The U.S. in the PacificThe U.S. in the Pacific

1943-451943-45

Jan.-Sept. 1944: MacArthur’s Jan.-Sept. 1944: MacArthur’s forces keep jumping up the New forces keep jumping up the New

Guinea coastGuinea coast

New command arrangement in New command arrangement in the Central Pacific, mid-1944 the Central Pacific, mid-1944

33rdrd Fleet: Fleet:William F. Halsey, William F. Halsey, Jr.Jr.

55thth Fleet: Fleet:Raymond A. Raymond A. SpruanceSpruance

Navy builds Navy builds an advanced an advanced

supply, supply, maintenancemaintenance, and repair , and repair

systemsystem

it floatsit floats also uses rapidly also uses rapidly

constructed bases constructed bases

Navy advances in the Central Navy advances in the Central Pacific Pacific

November 1943: The Gilbert November 1943: The Gilbert IslandsIslands

Makin and Tarawa Atolls attackedMakin and Tarawa Atolls attacked Key position at Tarawa – Betio IslandKey position at Tarawa – Betio Island

Bloody fight at Bloody fight at TarawaTarawa

Improved Performance:Improved Performance:Marshall Islands, Jan. - Feb. Marshall Islands, Jan. - Feb.

19441944 Kwajalein AtollKwajalein Atoll Bombardment of TrukBombardment of Truk Eniwetok AtollEniwetok Atoll

Next Objective: The Marianas Next Objective: The Marianas IslandsIslands

Saipan, Tinian, & Guam capturedSaipan, Tinian, & Guam captured

The Japanese navy comes out The Japanese navy comes out to fight…to fight…

Results in the Results in the Battle of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June Philippine Sea, June 19-20, 194419-20, 1944

……and loses its naval air and loses its naval air powerpower

““The Great The Great Marianas Turkey Marianas Turkey Shoot”Shoot”

Saipan,Saipan,June-July 1944June-July 1944

Next stop: Next stop: The The

PhilippinesPhilippines

Harbinger of future combat:Harbinger of future combat:

Peleliu:Peleliu:Sept. 15 – Oct. 15Sept. 15 – Oct. 15

CasualtiesCasualtiesU.S.: 9,600U.S.: 9,600Japanese: 10,900Japanese: 10,900

Battle of Leyte Battle of Leyte Gulf,Gulf,

Oct. 23-26, Oct. 23-26, 19441944

Biggest naval Biggest naval battle in history.battle in history.

Results in Results in destruction of the destruction of the Japanese fleetJapanese fleet

First use of First use of kamikazekamikaze attacks attacks

MacArthur Returns…MacArthur Returns…

U.S. forces land at U.S. forces land at Leyte, Oct. 20, Leyte, Oct. 20, 19441944

……and spends the rest of the and spends the rest of the war liberating the Philippines*war liberating the Philippines*

Leyte secured by end of 1944Leyte secured by end of 1944 Luzon – invaded January 1945:Luzon – invaded January 1945:

Manila captured: Feb.- March, 1945Manila captured: Feb.- March, 1945 Most of island secured by mid-summerMost of island secured by mid-summer Japanese resist under surrender in Japanese resist under surrender in

August 1945August 1945

Growing Growing kamikazekamikaze danger: danger: Luzon, Jan. 4-15, 1945Luzon, Jan. 4-15, 1945

U.S. Navy suffers 2,100 casualtiesU.S. Navy suffers 2,100 casualties 5 ships sunk; 18 severely damaged5 ships sunk; 18 severely damaged

Success: U.S. subs against Success: U.S. subs against JapanJapan

Sink 2.3 million tons of Japanese Sink 2.3 million tons of Japanese shipping in 1944.shipping in 1944.

Japanese oil tanker fleet: shrinks Japanese oil tanker fleet: shrinks from 700,000 to 300,000 tons.from 700,000 to 300,000 tons.

Only 10% of oil produced in Only 10% of oil produced in Southeast Asia on 1944-45 reaches Southeast Asia on 1944-45 reaches Japanese home islands.Japanese home islands.

Disappointment: ChinaDisappointment: China

Chinese Nationalists don’t fight Chinese Nationalists don’t fight Japanese.Japanese.

Operation MATTERHORN: attempt to Operation MATTERHORN: attempt to use China for bomber bases:use China for bomber bases: Logistical difficulties.Logistical difficulties. Japanese launch mainland offensive that Japanese launch mainland offensive that

pushes back bases.pushes back bases. Navy captures Pacific bases that are better Navy captures Pacific bases that are better

for bombing Japan.for bombing Japan.

The Final Campaigns:The Final Campaigns:Iwo Jima & OkinawaIwo Jima & Okinawa

Iwo Jima:Iwo Jima:Feb. 19 – Feb. 19 – March 26, March 26,

19451945

Images of Iwo Images of Iwo JimaJima

Okinawa: Okinawa: April 1 – April 1 – June 21, June 21,

19451945

Carnage on LandCarnage on Land

U.S.: almost 40,000 combat U.S.: almost 40,000 combat casualtiescasualties 7,600 KIA7,600 KIA 32,000 wounded32,000 wounded + 26,000 dead from disease/accidents+ 26,000 dead from disease/accidents

Japanese:Japanese: 100,000 soldiers killed100,000 soldiers killed 150,000 (?) civilians die as well150,000 (?) civilians die as well

Carnage at SeaCarnage at Sea

During campaign, Japanese launch During campaign, Japanese launch 10 kamikaze assaults10 kamikaze assaults Sacrifice of 1,500 pilots & planesSacrifice of 1,500 pilots & planes

U.S. lossesU.S. losses 64 ships sunk or damaged beyond repair64 ships sunk or damaged beyond repair 60 more require extensive repairs60 more require extensive repairs 10,000 sailor casualties (half killed)10,000 sailor casualties (half killed)