The Pacific Theater of World War II Research Paper

The Pacific Theater of World War II - Research Paper Example At the time, the US was not so active in world politics, but Japanese assumed US inclusion in the future. The surprise attack began on a Sunday morning on 7 December 1941, with layers of Japanese bombers and fighter aircrafts intended to destroy the Pacific Fleet in the harbor as well as US aircrafts on nearby fields. The attack destroyed three main battleships, three destroyers and one mine laying ship according to the initial reports by the Secretary of Navy. Furthermore, 72 aircrafts including bombers and fighters were destroyed along with 128 damaged. Casualties were near 2,400 which mostly included armed personnel.2 The attack achieved its objective of destroying most of the fleet and the damages bought Japanese some time to secure footholds in Pacific without interference from the US. The attack pulled US into the war and it is referred as the opening of the Pacific front. The Pearl Harbor was one of many targets across the Pacific that formed part of a very large offensive lau nched on 8 December 1941 by the Japanese. Thailand was invaded within a day and Hong Kong within three weeks. US forces stationed in Guam and the Wake Island surrendered to the ground offensive. Furthermore, Malaya was taken from the British rule within two months. This initial offensive launched on the 7 and 8 December 1941 was extremely successful campaign. The Japanese controlled the region and dominated the Pacific without major threats. The victories in Malaya as well as Thailand provided launching pads to establish air superiority in surrounding region. British battleship Prince of Wales was sunk by Japanese bombers launched from bases in Malaya. Almost a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese started... The Pearl Harbor was one of many targets across the Pacific that formed part of a very large offensive launched on 8 December 1941 by the Japanese. Thailand was invaded within a day and Hong Kong within three weeks. US forces stationed in Guam and the Wake Island surrendered to the ground offensive. Furthermore, Malaya was taken from the British rule within two months. This initial offensive launched on the 7 and 8 December 1941 was an extremely successful campaign. The Japanese controlled the region and dominated the Pacific without major threats. The victories in Malaya, as well as Thailand, provided launching pads to establish air superiority in surrounding region. British battleship Prince of Wales was sunk by Japanese bombers launched from bases in Malaya.Almost a month after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese started to consolidate their position by securing strategic assets in the region. Tarakan and Manado fell within days of invasion; Tarakan was rich in oil fields and a s trategic airfield, whereas Manado provided control of the Minahasa peninsula that could be used to approach Australia. In the same time period, invasion of Burma started on 15 January 1942 along with invasions for Singapore and New Guinea. British Commonwealth forces retreated from Burma and Singapore fell to Japanese in almost a month. By the first six months, Japanese controlled the Pacific from Burma in the west, Singapore in the south, New Guinea in the east and numerous islands in between.