1. BELLWORK: September 25th
Which Allied nations fought Japan in the Pacific? How did each contribute?
List the biggest advantage and disadvantage Japan had in their control of the Pacific.
Describe Japan’s general strategy & war plan.
Describe the U.S. general strategy & war plan.
THINKER: How did the Allies have a technological advantage over the Japanese in the Pacific War?
BELLWORK: September 25th

2. Combatants and Strategies
WWII in the Pacific
Combatants and Strategies

3. Allied forces in the Pacific
Britain  concentrated in South Asia: India, Burma, Singapore, Hong Kong
Navy occupied Atlantic and Mediterranean = relied on dominions (especially India & Australia!)
China  Unified CCP & GMD fight in land battles using combo of regular and guerrilla fighting tactics
USSR  Joined Pacific War late, but aided China heavily
US  Huge Pacific fleet, Army, Marine Corps
The war in the Pacific heavily relied on U.S. air and sea strength in order to counter-act Japan’s defensive position

4. Japan’s Control of the Pacific
Advantages
Disadvantages
High conscription = troops overly loyal/dedicated
Produced twice as many aircraft as the U.S. in 1941
Japan could concentrate its forces in one area
Only had to defend to succeed
Put too many troops in China – could not withdrawal
Production only increased marginally during the war while U.S. increased dramatically
U.S. gains air/sea advantage by 1942

5. Japan’s Strategy & Plans
Initially: Offensive
Extend perimeter East & South  force British out!
Next: Fortifications
Reinforce bases in sphere & enclose all resources needed
Finally: Defensive
Dig in! War of Attrition = force U.S. into negotiation
Already on defensive within 6 months; resources running low
Japan’s Strategy & Plans

7. Japanese Offensive:
Japan attacks American and British military bases across the Western Pacific.
Rapid conquests of Hong Kong, Burma, New Guinea, India
Key objective was to seize economic resources under the control of US, UK & Netherlands
Strong Japanese Navy sinks British aircraft carriers
Navy used kamikazes, or suicide planes
Once objectives were completed, the strategy would turn defensive until negotiated peace

8. Japanese battleships Yamashiro, Fuso and Haruna

9. Bombing of Darwin, Australia; 1942

10. Prince of Wales (left, front) and Repulse (left, behind) under Japanese air attack on 10 December 1941

12. Australian POW’s; Total captured – 22,000

14. U.S. Strategy & Plans U.S. had to take offensive initiative
Goal: rely on air/naval strength in order to capture smaller islands around Japanese defensive positions  bring in air power and strategically bomb
ISLAND HOPPING!
U.S. divided into two theaters….why?
Nimitz vs. MacArthur
U.S. Strategy & Plans

15. Admiral Nimitz: Believed Navy should lead strategy  cut across Pacific directly to home island
General MacArthur: Believed Army should lead strategy  take southern route to recapture territories

18. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS!
Key to strategy because:
Vast distance across Pacific
Battleships only effective in close quarters
Needed to transport aircraft in order to carry out strategic bombing
U.S. codebreakers also discovered several planned attacks
Air tech: Lockheed Lightning
How did the Allies have a technological advantage over the Japanese in the Pacific War?

19. Read pages 212-219 and complete the operations worksheet (NOT M.P.!)
HOMEWORK: Wed.
Read pages and complete the operations worksheet (NOT M.P.!)