(nbigpigeon.us webpage WW II - Japan > South & SW Pacific, updated by RAC 13 Oct 2021.
In early 1942, as Japanese forces moved with little effective opposition into the southern Pacific, concern grew that lines of commerce between North America and Australia might be broken, that Australia might come under attack, or even that the Australian future might include a Japanese invasion.
In ground combat, the Japanese offensive was blunted by parallel Allied operations:
In early 1942, as Japanese forces moved with little effective opposition into the southern Pacific, concern grew that lines of commerce between North America and Australia might be broken, that Australia might come under attack, or even that the Australian future might include a Japanese invasion.
In ground combat, the Japanese offensive was blunted by parallel Allied operations:
- In Southeast New Guinea, by Australian forces, with US support, pushing back the Japanese.
- In the southern Solomon Islands, by US forces driving the Japanese from Guadalcanal Island.
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Major US land combat in the South and Southwest Pacific Theaters:
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1942-1944 US Path Across the Southwest Pacific
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Links to South (SPA) & Southwest Pacific (SWPA) subordinate webpages:
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Southwest Pacific Area - 1942
South Pacific Area
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I viiew the complex Allied ground offensive in the South and Southwest Pacific from 1942 through 1944 as consisting of three chronological phases, each with a different goal:
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Phase 1, protecting Australia, July 1942 – February 1943. The main US ground contributions were:
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S & SW Pacific, Phases 1 & 2 - Eastern New Guinea, Solomon Islands, & Bismarck Archipelago
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Phase 2, isolating the main Japanese base at Rabaul
Rabaul is located in the Bismarck Archipelago, on the north end of New Britain Island. The reduction of Rabaul, officially known as Operation Cartwheel, began in April 1943 and ended in April 1944. Rabaul was well-located with a supurb harbor and protected by multiple air fields. The key to isolating Rabaul was to develop a ring of secure Allied air bases within easy striking distance of Rabaul. Australian forces performed most Phase 2 ground combat on New Guinea, while the US handling most combat in the Bismarck Archipelago and the Solomon Islands. |
S & SW Pacific, Phase 2, The Operation Cartwheel Area
300-Mile Radius from Rabaul
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Phase 3, advancing westward in New Guinea towards the Philippines, ending at Morotai in the Dutch Indies. Phase 3 occupied MacArthur’s Southwest Pacific Theater forces from April to September 1944. (landings shown on the accompanying map)
While Phase 1 and Phase 2 operations involved both US Army and Marine Corps ground troops, Phase 3 used only Army ground forces. Marine Corps forces were withdrawn from the South Pacific to use in the Central Pacific Campaign, which began in November 1943 with the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. |
S & SW Pacific, Phase 3 - Western New Guinea
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Sources for the South/Southwest Pacific webpage:
- The 1942 - 1944 US Path Across the Southwest Pacific map is taken from google.com.
- The Southwest Pacific Area - 1942 map - https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-C-Papua/index.html.
- The South Pacific Area map - https://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/south-west-pacific-campaign#gallery-51274-17.
- The New Guinea Area map is courtesy of history.army.mil.
- I constructed the 300-Mile Radius from Rabaul map using www.calcmaps.com.
- The Rabaul - Harbor & Airfields - WW II map - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rabaul_-_map.jpg.