WW2 in Asia

• Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour

  -Japan aimed to cripple the United States Pacific Fleet, at Pearl Harbour

  -by launching a surprise attack, they sought to destroy as many battleships as possible allowing them to expand their Pacific empire with less resistance before they recovered

  
  

  Japan sought to secure vital resources from Pacific islands, particularly oil, to sustain its war efforts. The US had cut off these essential resources after its invasion of China
• Pearl Harbour

  -December 1941

  -Japan attacked with stealth

  -Over 2k people died

  -8 battleships were damaged

  -US declared war on Japan

  -Germany declared war on US
• Why Americans were unprepared

  -Underestimation of Japan's capability and aggression

  -Despite receiving intelligence indicating the possibility of a Japanese attack, there were communication breakdowns and failures within the US military and government.
• Japanese attitudes

  -wanted to expand territory and saw America as a threat to this ambition

  -was angry with US due to economic sanctions
• US attitudes

  -America supported China against Japan providing military aid and economic assistance

  -Were concerned about Japan's aggressive ambition
• Attack on Malaya

  -December 1941, the day after Pearl Harbour

  -They advanced through the jungle and outflanked the Allied powers

  -forcing them to retreat back to Singapore

  -Japanese achieved air superiority by neutralising the British airfields
• Capture of Singapore

  -Britain's main base in SE Asia

  -1942

  -Employed surprise tactics

  -British humiliation, 130k allies surrendered
• Success of Malaya and Singapore

  Malaya:

  -neutralised airfields allowing for air superiority

  -Brits weren't prepped for jungle warfare

  
  

  Singapore:

  -British prepared to defend the south not expecting an attack from the north

  -Surprise tactics
• Japanese strengths

  -advanced tactics and training allowed them to advance with incredible speed

  -Used their bicycle infantry and light tanks to outmanoeuvre the British forcing them to retreat

  
  

  They had a large force consisting of:

  60k men

  200 tanks

  600 aircraft
• British weaknesses

  -unprepared for attack from Malaysia

  -Underinvestment in Singapore's defences, inferior force:

  20 tanks

  150 aircraft

  -Fighting experience
• Battle of Coral Sea

  -May 1942

  -battle involved aircraft carriers

  -Americans had two carriers and aimed to halt the Japanese advance towards Port Moresby

  -Damage on Japanese carriers forced them to withdraw
• Coral sea being turning point (for)

  -first time Japanese advance was stopped and their forces were effectively challenged

  
  

  -Morale boost for the Allies, successfully prevented the Japanese from advance proving that their invincibility could be challenged
• Coral sea being turning point (against)

  -Did not result in decisive victory for the allies as both sides suffered losses and the Japanese continued their expansion

  
  

  -Battle of Midway is considered superior
• Battle of Midway

  -June 1942

  -Pivotal naval battle fought near the Midway Atoll

  -Involved aircraft carriers and was a major turning point

  -American forces with three carriers successfully ambushed the Japanese carrier force. 4 Japanese carriers were sunk and the -loss of many experienced Japanese pilots
• Midway turning point for

  -marked first major Japanese defeat forcing them into the defensive position

  
  

  -loss of experienced pilots and 4 carriers
• Midway turning point against

  -war in the Pacific continued for several more years with intense battles still to come

  
  

  -Other factors such as island hopping campaign and later victories