bigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Japan > North & Central Pacific, updated by RAC 18 Aug '19
In June 1942, the Japanese attack at Midway Island in the Central Pacific was coupled with a diversionary attack 2,000 miles to the north in the Aleutian Islands.
American success at the Battle of Midway stopped Japanese advances in the Pacific Ocean. However, several factors such as the shortage of aircraft carriers argued against quick follow-up US landings in the Central Pacific, where the large distance between island chains made it difficult to provide land-based air support for amphibious actions. For the next seventeen months, the Pacific War focussed on a rather small area in the South and Southwest Pacific.
I used 1943 in the page header because after June no major actions happened in 1942 in either the north or central Pacific. Here is an outline of major central pacific operations:
American success at the Battle of Midway stopped Japanese advances in the Pacific Ocean. However, several factors such as the shortage of aircraft carriers argued against quick follow-up US landings in the Central Pacific, where the large distance between island chains made it difficult to provide land-based air support for amphibious actions. For the next seventeen months, the Pacific War focussed on a rather small area in the South and Southwest Pacific.
I used 1943 in the page header because after June no major actions happened in 1942 in either the north or central Pacific. Here is an outline of major central pacific operations:
- In November 1943, the Central Pacific Campaign began with the landing at Tarawa atoll in the Gilbert Islands.
- Invasion of selected isands in the Marshall Islands followed in January-February 1944.
- In June 1944, the Mariana Islands Campaign began.
- Finally, September-November 1944 witnessed the tragic Battle of Peleliu in the Palau Islands.
Links to the WW II - North and Central Pacific subordinate webpages
==> This is a work in progress - some webpages are incomplete.
==> This is a work in progress - some webpages are incomplete.
Below are two maps of the Central Pacific. I haven't yet decided which map to use.
Within the Central Pacific are four island chains that figure into World War II history. Looking at the right part of the accompanying map, one can imagine these islands form sort of a tilted rectangle:
The timeline below summarizes major Central Pacific amphibious operations, including invasion month and number of US dead):
Gilbert Islands (lower right on the map):
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Sources - WW II - The North and Central Pacific webpage
- The The Beach at Tarawa header photo is courtesy of the National WW II Museum in New Orleans, LA.
- The WW II - The Central Pacific map was found at https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Strategy/Strategy-22.html.