Sea Power and Maritime Affairs
Lesson 15: The War in the
Pacific, The Offensive
Phase
TURN ON THE LIGHTS ON...OUR PILOTS WILL LIVE!
“ First one plane and then another dropped into the sea from
lack of fuel. At last the planes approached the carriers. But
in the darkness, the pilots could not make out which ships
were carriers and which were not. Unless something was
done many good men were going to be killed trying to land
in the darkness. Slowly Admiral Mitscher got up from his
seat and gave the order, "Turn on the lights." These four
words were as deadly in meaning as Admiral Farragut's
1863 ‘Damn the torpedoes (mines), Full Speed Ahead!’ ”
"Land on any carrier."
“TURN ON THE LIGHTS ON”
Learning Objectives

comprehend the political and economic forces
which led Japan to strike at Pearl Harbor and the
colonial possessions of the U.S., Britain, and the
Netherlands and the relationship of these forces to
Japan's ultimate defeat.
 comprehend the Japanese strategy for an early
victory and their concept of the postwar Pacific
power balance.
Learning Objectives

comprehend the impact of Pearl Harbor and the
subsequent Battles of Coral Sea and Midway on
the transformation of the aircraft carrier's role in
naval warfare.
 know (list) the significant highlights of the
evolution of U.S. operational strategy in the
Pacific, including turning point battles or
campaigns and instances where strategy was
flawed or ambiguous.
Learning Objectives

know (identify) the strategic significance of
the employment and refinement of
amphibious landing tactics by the U.S.
Navy and Marine Corps.
 comprehend the reasons the geopolitical
world order was changed as a result of
Japan's actions in striking at the Western
Powers in 1941.
U.S. Aircraft Production

Japan and Germany had early advantage in air war:
– Messerschmit ME-109
– Mitsubishi A6M Zero

U.S. aircraft industry produces higher performance
aircraft
– American industrial base allows rapid and mass production

New flight training programs developed

U.S. gains advantage in air warfare

Air supremacy eventually established in both European
and Pacific theaters
A6M “Zero” or “Zeke”
Fighter
F2A “Buffalo”
Fighter
F4F “Wildcat”
Fighter
Wildcats on the Prowl
F6F “Hellcat”
Fighter
F4U Corsair
Fighter
SBD “Dauntless”
Dive Bomber
SB2C “Helldiver”
Dive Bomber
TBF “Avenger”
Torpedo Bomber
PBY “Catalina”
Scout
U.S. Submarine Force
U.S. Submarine Warfare

Simultaneously with Dual advance, US conducts war on
commerce

Unrestricted Submarine Warfare ordered immediately after
Pearl Harbor -- new role for U.S. submarines

Early operational problems - 1942-43:
– Undependable torpedoes - poorly designed magnetic fusing.
–
Many commanders were excessively cautious.
Subs in Battle

Bataan and Corregidor, Philippines
–
–

Battle of Midway
–

Supplied by submarines from the Asiatic Fleet
Evacuation of personnel
Guarded approaches to the island
Guadalcanal Campaign
–
Begin to be more effective at fleet operations
U.S. Submarine Warfare

Late 1943:
–
–

Central Pacific Advance
–

Torpedo fusing problems corrected
Radar installed and sonar improved
Initially uncontested by Japanese Navy
Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf
–
–
U.S. submarines support fleet and amphibious operations
Japanese battleship and carriers sunk
U.S. Submarine Warfare

Search and rescue of downed naval aviators

Commerce raiding of Japanese shipping from East
Indies
–

By 1945 - 3/4 of the Japanese merchant fleet sunk
High casualty rates among submarine crews:
–
Rotation policy: 20% of crew transferred after each
patrol.
Japanese Submarine Warfare

Long Lance torpedo - smaller variant for submarines

Focused attacks on U.S. warships and avoided supply ships
–
–

Used to screen and scout for battle fleets
“Warrior ethos” of Japanese naval leaders
Used for supply of bypassed garrisons
Japanese Submarine Warfare

Battle of Midway
–
–

Guadalcanal Campaign
–
–

Failed to intercept U.S. carrier forces
Torpedoed USS Yorktown under tow
USS Saratoga torpedoed January 1942
USS Wasp sunk
USS Indianapolis sunk -- July 1945 - shark
attacks
Prelude to Guadalcanal

Japanese leadership shocked by defeat at Midway

Cancel plans to take Fiji, Samoa, and New Caledonia

Must proceed with plan to take Port Moresby

Within bomber range of major naval operating base
at Rabaul

Japanese begin building airfield at Guadalcanal
Prelude to Guadalcanal

Nimitz moves to reinforce South Pacific Area
– Protect vital sea lines of communication with Australia.
– Vice Admiral Robert L. Ghormley

Commander South Pacific Ocean Area (Subordinate
to Nimitz).
– Two bases established in New Hebrides.
Army - Navy Dispute

MacArthur proposes retaking Rabaul
– Wants Navy to let him borrow First Marine Division

Admiral King
– Objects to Macarthur's plan
– Proposes step-by-step advance through Solomons to re-take
Rabaul.
– Nimitz and Ghormley in command with Marines making
amphibious assaults and Navy providing support.

Army forces used as garrisons for islands
Operation Watchtower

Compromise Three-Stage Plan of Operations

Initial advance in Eastern Solomons under Nimitz

Boundary between Areas moved west

MacArthur takes command after Tulagi secured
Gudalcanal Campaign
Aug 1942-Feb 1943
Guadalcanal

Whoever controlled an airfield would control air
over the Solomons

Vital SLOC

For both sides it symbolized offensive rather than
defensive warfare
Force Commanders

Admiral Robert L. Ghormley overall command of
Watchtower

Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner - Amphibious
Forces

Vice Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher carrier group
– Provided support against Japanese fleet during day
General
Archer Vandegrift

Commander - First
Marine Division

Amphibious landing
virtually unopposed
–
Marines take Henderson
Field - “Cactus Air Force”.
Guadalcanal River Crossing
“See-Saw” Pattern

Japan dominates nighttime action.
–

“Tokyo Express” down “The Slot” into “Ironbottom
Sound”
U.S. dominates daytime with shore and carrier
aircraft
Actions

Battle of Savo Island, 8-9 August 1942

Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 24 August
1942

Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26-27
October, 1942

“Naval Battle of Gudalcanal”, 12-13
November, 1942
Guadalcanal Campaign

Battle of Savo Island - Allies
defeated in night surface action

Battle of the Eastern Solomons carrier battle
–
–
USS Enterprise damaged by
bombers
USS Wasp sunk and Saratoga
damaged by Japanese submarines
Battle of Santa Cruz Islands

Halsey relieves Ghormley - 18 October 1942

Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid

Hornet sunk and Enterprise damaged
–
No operational carriers left

Zuiho and Shokaku badly damaged

Tactical defeat by strategic victory?…maybe
Naval Battle

Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee
– uses RADAR to his advantage to win nighttime
naval battle

Washington and South Dakota outfight
Japanese battleships
– Warships flee
– Transports beach themselves
Guadalcanal Campaign

1st Marine Division relieved by Army’s 25th Infantry
Division

Japanese forces evacuate Guadalcanal

U.S. forces begin advance up Solomon Islands
– Land-based airfields established

Marine Corps’ “Black Sheep” Squadron (VMF-214)
– Commanded by Maj Greg “Pappy” Boyington
• Medal of Honor Recipient

MacArthur drives Japanese from eastern Papua
–
Captures main Japanese base at Buna
Aftermath

Both sides suffered heavy losses
– U.S loses more tonnage at sea, carriers
– Japan loses more lives

Japan allowed to dominate sea at night while U.S.
dominates day

Battle drags on from Aug 42- Feb 43
Aftermath

MacArthur successful in driving Japanese from
Papuan Peninsula
– By Feb 43 Jap plans for offensives in S. and W Pacific
stopped cold

King uses Casablanca Conference to allocate more
resources to Pacific
Reconquest of Attu and Kiska
Aleutian Islands
(January - May 1943)

No real threat to security.

Necessary to end Japanese control of American territory
for political reasons.

Battle of the Komondorskis

–
Last classic surface ship battle.
–
Americans attack heavily guarded Japanese convoy.
Minimal resistance on Attu, none on Kiska.
Operation Cartwheel

The Solomons Campaign

Halsey goes to work for McArthur
– Leads Amphibious Assault from Guadalcanal along Solomons

McArthur wants direct assault on Rabaul
– King and Marshall overrule him
– Capture every island BUT Rabaul to isolate it

Rabaul becomes isolated and insignificant
–
On to the Phillipines (October 1944)
The Defeat of Japan
Objective: The Philippines and the penetration of the
Japanese inner defense zone!
The Advance

Pacific “Thrust”
– Amphib support

Vice Admiral
Raymond Spruance

Significant campaigns:
– Gilberts
– Marshalls
– Marianas
Essex
Class
Fast
Carrier
The Gilberts (Tarawa)



New fleet organization
due to new Essex Class
carrier fleet production
Objective to gain airfield
on Betio Island to launch
further attacks in Central
Pacific Drive
3 days cost US > 3,000
marines
Marines at Tarawa
Kwajalein Atoll
Tarawa
The Marshalls


After the Gilberts, concern
for death toll in Marshalls
Nimitz orders RADM
MITSCHER attack on
Airpower
– Destroys Jap Force



Kwajalein success furthers
to the rest of the islands
Total Marshall loss less
than first day of Tarawa
Onto Marianas
The Marianas

Draws out Japanese
Fleet
 Battle of Philippine
Sea, 19-20 June 1944
“The Great Marianas
Turkey Shoot”
– 346 Jap planes downed
– 3 Jap carriers sunk
– Classic Mahanian
engagement
Liberation of the Philippines

U.S. advance continues after Marianas Campaign
– Macarthur's forces capture New Guinea

Air strikes in the Phillipines wipe out two hundred
aircraft

Bypass smaller islands and head to Leyte Gulf early
– from 20 December to 20 October
Battle
of
Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte Gulf
24-25 October 1944

Largest battle in all of naval history

U.S. command structure remains divided and
confused

U.S. landings in Leyte Gulf
– MacArthur “returns”
“I shall return”
Battle
of
Leyte Gulf


“In case opportunity for
destruction of the major portion
of the enemy fleet is offered or
can be created, such destruction
becomes the primary task.”
-- Standing Order of
Fleet Admiral Nimitz
“Where is, repeat where is, Task
Force 34? The world wonders.”
-Nimitz’ (message to Halsey
during the battle.)
Admiral
Marc
Mitscher
Commander
Fast Carrier Task
Force
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Battle of Leyte Gulf

Japanese Combined Fleet divided into three
forces:
– Northern
– Central
– Southern

Japanese defeated in a series of separate
engagements.
– Effective end of Japanese Navy’s ability to control the
sea.
Battle of Leyte Gulf
Japanese Kamikaze Squadrons

Explosives loaded aboard aircraft.
 Japanese pilots fly one-way suicide attack
missions against U.S. fleet.
 First used at Leyte Gulf.
USS Lexington (CV 16)
Essex Class Fast Carrier
Mitscher’s Flagship -- Battle of Leyte Gulf
Admiral
Thomas Kinkaid
Commander
U.S. Seventh Fleet
Battle of Leyte Gulf
The Sands of Iwo Jima
Mount Suribachi
The Road to Japan

Iwo Jima

Okinawa
Iwo Jima

Emergency landing field and fighter escort base desired.
– Midway between Marianas and Tokyo
– Support B-29 “Superfortress” strategic bombing of Japan

26,000 casualties
–

General Holland Smith
–

2,400 Emergency landings - 27,000 aircrew
“Iwo Jima was the most savage and most costly battle in the
history of the Marine Corps.”
Admiral Nimitz
–
“Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Iwo Jima
Okinawa Campaign April-June 1945

Staging base for invasion of Kyushu

Joint amphibious operation
– Marines under Army command

Japanese use delaying tactics at the beach
– Continued heavy resistance inland
Okinawa Campaign

Kamikaze raids continue
–
–


34 U.S. ships sunk
4,900 Sailors killed in action
Over 40,000 U.S. casualties
Carrier groups begin raids on Japanese home
islands.
–
U.S. has established complete control of the seas.
USS Benjamin Franklin
-- Damaged in Kamikaze raid during invasion of
Okinawa - March 1945.
Japanese Battleship Yamato
Sunk by U.S. carrier-based aircraft during Okinawa
Campaign on 7 April 1945
U.S. Carrier
Raids
on the
Japanese
Home Islands
July 1945
Manhattan
Project =
Atomic
Bombs

President Truman orders two bombings.
–
–

Hiroshima - 6 August 1945
Nagasaki - 9 August 1945
Believed potential for casualties during a
prolonged struggle for the Japanese home islands
is too high.
Hiroshima
Japan
Surrenders

Japanese officially
surrender aboard USS
Missouri in Tokyo Bay
on 2 September 1945.

MacArthur commands
U.S. army of occupation.
Learning Objectives

comprehend the political and economic forces
which led Japan to strike at Pearl Harbor and the
colonial possessions of the U.S., Britain, and the
Netherlands and the relationship of these forces to
Japan's ultimate defeat.
 comprehend the Japanese strategy for an early
victory and their concept of the postwar Pacific
power balance.
Learning Objectives

comprehend the impact of Pearl Harbor and the
subsequent Battles of Coral Sea and Midway on
the transformation of the aircraft carrier's role in
naval warfare.
 know (list) the significant highlights of the
evolution of U.S. operational strategy in the
Pacific, including turning point battles or
campaigns and instances where strategy was
flawed or ambiguous.
Learning Objectives

know (identify) the strategic significance of
the employment and refinement of
amphibious landing tactics by the U.S.
Navy and Marine Corps.
 comprehend the reasons the geopolitical
world order was changed as a result of
Japan's actions in striking at the Western
Powers in 1941.
Addition to Snowflake’s Recommended Viewing List:
“The Sands of Iwo Jima” (1949)
“Life is tough, but it’s tougher if
you’re stupid.”
- SGT Strkyer (John Wayne)
Discussion:
Next time: the Navy and the Early Cold War