Allies re-group, 1942–43 Pacific War

1 allies re-group, 1942–43

1.1 coral sea , midway: turning point
1.2 new guinea , solomons

1.2.1 guadalcanal


1.3 allied advances in new guinea , solomons

allies re-group, 1942–43

in 1942, governments of smaller powers began push inter-governmental asia-pacific war council, based in washington, d.c. council established in london, subsidiary body in washington. however, smaller powers continued push american-based body. pacific war council formed in washington, on 1 april 1942, president franklin d. roosevelt, key advisor harry hopkins, , representatives britain, china, australia, netherlands, new zealand, , canada. representatives india , philippines later added. council never had direct operational control, , decisions made referred us–uk combined chiefs of staff, in washington. allied resistance, @ first symbolic, gradually began stiffen. australian , dutch forces led civilians in prolonged guerilla campaign in portuguese timor.

the doolittle raid in april 1942, in bombers took off aircraft carrier uss hornet 600 miles (970 km) japan, did minimal material damage huge morale boost united states, , had major psychological repercussions exposing vulnerabilities of japanese homeland. greatest effect of raid, however, caused japanese launch catastrophic assault on midway.

coral sea , midway: turning point


lexington on fire @ coral sea

by mid-1942, japanese found holding vast area indian ocean central pacific, lacking resources defend or sustain it. moreover, combined fleet doctrine inadequate execute proposed barrier defense. instead, japan decided on additional attacks in both south , central pacific. however, element of surprise, present @ pearl harbor, lost due success of allied codebreakers had discovered next attack against port moresby. if fell, japan control seas north , west of australia , isolate country. carrier uss lexington under admiral fletcher joined uss yorktown , american-australian task force stop japanese advance. resulting battle of coral sea, fought in may 1942, first naval battle in ships involved never sighted each other , aircraft used attack opposing forces. although lexington sunk , yorktown damaged, japanese lost carrier shōhō, , suffered extensive damage shōkaku , heavy losses air wing of zuikaku, both of missed operation against midway following month. although allied losses heavier japanese, attack on port moresby thwarted , japanese invasion force turned in strategic victory allies. japanese subsequently forced abandon attempts isolate australia. moreover, japan lacked capacity replace losses in ships, planes , trained pilots.

japanese advance until mid-1942

after coral sea, japanese admiral isoroku yamamoto had 4 fleet carriers operational—sōryū, kaga, akagi , hiryū—and believed nimitz had maximum of two—enterprise , hornet. saratoga out of action, undergoing repair after torpedo attack, while yorktown had been damaged @ coral sea, , believed japanese navy intelligence have been sunk. would, in fact, sortie midway after 3 days of repairs flight deck, civilian work crews still aboard present next decisive engagement.

in may, allied codebreakers again discovered yamamoto s next move: attack on midway atoll. hoped attack lure american carriers trap, leading destruction of united states strategic power in pacific. intended occupy midway part of overall plan extend japan s defensive perimeter in response doolittle raid. turned major airbase, giving japan control of central pacific.

initially, japanese force sent north attack aleutian islands diversion. next stage of plan called capture of midway, give him opportunity destroy nimitz s remaining carriers. admiral nagumo again in tactical command focused on invasion of midway; yamamoto s complex plan had no provision intervention nimitz before japanese expected him. planned surveillance of fleet long range seaplane did not happen (as result of abortive identical operation in march), fletcher s carriers able proceed flanking position without being detected. nagumo had 272 planes operating 4 carriers, had 348 (115 land-based).

as anticipated nimitz, japanese fleet arrived off midway on 4 june , spotted pby patrol aircraft. nagumo executed first strike against midway, while fletcher launched aircraft, bound nagumo s carriers. @ 09:20, first carrier aircraft arrived, tbd devastator torpedo bombers hornet, attacks poorly coordinated , ineffectual; in part faulty aerial torpedoes, failed score single hit , 15 wiped out defending 0 fighters. @ 09:35, 15 additional tbds enterprise attacked in 14 lost, again no hits. far, fletcher s attacks had been disorganized , seemingly ineffectual, succeeded in drawing nagumo s defensive fighters down sea level expended of fuel , ammunition repulsing 2 waves of torpedo bombers. result, when dive bombers arrived @ high altitude, zeros poorly positioned defend. make matters worse, nagumo s 4 carriers had drifted out of formation in efforts avoid torpedoes, reducing concentration of anti-aircraft fire. nagumo s indecision had created confusion aboard carriers. alerted need of second strike on midway, wary of need deal american carriers knew in vicinity, nagumo twice changed arming orders aircraft. result, american dive bombers found japanese carriers decks cluttered munitions crews worked hastily re-arm air groups.

hiryū under attack b-17 flying fortress heavy bombers

with japanese cap out of position , carriers @ vulnerable, sbd dauntlesses enterprise , yorktown appeared @ altitude of 10,000 feet (3,000 m) , commenced attack, dealing fatal blows 3 fleet carriers: sōryū, kaga, , akagi. within minutes, 3 ablaze , had abandoned great loss of life. hiryū managed survive wave of dive bombers , launched counter-attack against american carriers caused severe damage yorktown (which later finished off japanese submarine). however, second attack carriers few hours later found , destroyed hiryū, last remaining fleet carrier available nagumo. carriers lost , americans withdrawn out of range of powerful battleships, yamamoto forced call off operation, leaving midway in american hands. battle proved decisive victory allies. second time, japanese expansion had been checked , formidable combined fleet weakened loss of 4 fleet carriers , many highly trained, virtually irreplaceable, personnel. japan largely on defensive rest of war.

new guinea , solomons

japanese land forces continued advance in solomon islands , new guinea. july 1942, few australian reserve battalions, many of them young , untrained, fought stubborn rearguard action in new guinea, against japanese advance along kokoda track, towards port moresby, on rugged owen stanley ranges. militia, worn out , severely depleted casualties, relieved in late august regular troops second australian imperial force, returning action in mediterranean theater. in september 1942 japanese marines attacked strategic royal australian air force base @ milne bay, near eastern tip of new guinea. beaten allied (primarily australian army) forces.

guadalcanal


us marines rest in field during guadalcanal campaign in november 1942

at same time major battles raged in new guinea, allied forces identified japanese airfield under construction @ guadalcanal. sixteen thousand allied infantry, marines, made amphibious landing capture airfield in august.

with japanese , allied forces occupying various parts of island, on following 6 months both sides poured resources escalating battle of attrition on land, @ sea, , in sky. of japanese aircraft based in south pacific redeployed defense of guadalcanal. many lost in numerous engagements allied air forces based @ henderson field carrier based aircraft. meanwhile, japanese ground forces launched repeated attacks on heavily defended positions around henderson field, in suffered appalling casualties. sustain these offensives, resupply carried out japanese convoys, termed tokyo express allies. convoys faced night battles enemy naval forces in expended destroyers ijn ill-afford lose. later fleet battles involving heavier ships , daytime carrier battles resulted in stretch of water near guadalcanal becoming known ironbottom sound multitude of ships sunk on both sides. however, allies better able replace these losses. recognizing campaign recapture henderson field , secure guadalcanal had become costly continue, japanese evacuated island , withdrew in february 1943. in sixth month war of attrition, japanese had lost result of failing commit enough forces in sufficient time.

allied advances in new guinea , solomons

australian commandos in new guinea during july 1943

by late 1942, japanese headquarters decided make guadalcanal priority. ordered japanese on kokoda track, within sight of lights of port moresby, retreat northeastern coast of new guinea. australian , forces attacked fortified positions , after more 2 months of fighting in buna–gona area captured key japanese beachhead in 1943.

in june 1943, allies launched operation cartwheel, defined offensive strategy in south pacific. operation aimed @ isolating major japanese forward base @ rabaul , cutting supply , communication lines. prepared way nimitz s island-hopping campaign towards japan.