-
Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a suprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, in the state of Hawaii.This attack is what brought the United States into WW2. The attack was intended as a preventive action in order to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with military actions the Empire of Japan was planning in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. -
Pearl Harbor (cont)
The base was attacked by 353 Japanese fighter planes, bombers, and torpedo planes, in two waves, launched by six aircraft carriers. Four U.S. Navy battleships were sunk, the other four were severely damaged. All but one was raised and six out of the eight went on to fight in the World War. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship,[nb 5] and one minelayer. 188 U.S. aircraft were destroyed; 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were -
Pearl Harbor (cont. #2)
injured. Japanese losses were light: 29 aircraft and five midget submarines lost, and 65 servicemen killed or wounded. One Japanese sailor, Kazuo Sakamaki, was captured. Italy and Germany declared war on the U.S. on December 11. -
Loss of the Philipenes and Bataan Death March
shall return." Less than a month later 10,000 Americans and 60,000 Filipino troops on Bataan surrendered. For five days and nights, the Japanese forced the starving and sick troops to march through the streaming forests of Bataan. Those who dropped out of line were beaten or shot. Those who fell were left for dead. This became known as the Bataan Death March. Those who completed this journey did not fare much better, in the Japanese prison camp, lack of food and medicine claimed hundreds. -
Loss of Phillipines and Bataan Death March
Japan wanted the American- controlled islands called the Philippines. The defense was lead by American General Douglas MacArthur. He commanded a small force of Americans plus a number of poorly trained and equipped Filipino soldiers. As the Japanese advanced, MacArthur planned to retreat to the Bataan Penensula. There was a shortage of food and Allied war planners felt it was too risky to relieve the troops. In March, MacArthur was ordered to leave his men, he did so reluctantly promising, "I sh -
The Battle of Java Sea
The Battle of the Java Sea was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Allied navies suffered a terrible defeat at the hands of Imperial Japanese Navy. -
Doolittle Raid
Aka: Tokyo Raid. Army Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle led a group of 16 American bombers on a daring air raid of Tokyo and several other Japanese cities. The airplanes had been launched from an aircraft carrier several miles off the coast of Japan. This raid didn't do much damage. it did have some significant effects though. This gave the Americans something to celebrate and it angered and worried Japanese leaders. The outrage and worry would cloud their judgement and lead to military mistake -
Battle of Coral Sea
The Battle of Coral Sea featured the part of the Pacific Fleet that was not badly damaged from the attack on Pearl Harbor, the aircraft carriers. This battle happened while Japanese were preparing to invade Port Moresby (conreolled by British) on the island of New Guinea. To prevent this U.S. Admiral Chester Nimitz sent two aircraft carriers to attack. In the battle the American and Japanese suffered damage, The Americans lost a carrier and several aircrafts. The Japanese advance had been halted -
Island Hopping Strategy
“Island Hopping” is a strategy by the United States to gain military bases and secure the many small islands in the Pacific. The attack was lead by General Douglas MacArthur, Commander of the Allied forces in the South west Pacific, and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-chief of the Pacific fleet. The US troops targeted the islands that were not as strongly defended by the Japanese. They took control of those islands, and quickly constructed landing strips and small bases. -
The Battle of Midway (Cont)
Admiral Nimitz places his 3 carriers carefully. He wanted to stop a japanese landing and avoid contact with the lager Japanese fleet. The battle started with an air attack from the Japs, they came from 4 carriers that were leading to assult. American air defenses were waiting and managed to fight off the raid. The Japs desperately fought off dozens of American bombers, Finally planes from the USS Enterprise broke through the Japs defense. The bombs severely damaged 3 of the carriers, they -
The Battle of Midway (Cont. #2)
exploded. American aircraft later destroyed the forth carrier. During the battle American carrier, USS Yorktown was destroyed. As the battle ended, it was clear that the Americans had won. -
Battle of Midway
Japanese wanted to lure Americans into a large sea battle. They did this by attacking the islands of Midway in the Pacfic Ocean. They were hoping to get the American fleet to counterattack. The Japanese had many advantages over the Americans but the Americans had the great advantage of the Naval intelleigence officers had broken the Japanese code and learned about the plan attack of Midway. They knew the date and the direction of travel of the Japanese. Using his advance knowledge of the plan, -
Guadalcanal
The Japanese control of the Solomon Islands was a threat to the Austrialians. A key island was Guadalcanal, the Japs had almost finished a airfield there. It was a miserable place to fight. Americans came ashore and they fought a bloddy fight for 6 months. The battle took place on land, at sea, and in the air. Each side had small victories but in February 1943, the Japs fled the island. -
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Major sea battle featuring nearly 300 ships in which the Allies virtually destroyed Japan's navy. This battle saw Kamikaze, which was Japs famous strategy of a pilot loading his plane with bombs and crashing it into an enemy's ship. This was the largest naval battle ever fought. -
Battle of Iwo Jima
Americans wanted Iwo Jima to have a better base from wich to launch bomb raids in Japan. It was 750 mi south of Tokyo. For the first time in the was, Japanese were fighting for land that was actually owned by Japan. They hid in caves and tunnels and were protected by concrete bunkers so they fought ferociously. Marines captured Mt. Suribachi. but the Japanese refused to surrender. The fighting left nearly 7000 Americans dead. Almost 20,000 Japs were there in the beginning and only a few thousand -
Battle of Okinawa
This island was only 350 mi away from Japan and was suppose to be a launching pad for final invasion of Japan. Capturing this island became the bloodiest task the Americans in the Pacific. Allied troops invaded the island and the Japs retreated to the southern tip of the island to plan their response. 5 days later, they attacked. Over 12,000 Americans died because the skillful use of caves and tunnels. The Japs lost about 110,000 troops. In spite of terrible losses, the Americans gained control. -
Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima
The atomic bomb, Enola Gay, was dropped on Hiroshima because of Japans reluctance to surrender. some 80,000 residence died immediately and 35,000 were injured. Two thirds of the cities 90,000 buildings were destroyed. Japan leaders took no action to end the war. -
Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki
This bomb was dropped after the atomic bomb on Hiroshima because the Japanese leaders wouldn't surrender. the death toll of this bomb was 40,000. Even this didn't end the war. -
VJ Day
This was the day that Hirohito surrendered Japan. He favored surrender after the atomic bombs but military leaders did not. But a failed attempt to overthrow the government from the militery leaders lead to Hirohito announcing the end of the was on a radio broadcast. It was the first time that the Japanese people had ever heard the emperor's voice.
