrier which takes the Americans further away from mainland Japan). The Japanese planned to do their own “island hopping” after their anticipated victory at Midway (Samoa, Hawaii) Thanks to “Magic” intercepts, the US didn’t take the bait and planned an ambush at Midway instead Americans destroyed all four large Japanese aircraft carriers and all 248 planes Japanese advance was checked and initiative in the Pacific began to turn to the Americans

August 1942 – Feb 1943, Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands) Leader: Douglas MacArthur What happened: Americans dealt Japan their first defeat on land Japan abandoned the “Island of Death” within 6 months Fairly equal losses in aircraft and ships, but massively disparate KIAs U.S. 15,000 casualties (incl. 7,000 KIA) Japan: 20,000 casualties (incl. 8500 KIA and the rest from disease and starvation

Guadalcanal First major offensive by the U.S. against Japanese forces The Americans received reports that the Japanese were building an airfield on Guadalcanal for the purpose of destroying shipping and supply routes between U.S., Australian and New Zealand forces in the Pacific (perhaps even an invasion of Australia itself) A force of 60,000, predominantly U.S. Marines engaged in several land, sea, and air battles, eventually driving the Japanese into the jungle “Island of Death” – Japanese troops soon ran short of food (under-supplied to begin with), and Guadalcanal offered few available food sources. In addition, malaria was rampant amongst the Japanese Guadalcanal is viewed by Japanese historians as the real “turning point” in the Pacific. The American victory there spurred increased initiatives toward land-based offensives. With the defeat of the Japanese navy at Midway, they were at a continuously growing disadvantage, and the U.S. proved more able to replenish her troops quickly than Japan Kamikaze attacks would soon be employed by the Japanese for the first time to address this issue (if you’re going to have high casualties anyway, inflict the most amount of damage you can with a single human casualty).

Battle of Leyte Gulf October 23 – 26, 1944 What happened: The Americans and Australians retook the Philippines and dealt a death-blow to the Japanese navy MacArthur: “People of the Philippines, I have returned!” Leader: Douglas MacArthur

Leyte Gulf Naval and air battles fought in and around the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar & Luzon Involved a land invasion of Leyte with a combined force of Americans and Australians Japanese used Kamikaze attacks in an organized way for the first time First of a series of invasions/bombings that would ultimately cut Japan off from the last of their oil reserves, and permanently cripple their manufacturing ability (Singapore, Formosa (Taiwan) and Ryuku Islands)

Leyte Gulf Japanese air force and navy were very depleted prior to battle thanks to Dolittle’s Raid, the Battle of Midway, and reduced ability to repair ships and planes or produce new ones. Also, it would be difficult for Japan to launch any new ships and planes before bombing raids destroyed them (all facilities were in Japan, and all oil reserves stored on Pacific/Southeast Asian islands) Both sides suffered losses, but the U.S. and Australian forces were far superior to begin with: 5 times as many ships, planes, and carriers, and three times as many troops Fleet Chief Soemu Toyoda was taken prisoner, and was asked during his interrogation why they had risked such a loss in the face of such a superior force. He replied: “Had we lost in the Philippines operations, the shipping lane to the south would be completely cut off so that the fleet, if it should come back to Japanese waters, could not obtain its fuel supply. If it should remain in southern waters, it could not receive supplies of ammunition and arms. There would be no sense in saving the fleet at the expense of the loss of the Philippines.” After Leyte Gulf, the Japanese were forced to rely on land defensives and what remained of their air power to continue fighting The U.S. now began to focus on land offensives as close to mainland Japan as possible, with absolutely horrifying troop and civilian casualties…