The Pacific Ocean theater was one of four major naval theatres of war of the Second World War that pitted forces of the Japan against those of the United States, Commonwealth of Nations, the Netherlands and France.

The theater included most of the Pacific Ocean and its islands, excluding the Philippines, Australia, the Netherlands East Indies, the Territory of New Guinea (including the Bismarck Archipelago) and the Solomon Islands (which were part of the Southwest Pacific area.) The Pacific Ocean theater also excluded China and mainland South East Asia. It takes its name from 30 March 1942^[1] when it became the major Allied command in the theater, known simply as "Pacific Ocean Areas".^[2]

Leaders

Japanese naval aircraft prepare to take off from an aircraft carrier.

Okinawa, 1945. A U.S. Marine aims a Thompson submachinegun at a Japanese sniper, as his companion takes cover.

Allied Pacific theater command structure.

The Japanese Combined Fleet was led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, until he was killed in an attack by U.S. fighter planes in April 1943.^[3] Yamamoto was succeeded by Admiral Mineichi Koga (1943?44)^[3] and Admiral Soemu Toyoda (1944?45).^[4]

Admiral, later Fleet Admiral, Chester Nimitz commanded the vast majority of Allied naval forces in the Pacific Ocean during the period 1941?45. The Allied Pacific Ocean Areas (POA) command was formed in March 1942. The POA was further divided into the North, Central, and South Pacific Areas, with subordinate commanders.^[5] Nimitz retained direct control of the Central Pacific Area (CENPAC).

Major campaigns and battles

• Central Pacific Theater
  • Attack on Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941^[6]
  • Battle of Wake Island 7-23 December 1941^[7]
  • Doolittle Raid 18 April 1942^[6]
  • Battle of Midway 4-6 June 1942^[6]
  • Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign 1943?44
    • Makin Island raid 17-18 August 1942^[8]
    • Battle of Tarawa 20 November 1943^[6]
    • Battle of Kwajalein 1 February 1944^[9]
    • Battle of Eniwetok 17 February 1944^[10]
  • Mariana and Palau Islands campaign 1944
    • Battle of Saipan 15 June 1944^[11]
    • Battle of the Philippine Sea 19-21 June 1944^[12]
    • Battle of Guam (1944) 21 July^[13]
    • Battle of Tinian 24 July 1944^[13]
    • Battle of Peleliu 15 September 1944^[14]
    • Battle of Anguar 17 September 1944^[14]
  • Battle of Iwo Jima 19 February 1945^[6]
  • Battle of Okinawa 1 April 1945^[6]
• North Pacific Theater
  • Aleutian Islands campaign 1942?43
  • Battle of the Komandorski Islands 26 March 1943^[6]

Notes

References

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