-
Pearl Harbor (Japanese victory)
(Air)This was a surprise attack from the Japanese on Pearl Hrbor. It was a Japanese victory and prompted the US to join the war. Also boosted American moral and gained the people's support. -
Coral Sea (Japanese tactical victory/Allied strategic victory)
(Naval/Air) Japanese forces didn’t know that US carriers were in the area, so they took and stopped in a port in Tulagi. They were surprised by the US Aircraft Carrier Yorktown and then moved out to the Coral Sea. There, the carriers from Japan, the Shoho, Shokaku, and Zuikaku, sent out planes that found the United States carriers Lexington and Yorktown. This was a battle in which none of the carriers ever sighted or shot at each other. This was one of the first victories for the allies. -
Battle of Midway Island (American victory)
(Naval/Air) The Japanese planned a great naval trap in the Midway Island area. The attack messages were caught by United States decryptors, and they then notified the navy. Chester Nimitz hurriedly pulled together 3 aircraft carriers, including the recently repaired Yorktown. In the actual battle, four of the six carriers that the Japanese had had during Pearl Harbor were sunk: the Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu. It also stopped the Japenese advancement. -
Guadalcanal (Allied victory)
(Land/Naval) United States seized an in-construction Japanese military airfield. The Japanese plan was to bombard the airfield with shots fired from battleships. Each side lost many units in the night battles. Stopped the Japanese from gaining more resources. The United States got wind of the Japanese plan, and prepared with battleships. At the end, the bombardment was stopped at a high price for both sides. -
Battle of the Philippine Sea (Decisive US Victory)
(Land/Naval/Air) This battle took place during the United States invasion of the Mariana Islands. It was one of the last carrier to carrier battles in the Pacific War. This is because the Japanese ran out of carriers, and due to the improved training and tactics employed by the United States Navy. Disabled the Japanese from conducting naval carier wars. -
Guam (Allied victory)
(Land) The battle of Guam begun as a heavy bombing, then a land assault over both sides. This island ended up being the one that Japan took after Pearl Harbor. Regained lost US land. -
Battle of Layte Straights (Allied Victory)
Split into four battles, in which the Japanese sent all of their remaining major naval vessels. These were repulsed by 2 squadrons of the US Navy. First battle in which the Japanese carriers carried out organized kamikaze attacks. By the end of the battle, the Japanese had fewer aircraft than the Allies had sea vessels. Stripped the Japanese navy to near nothing and allowed easier Allied conquest. -
Tokyo (Allied victory)
(Air) This was an attack on the city of Tokyo, Japan, by US aircraft. This is considered to be the most destructive bombing in history. The US dropped fire bombs on the entire city, burning it to the ground. It drastically weakened Japan's effectiveness during the war, as it almost completely destroyed the countries methods of production. -
Iwo Jima (Allied victory)
(Land) The battle of Iwo Jima was a battle between the US and Japan. It resulted in an American victory, but it was one of the only battles where the US lost more ships than Japan. It was also one of the costliest battles for the US during WWII. Provided bombing bases to use during the bombings of the Japanese homelands. -
Okinawa (Allied victory)
(Land/Naval) The battle of Okinawa was an Allied attack in order to gain a foothold next to Japan. It was the longest carried out attack by the Allies in the war, lasting from April 1st until June 22nd, 1945. Gave them a docking place to have troops if they invaded the mainland of Japan.