1. The Pacific Theater, 1939-1945 The Rising Sun
Reasons For Japanese Aggression
Pearl Harbor
The Island Hopping Campaign

2. The Rising Sun
By turn of 20th century Russia and Japan were competing for influence in China which leads to war
Japanese defeat Russian navy during Russo-Japanese War easily
Japan is now a world power in Pacific and like the west seek to have a sphere of influence in the Pacific

3. The Rising Sun
Japan had developed a pattern of attacking China for indiscretions in 1931 and 1936
Emperor Hirohito and a military dominated cabinet sought to expand their country’s empire
To counter Russia, Japan enters into the Tripartite Pact with Italy and Germany in 1940

4. Reasons for Japanese Aggression
They believe that they are destined to dominate other nations considered corrupt
Japan desired more natural resources for it businesses and growing population
Wanted to be commanding presence in the Pacific as opposed to the United States, China or Russia

5. Reasons for Japanese Aggression
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sensing that Japan has expansionist policies places an embargo on strategic items needed by the Japanese for their military in 1940
1941 Japan occupies Indochina, this cause FDR to freeze Japan’s assets in the U.S. and stops the selling of oil to Japan
Japan is convinced that war is necessary between the two countries

6. Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned attack at Pearl Harbor
Purpose of attack was to neutralize U.S. navy fleet in Pacific (aircraft carriers primary targets)
Japanese sent 6 carriers, 450 planes and various ships and submarines

7. Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941, 94 naval ships are at Pearl Harbor but the carriers are on duties elsewhere
A Japanese sub is attacked by U.S. forces and mobile radar had picked up a large group of planes approaching the base
The first strike destroys aircraft and airfields to eliminate air defenses

8. Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor
The second strike concentrated on the naval ships through high level bombing
The final strike consisted of low level dive bombing
In two hours 2,400 are killed, 18 warships were sunk or seriously damaged and 188 planes destroyed
Oil reserves and naval facilities were not attacked because Japanese feared an attack themselves

10. Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor

11. Day of Infamy: Pearl Harbor
The Fall of the Philippine Islands lead to the surrender of American and Filipino forces to the Japanese
11,000 men will die from war atrocities by the Japanese in the infamous “Bataan Death March” in 1942
After taking the Philippines the Japanese eyed Australia and New Guinea

12. The Battle Of The Coral Sea
May7-8, 1942, Battle of Coral Sea showed that planes would be a dominate force in naval battles
USS Lexington’s planes will sink a Japanese carrier and shoot down 21 planes
The next day the Lexington will be sunk and mislead the Japanese into thinking that they have crippled the US fleet
It is a Japanese victory but Australia is saved because the Japanese now seek to destroy the US fleet

13. Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942
Yamamoto desired the Midway Islands as a launching pad to attack Hawaii
The Japanese will send 4 carriers with support ships to Midway unaware that the US still has carriers in region
The US will decipher Japanese transmissions and be prepared for the assault

14. Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942

15. Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942

16. Battle Of Midway, June 4-7, 1942 Midway is a decisive American victory
Japanese losses will be
4 carriers sunk
1 cruiser sunk
2,500 experienced seaman KIA
322 planes shot down
The US lost the carrier Yorktown and 147 planes
Japan will no longer be able to threaten the US fleet effectively

17. Island Hopping Campaign