The Campaigns
of the
Pacific War

United States Strategic Bombing Survey
(Pacific)

Naval Analysis Division

United States Government Printing Office
Washington: 1946
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office
Washington 25, D.C.

Contents

       
  Foreword  
Acknowledgment
I. Japanese Naval Planning 1-12
  Foreword 1
  The Naval Planning Organization 1
  The Basic Plan for the Greater East Asia War 2
  Operational Plans Formulated Throughout the War 6
II. Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, Planning and Execution 13-25
  Appendixes:  
  1. Organization of Pearl Harbor Task Force 21
  2. Task Force Track Chart 22
  3. Aircraft Attack Organization 23
  4. Combat Air Patrol Organization 24
  5. Aircraft approach to Oahu 25
III. The Japanese Invasion of the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, and Southeast Asia 26-51
  Introduction 26
  Japanese Plans 26
  Commencement of Hostilities 27
  Occupation of the Philippines 28
  Malaya Operations 28
  The Organization of the Allied Command 28
  The Japanese Occupy Celebes and Borneo 29
  Allied Counteroffensive Efforts 29
  The Java Campaign 30
  Battle of the Java Sea 31
  Employment of Japanese Carriers and Battleships 31
  Conclusion 32
  Bibliography 33
  Appendixes:  
  6. Table of Allied Naval and Air Forces 34
  7. Table of Japanese Forces 36
  8. Table Showing Allied Naval Losses 38
  9. Table Showing Japanese Naval and Merchant Ship Losses 40
  10. Chart Showing Japanese Southern Advance, 8 December 1941-10 March 1942 41
  11. Chart Showing Movement of Japanese Main Body 2d Fleet and Carrier Attack Forces 42
  12. Central Agreement Between Japanese Navy and Army Established November 1941 (Translation) 43
  13. Imperial Navy's Course of Action in Operations against United States, Great Britain and Netherlands. Formulated in November 1941 (Translation) 47
  14. Japanese Naval Despatches Ordering Commencement of Hostilities 49
IV. The Battle of the Coral Sea 52-57
  Plans 52
  The United States Attack on Tulagi 52
  The Coral Sea Battle 52
  Consequences of the Engagement 53
  Bibliography 53
  Appendixes:  
  15. Table of Forces Involved 54
  16. Table of Detailed Losses (United States and Japanese) 55
  17. Track Chart of Shoho (CV) (Port Moresby Occupation Force) 56
  18. Sketch of Hits on Shoho (CV) Coral Sea, 7 May 1942 57
V. The Battle of Midway 58-77
  Japanese Plans 58
  United States Defensive Efforts 58
  The Battle 59
  The Japanese Retirement 59
  Consequences of the Battle 60
  Bibliography 60
  Appendixes:  
  19. Sketch of Hits on Japanese Occupation Force Midway, 3-4 June 61
  20. Track Chart of Japanese Submarines (Battle of Midway, 3-7 June 1942) 62
  21. Track Chart of Japanese Forces (Battle of Midway, 4-6 June 1942) 62
  22. Action Chart of Japanese First Air Fleet (Battle of Midway, 5 June) 62
  23. Summary of attacks upon First Air Fleet, Striking Force, Battle of Midway (Translation) 63
  24. Table of Forces Involved 74
  25. Table of Detailed Losses 77
VI. The Aleutian Campaign 78-104
  Preliminary Events and Planning 78
  The Japanese Occupation 79
  Expulsion of the Japanese 81
  Pressure on the Kuriles 82
  Comments and Conclusion 83
  Bibliography 86
  Appendixes:  
  26. Chart of Movement of Japanese Forces, Aleutian Campaign 1942 88
  27. Kiska Island, Showing Track of Evacuation Force, 29 July 1943 88
  28. Table of Summary of Air Effort, Japanese Attack on Dutch Harbor 89
  29. Table of Summary of Air Effort Against Kiska and Attu 90
  30. Table of Summary of Air Effort for the War in the North Pacific 91
  31. Table of Chronological Summary of Japanese Warships Sunk or Heavily Damaged in the North Pacific 92
  32. Table of Chronological Summary of the United States Ships Sunk or Heavily Damaged in the North Pacific 94
  33. Translation of Japanese Report of Activities and Losses in the Kuriles 95
  34. Table of Organization of Japanese Forces for the Occupation of the Western Aleutians, June 1942 99
  35. Table of Organization of United States Forces in the North Pacific, 1 June 1942 101
  36. Table of Organization of Forces at the Battle of the Komandorski Islands--United States and Japanese 102
  37. Table of Organization of Forces at the Battle of Attu--United States and Japanese 103
VII. The Solomons Campaign 105-172
  Introduction 105
  Initial United States Landings 105
  Battle of Savo Island 106
  Appendixes:  
  38. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Savo Island, 8 August 1942 108
  39. Track Chart of Battle of Savo Island, 8-9 August 1942 109
  Battle of Eastern Solomons 110
  Appendixes:  
  40. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Eastern Solomons, 25 August 1942 112
  41. Track Chart of Japanese Forces Battle of Eastern Solomons, 23-25 August 1942 114
  Battle of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942 115
  Appendixes:  
  42. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Cape Esperance, 12 October 1942 117
  43. Track Chart of Japanese Forces Battle of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942 118
  Battle of Santa Cruz, 25-26 October 1942 119
  Appendixes:  
  44. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Santa Cruz, 25-26 October 1942 122
  45. Track Chart of Japanese Forces Battle of Santa Cruz, 21-26 October 1942 124
  Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-15 November 1942 125
  Appendixes:  
  46. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Guadalcanal Cruiser Night Action, 13 November 1942;
Night Battleship Action, 15 November 1942
127
  47. Track Chart of Battle of Guadalcanal (9 Charts), 12-15 November 1942 130
  Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942 139
  Appendixes:  
  48. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942 140
  49. Track Chart of Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942 141
  Occupation of New Georgia 142
  Battle of Vella Gulf 143
  Battle of Vella Lavella 143
  Appendixes:  
  50. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Night Action Vila-Stanmore, 5-6 March 1943 144
  51. Track Chart of Vila-Stanmore, 6 March 1943 145
  52. Composition of Task Forces New Georgia Campaign, Solomon Islands, Vella Gulf, 6-7 August 1943 146
  53. Track Chart of Battle of Vella , 6-7 August 1943 147
  54. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Vella Lavella, 17-18 August 1943 148
  55. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Vella Lavella, 6-7 October 1943 149
  Bougainville Campaign 150
  Appendixes:  
  56. Table of Forces Buka-Nomis Air Strikes, 1-2 November 1943 151
  Battle of Empress Augusta Bay 152
  Appendixes:  
  57. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses for Battle of Empress Augusta Bay 1-2 November 1943 153
  58. Track Chart of Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, 2 November 154
  Air Strikes on Rabaul 155
  Appendixes:  
  59. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Rabaul Carrier Strikes, 5 November 1943 156
  60. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Rabaul Carrier Strikes, 11 November 1943 157
  Battle of Cape St. George 158
  Appendixes:  
  61. Table of Forces and Detailed Losses of Battle of Cape St. George, 25 November 1943 159
  Conclusion 160
  Bibliography 160
  Appendixes:  
  62. Graph of Monthly Combat Losses Japanese Naval Aircraft and Disposition of 11th Air Fleet Land-Based, August 1942-February 1944 162
  63. Graph of Japanese Navy Air Force Strength August 1942-February 1942 Graph of Japanese Navy Air Force Strength August 1942-February 1942 162
  64. Table of Japanese Naval Losses in Solomons Campaign, 4 May 1942-17 February 1944 Table of Japanese Naval Losses in Solomons Campaign, 4 May 1942-17 February 1944 163
VIII. The New Guinea Campaign 173-190
  Introduction 173
  Beginning of the Allied Offensive 173
  Japanese Attempts to Reinforce Lae and Salamaua 174
  Shipping Strike in the Bismarck Sea, 1-4 March 1943 174
  Strategic Situation, Spring 1943 175
  Japanese Air Activity, March-June 1943 175
  The Allied Landings on Woodlark-Kiriwina Islands and Nassau Bay, 30 June 1943 175
  The Lae Operation 176
  The Finschhafen Operation, 22 September 1943 177
  The Advance into New Britain and the Admiralty Islands 177
  The Landings in the Hollandia Area, 22 April 1944 179
  The Landing at Biak 27 May 1944 180
  The Japanese Attempt to provide Reinforcements--The "Kon" Plan 181
  The Morotai Landings, 15 September 1944 182
  The Allied Invasion of Borneo, May-July 1945 182
  Air Operations in Western New Guinea 184
  The Japanese Army Air Force in new Guinea 184
  Conclusion 185
  Bibliography 186
  Appendixes: 188
  65. Chart of Allied Advance Along New Guinea Coast 188
  66. Graph of Japanese Army Air Force Strength New Guinea Area, 1943-1944 189
  67. Graph of Japanese Navy Air Force Strength, August 1942-February 1944 190
IX. Central Pacific Operations from 1 June 1943 to 1 March 1944, Including the Gilbert-Marshall islands Campaign 191-203
  Introduction 191
  United States and Japanese Plans 191
  Preliminary Operations 191
  Occupation of the Gilberts 192
  Buildup and Subsequent Planning 193
  Occupation of the Marshalls 193
  Seizure of Eniwetok 194
  Carrier Task Force Raids 194
  Conclusion 195
  Bibliography 195
  Appendixes:  
  68. Table of Strength of Opposing Ground Forces, Casualties and Japanese Garrison Strength in The Central Pacific 197
  69. Extracts from Official reports of the Imperial Japanese Government Concerning the Gilbert-Marshall Campaign 198
  70. Charts Showing the Principal movements of Major Japanese Naval Vessels in the Central Pacific, November 1943 through February 1944 202
X. The Central Pacific Campaigns, 1 March to 1 September, Including the Occupation of the Marianas 204-272
  Strategic Situation at Beginning of Campaign 204
  Early Japanese Plans and Dispositions 205
  United States Operations--The Preparatory Phase:
    Shore-Based Air 206
    Carrier Attack on Western Carolines, 30 March-1 April 1944 207
    Death of Admiral Koga, Commander in Chief Combined Fleet 207
    Fifth Fleet Support of the Hollandia Operation, 21-24 April 1944 208
    Second Carrier Attack on Truk, 29-30 April 1944 208
    Carrier Air Attack on Marcus and Wake Islands, 19-23 May 1944 209
  The Invasion of the Marianas:
    United States Directives: Situation and Strength 209
    Japanese Directives: Situation and Strength 210
    Strategic Importance of the Marianas 211
  The Capture of Saipan, 15 June-9 July 1944:
    Preinvasion Strikes 211
    The Landing 212
  Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19-20 June 1944:
    Movements of the Japanese Fleet 213
    Task Force 58 213
    Attack on Task Force 58, 19 June 1944 214
    Attack on the Japanese Fleet, 20 June 1944 214
    Pursuit of the Enemy Fleet 215
  Covering operations, 22 June-9 July 1944 215
  The Occupation of Guam and Tinian:
    Assault and Capture of Guam, 21 July-10 August 1944 216
    Assault and Capture of Tinian, 24 July-1 August 1944 217
  Continuing and Concurrent Operations:
    Carrier Attack on Western Carolines, 25-28 July 1944 218
    Carrier Attack on Iwo Jima and Bonin Islands, 4-5 August 1944 218
    Shore Based Air--Marianas 219
    Marshall Islands Bases 219
    Southwest Pacific 219
  Comments and Conclusions 219
  Bibliography 220
  Appendixes:  
  71. Combined Fleet Operation Order No. 73 ("Z" Operation) dated 8 March 1944; and Imperial headquarters Directive No. 358 ("TO" Operation) dated 22 March 1944 with subsequent orders relating thereto (Translations) 221
  72. (1) Imperial Headquarters Directive No. 373
(2) Combined Fleet Operations Order No. 76 ("A" Operation) dated 3 May 1944 (Translation)
(3) Imperial Headquarters Directive No. 426, dated 18 July 1944
225
226
231
  73. General Directive to Combined Fleet from Commander in Chief, dated 4 May 1944 (translation) 233
  74. Table of United States Forces in Occupation of the Marianas 234
  75. Chain of Command, Japanese Forces in Marianas-Carolines, 1 June 1944 236
  76. Order of Battle, Defense Forces in the Ogasawara-Marianas-Carolines, 1 June 1944 237
  77. Assigned Strength, Table of Base Air Forces, Marianas and Carolines, 1 June 1944 238
  78. Table of Japanese Task Organization First Mobile Fleet 239
  79. Detailed Battle Report of "A" Operations, Battle is Seas West of Saipan from 13 June to 22 June 1944, issued by First Mobile Fleet Headquarters (Translation) 241
  80. Excerpts from the Battle Reports of 601st Air Group (13-14 June), 652d Air Group (18-21 June), 653d Air Group (13-22 June), War Diaries of 252d Air Group and 22d Air Attack Force, Combined Reports of War Diaries of Shokaku, Chitose, Chiyoda, 5th Sentai, DesRon 10 249
  81. Outline of Program of task Force Operations and Battle Impressions and Lessons "A" Operations dated 1 November 1944 (Translation) 260
  82. Chart of Disposition of Japanese Fleet, forenoon 19 June and afternoon 20 June 1944 (Translation) 270
  83. Track Chart of United States and Japanese Forces Battle of Philippine Sea, June 1944 271
  84. Track Chart of Japanese Flagships 1st Mobile Fleet 13-22 June 1944 (Translation of Japanese Chart) 272
XI. The Western Carolines Operations 273-279
  Introduction 273
  Covering Operations 274
  Palau Landings and Occupation of Ulithi 275
  Conclusion 275
  Bibliography 275
  Appendixes:  
  85. Table of United States and Japanese Forces 277
  86. Chart of the Western Carolines Operation, September 1944 279
XII. The Philippine Campaign 280-319
  Introduction 280
  Japanese Situation and Plans 280
  United States Situation and Plans 282
  Preliminary Raids 283
  Battle for Leyte Gulf 283
  Leyte and Ormoc 286
  Mindoro 287
  Lingayen Gulf 288
  Conclusion 289
  Bibliography 290
  Appendixes:  
  87. Imperial Headquarters Directive 431 of 21 July 1944: General Policy for Urgent Operations 292
  88. Excerpts from Imperial Headquarters Directive 435 of 26 July 1944: Designation of Urgent Operations as SHO Operations 294
  89. Excerpts from Battle Summary of First Diversion Attack force in SHO Operation 295
  90. Excerpts from First Mobile Fleet Report of SHO Operations 308
  91. Table of Comparative Forces, Leyte Operation 315
  92. Table of Comparative Combatant Ship Losses 317
  93. Chart of Battle for Leyte Gulf, the Approach of the Japanese Forces 15-25 October 1944 318
  94. Chart of Battle off Samar 25 October 1944 318
  95. Graph of Estimated Japanese Air Strength in Philippines, 1944-1945 319
XIII. The Iwo Jima Campaign 320-323
  Bibliography 321
  Appendixes:  
  96. Table of Forces Involved 322
  97. Table of Detailed Losses 323
XIV. The Okinawa Campaign 324-338
  Action Details 326
  Bibliography 328
  Appendixes:  
  98. Table of Forces Involved 329
  99. Table of Detailed Losses 331
  100. Track Chart of Yamato Group 6-7 April 1945 332
  101. Track Chart of Yamato 7 April 1945 333
  102. Yamato's Battle Chronology 334
  103. Action Report of 2d Destroyer Squadron 337
XV. Final Naval Operations 339-377
  Damage to Major Japanese Warships in Kure Area 340
  Appendixes:  
  104. Table of Forces Involved 350
  105. Table of Detailed Losses 351
  106. Sketches of Ships Damaged at Kure (12) 352
  107. Photographs of Ships Damaged at Kure (24) 365
  108. Chart of Locations of Sunk and Damaged Ships at Kure Area, 6 October 1945 377
XVI. The Campaign to Destroy Japanese Shipping 378-390
  Bibliography 382
  Appendixes:  
  109. Graph Total Japanese Merchant Shipping Tonnage Sunk and remaining Available 384
  110. Graph of Monthly Comparison of Sinkings of Japanese Merchant Ships by three Principal Agents 385
  111. Graph Showing Cumulative Tanker Sinkings by Agent 386
  112. Reply of Japanese Government to U.S.S.B.S. Questionnaire Nav Number 24 regarding Japanese Shipping Escort Organization, Including Charts 1, 2, and 3 387


Chart of Pacific Ocean Areas and relative distances


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