Maps of the Asia/Pacific Theatre
1941-42
Japanese Approach to Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941
The Imperial Japanese Navy fleet attacking Pearl Harbor launched a total of 423 aircraft in two waves against American military targets on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.
Attack on Pearl Harbor: December 7, 1941
Commander Fuchida led the first wave of torpedo bombers against the US Pacific Fleet ships at anchor in Pearl Harbor. Their first objective was to strike at the battleships
The Fall of Hong Kong: December 9 - 25, 1941
Japanese armed forces began the invasion of the New Territories of Hong Kong, from occupied China, on December 8th at 0800. Eliminating this Allied naval base was a priority. Most of the territory was captured by the evening of December 9th. The poorly equipped British and Commonwealth garrison forces surrendered on December 25th.
Invasion of Malaya: December 8, 1941 - January 31, 1942
The British possession of Malaya was a major source of rubber and tin. At its tip was the powerful naval base on the island of Singapore. Veteran Japanese troops of the 25th Army landed in the north and pushed through the jungle terrain. British armed forces, though nominally more numerous, were poorly equipped and inexperienced and were defeated by the end of January 1942.
Sinking Force Z: December 8-10, 1941
The British battleships Prince of Wales and Repulse were sent to the Pacific by Churchill to provide a deterrent to Japanese aggression. Sailing from Singapore to attack the Japanese invasion forces in Malaya, they were discovered by a Japanese submarine and later sunk within two hours by an air strike involving about 90 planes.
Invasion of Burma: January 15 - May 15, 1942
Japanese military attacks into Burma surprised the Allies and a rout ensued. The aggressive campaign inexorably pushed the British, American, Chinese and Burmese military units, based in Burma, into India and cut their land route into southern China.
Invasion of the Philippines: December 10, 1941 - May 3, 1942
The American controlled Philippine islands represented a serious threat to Japanese expansive intentions in the Pacific and were therefore targeted for invasion. General MacArthur initially commanded the Allied forces. Japanese General Homma's diversionary landings in the north of the main island of Luzon failed to divide the defenders who nonetheless could not cope with the main landings at Lingayen Gulf. By the end of December most of the island was occupied.
Conquest of Bataan: January 7 - April 9, 1942
By mid-January American and Filipino armed forces in the Philippines had retreated into the mountainous Bataan Peninsula of Luzon as well as holding the island of Corregidor immediately to the south, blocking Manila Bay. General Homma wrongly believed the defenders almost defeated and launched assaults that depleted his forces. A protracted period of trench warfare followed. The American command surrendered on April 9th.