The Pacific Ocean theater of World War II was a major theater of war between the Allied powers and the Empire of Japan during World War II. It was one of four theaters within the overall Pacific War, the largest theater of World War II. The other three theaters were the South West Pacific theater, the Second Sino-Japanese War, and the brief Soviet–Japanese War. The term "Pacific Theater" can refer to the overall Pacific War or the Pacific Ocean theater, depending on context.
Commands Allied
On March 30, 1942, US Admiral Chester Nimitz was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas. In the other major theater in the Pacific region, known as the South West Pacific theater, Allied forces were commanded by US General Douglas MacArthur. Both Nimitz and MacArthur were overseen by the US Joint Chiefs, and indirectly by the British-American Combined Chiefs of Staff.
In the Pacific Ocean theater, Japanese forces fought primarily against the United States Navy, the U.S. Army, which had 6 Corps and 21 Divisions, and the U.S. Marine Corps, which had only 6 Divisions. The United Kingdom (British Pacific Fleet), New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and other Allied nations, also contributed forces.
Japanese
Most Japanese forces in the theater were part of the of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), which was responsible for all Japanese warships, naval aircraft, and marine infantry units. The Rengō Kantai was led by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, until he was killed in an attack by U.S. fighter planes in April 1943. Yamamoto was succeeded by Admiral Mineichi Koga (1943–44) and Admiral Soemu Toyoda (1944–45). The of the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) was responsible for Imperial Japanese Army ground and air units in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. The IJN and IJA did not formally use joint/combined staff at the operational level, and their command structures/geographical areas of operations overlapped with each other and those of the Allies.
Campaigns and battles
Hawaiian Islands campaign ( – ) Attack on Pearl Harbor () Attack on Midway () Shelling of Johnston and Palmyra ( – ) Operation K () Battle of Midway ( – )
Battle of Wake Island ( – )
Aleutian Islands campaign ( – ) Battle of Dutch Harbor ( – ) Landing at Amchitka () Battle of the Komandorski Islands () Battle of Attu ( – ) Battle of the Pips () Operation Cottage ()
Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign ( – ) Raid on Makin Island ( – ) Battle of Tarawa ( – ) Battle of Makin ( – ) Battle of Kwajalein ( – ) Operation Hailstone ( – ) Battle of Eniwetok ( – )
Mariana and Palau Islands campaign ( – ) Battle of Saipan ( – ) Battle of the Philippine Sea ( – ) Battle of Guam ( – ) Battle of Tinian ( – ) Battle of Peleliu ( – ) Battle of Angaur ( – )
Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign ( – ) Battle of Iwo Jima ( – ) Battle of Okinawa ( – )
Gallery
Notes
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