Pacific War

December 7, 1941 – September 2, 1945 · Pacific Ocean

Result Allied victory

The World War II theater fought between Japan and the Allies across East and Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and Oceania, generally dated from Japan's December 1941 attacks on Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The geographically largest theater of the war, it ended with Japan's surrender in August 1945 following the atomic bombings and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria.

On the map Overview Contemporaries

Allies

Axis

Republic of China

United States

United Kingdom

Netherlands

Soviet Union

Mexico

Australia

Canada

Japan

Thailand

Franklin D. Roosevelt belligerent leader

Chiang Kai-shek

Winston Churchill belligerent leader

Hirohito belligerent leader

Isoroku Yamamoto

Strength and losses

Strength: 23,275,564

Republic of China Strength 14,000,000

United States Strength 3,621,383

United Kingdom Strength 400,000

Soviet Union Strength 1,747,465

Units

National Revolutionary Army Sixth Army (United States) United States Army Forces in the Far East V Amphibious Corps 25th Infantry Division (United States) 2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom) 77th Sustainment Brigade 147th Regiment (United States) United States Pacific Fleet Fast Carrier Task Force USS Bunker Hill USS Enterprise Also under Task Force 16 and Task Force 61 (1942) USS Essex USS Franklin USS Hornet (CV-12) USS Intrepid USS Lexington (CV-16) USS Princeton USS Yorktown (CV-10) Task Force 16 USS Hornet Also under Task Force 61 (1942) Task Force 17 USS Lexington USS Yorktown Task Force 61 (1942) USS Saratoga USS Wasp Chinese-American Composite Wing (Provisional)

Battles and events 89

Key events

Second Sino-Japanese War July 7, 1937 – September 2, 1945 · Chinese victory
- Counterinsurgency in Manchuria November 4, 1931 – 1941 · Japanese-Manchukuo victory
- Battle of Beiping–Tianjin August 1937 · Japanese victory
- Tianjin–Pukou Railway Operation August 1937 – November 1937 · Japanese victory
- Operation Chahar August 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Shanghai August 13 – November 26, 1937 · Japanese victory
  - Defense of Sihang Warehouse October 26 – November 1, 1937 · Withdrawal of Chinese forces to the Shanghai International Settlement on 31 October 1937
- Battle of Taiyuan September 1 – November 9, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Xinkou September 13 – November 11, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Pingxingguan September 24–25, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Xuzhou December 1, 1937 – May 19, 1938 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Nanking December 1–13, 1937 · Japanese victory
  - Hundred man killing contest 1937
- USS Panay incident December 12, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Nanjing Massacre December 13, 1937 – February 7, 1938
- Bombing of Chongqing February 18, 1938 – August 23, 1943
- Battle of Taierzhuang March 24 – April 7, 1938 · Chinese victory
- Amoy Operation May 10–12, 1938 · Japanese victory
- 1938 Yellow River flood June 1938
- Battle of Wuhan June 11 – October 27, 1938 · Japanese victory
- Canton Operation October 1938 – December 1938 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Wanjialing October 11, 1938 · Chinese victory
- Hainan Island Operation February 1939 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Nanchang May 9, 1939 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang May 24, 1939 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Changsha (1939) September 17 – October 6, 1939 · Chinese victory
- 1939–1940 Winter Offensive November 1939 – March 1940 · Japanese victory
- Battle of South Guangxi November 15, 1939 – November 30, 1940 · Japanese withdrawal from Nanning after the successful invasion of French Indochina
- Battle of Kunlun Pass December 18, 1939 – January 11, 1940 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Wuyuan March 16 – April 3, 1940 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang May 1 – June 24, 1940 · Japanese victory
- Hundred Regiments Offensive August 20 – December 5, 1940 · Chinese victory
- Japanese invasion of French Indochina September 22–26, 1940 · Japanese victory
- Battle of South Henan January 30 – March 1, 1941 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Shanggao March 14 – April 9, 1941 · Chinese victory
- Battle of South Shanxi May 7–27, 1941 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Changsha (1941) September 6 – October 8, 1941
- Proposed Japanese invasion of Sichuan 1942 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Changsha (1941–1942) January 15, 1942 · Chinese victory
- Battle of the Yunnan–Burma Road March 1942 – June 1942 · Axis victory
  - Battle of Toungoo March 30, 1942 · Japanese victory
  - Battle of Yenangyaung April 19, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign May 15 – September 6, 1942
- Battle of West Hubei May 12 – June 3, 1943 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Northern Burma and Western Yunnan October 1943 – March 1945 · Allied victory
  - Battle of Mount Song June 4 – September 7, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle of Changde November 2 – December 20, 1943 · Chinese victory
- Operation Ichi-Go April 17 – December 10, 1944 · Japanese victory
  - Battle of Guilin–Liuzhou August 16 – November 24, 1944 · Japanese victory
- Battle of West Henan–North Hubei March 21 – May 11, 1945 · Stalemate
- Second Guangxi campaign April 1945 – August 4, 1945 · Chinese victory
- Battle of West Hunan April 6 – June 7, 1945 · Chinese victory
Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 · Japanese victory
Battle of the Coral Sea May 4–8, 1942
Battle of Midway June 4–7, 1942 · American victory
Guadalcanal campaign August 7, 1942 – February 9, 1943 · Allied victory
- Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo August 7–9, 1942 · Allied victory
- Battle of the Tenaru August 21, 1942 · Allied victory
- Battle of the Eastern Solomons August 24–25, 1942 · American victory
- Battle of Edson's Ridge September 12–14, 1942 · Allied victory
- Actions along the Matanikau September 23 – October 9, 1942 · September action: Japanese victory; October action: American victory
- Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands October 25–27, 1942
- Battle of Tassafaronga November 30, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Carlson's patrol December 4, 1942 · Allied victory
- Operation Ke January 14 – February 7, 1943 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Rennell Island January 29–30, 1943 · Japanese victory
Battle of the Philippine Sea June 19–20, 1944 · American victory
Battle of Peleliu September 15 – November 27, 1944 · American victory
Philippines campaign (1944–1945) October 20, 1944 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Leyte October 17 – December 31, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle of Mindoro December 13–16, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle of Luzon January 9 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
  - Invasion of Lingayen Gulf January 6–9, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Baguio February 21 – April 26, 1945 · Allied victory
- Invasion of Palawan February 28 – April 22, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Mindanao March 10 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Visayas March 18 – July 30, 1945 · Allied victory
Battle of Leyte Gulf October 23–26, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle off Samar October 25, 1944 · American victory
Battle of Iwo Jima February 19 – March 26, 1945 · American victory
Battle of Okinawa April 1 – June 22, 1945 · Allied victory
- Operation Ten-Go April 7, 1945 · American victory
  - Operation Kikusui April 6 – June 22, 1945 · Allied victory
Soviet invasion of Manchuria August 9–20, 1945 · Soviet victory
- Battle of Mutanchiang August 16, 1945

1937 1 event

Second Sino-Japanese War July 7, 1937 – September 2, 1945 · Chinese victory
- Counterinsurgency in Manchuria November 4, 1931 – 1941 · Japanese-Manchukuo victory
- Battle of Beiping–Tianjin August 1937 · Japanese victory
- Tianjin–Pukou Railway Operation August 1937 – November 1937 · Japanese victory
- Operation Chahar August 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Shanghai August 13 – November 26, 1937 · Japanese victory
  - Defense of Sihang Warehouse October 26 – November 1, 1937 · Withdrawal of Chinese forces to the Shanghai International Settlement on 31 October 1937
- Battle of Taiyuan September 1 – November 9, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Xinkou September 13 – November 11, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Pingxingguan September 24–25, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Xuzhou December 1, 1937 – May 19, 1938 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Nanking December 1–13, 1937 · Japanese victory
  - Hundred man killing contest 1937
- USS Panay incident December 12, 1937 · Japanese victory
- Nanjing Massacre December 13, 1937 – February 7, 1938
- Bombing of Chongqing February 18, 1938 – August 23, 1943
- Battle of Taierzhuang March 24 – April 7, 1938 · Chinese victory
- Amoy Operation May 10–12, 1938 · Japanese victory
- 1938 Yellow River flood June 1938
- Battle of Wuhan June 11 – October 27, 1938 · Japanese victory
- Canton Operation October 1938 – December 1938 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Wanjialing October 11, 1938 · Chinese victory
- Hainan Island Operation February 1939 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Nanchang May 9, 1939 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Suixian–Zaoyang May 24, 1939 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Changsha (1939) September 17 – October 6, 1939 · Chinese victory
- 1939–1940 Winter Offensive November 1939 – March 1940 · Japanese victory
- Battle of South Guangxi November 15, 1939 – November 30, 1940 · Japanese withdrawal from Nanning after the successful invasion of French Indochina
- Battle of Kunlun Pass December 18, 1939 – January 11, 1940 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Wuyuan March 16 – April 3, 1940 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Zaoyang–Yichang May 1 – June 24, 1940 · Japanese victory
- Hundred Regiments Offensive August 20 – December 5, 1940 · Chinese victory
- Japanese invasion of French Indochina September 22–26, 1940 · Japanese victory
- Battle of South Henan January 30 – March 1, 1941 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Shanggao March 14 – April 9, 1941 · Chinese victory
- Battle of South Shanxi May 7–27, 1941 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Changsha (1941) September 6 – October 8, 1941
- Proposed Japanese invasion of Sichuan 1942 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Changsha (1941–1942) January 15, 1942 · Chinese victory
- Battle of the Yunnan–Burma Road March 1942 – June 1942 · Axis victory
  - Battle of Toungoo March 30, 1942 · Japanese victory
  - Battle of Yenangyaung April 19, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Zhejiang-Jiangxi campaign May 15 – September 6, 1942
- Battle of West Hubei May 12 – June 3, 1943 · Chinese victory
- Battle of Northern Burma and Western Yunnan October 1943 – March 1945 · Allied victory
  - Battle of Mount Song June 4 – September 7, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle of Changde November 2 – December 20, 1943 · Chinese victory
- Operation Ichi-Go April 17 – December 10, 1944 · Japanese victory
  - Battle of Guilin–Liuzhou August 16 – November 24, 1944 · Japanese victory
- Battle of West Henan–North Hubei March 21 – May 11, 1945 · Stalemate
- Second Guangxi campaign April 1945 – August 4, 1945 · Chinese victory
- Battle of West Hunan April 6 – June 7, 1945 · Chinese victory

1941 10 events

Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941 · Japanese victory
Malayan campaign December 8, 1941 – January 31, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Kota Bharu December 8, 1941 · Japanese victory
- Operation Krohcol December 8–11, 1941 · Axis victory
- Bombing of Singapore (1941) December 8, 1941 · Inconclusive
- Battle of Jitra December 11–13, 1941 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Kampar December 30, 1941 – January 2, 1942 · Allied victory
- Battle of Slim River January 6–8, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Battle off Endau January 26–27, 1942 · Japanese victory
South-East Asian theatre of World War II December 8, 1941 – September 9, 1945 · Allied victory
- Japanese occupation of Cambodia 1941 – 1945
- Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse December 10, 1941 · Japanese victory
- Burma campaign December 14, 1941 – September 13, 1945 · Allied victory
  - Japanese invasion of Burma December 14, 1941 – May 1942 · Japanese victory
  - Burma campaign (1942–1943) June 1942 – September 1943 · Axis victory
  - Arakan campaign (1942–1943) December 1942 – May 1943 · Japanese victory
  - Battle of Northern Burma and Western Yunnan October 1943 – March 1945 · Allied victory
  - Battle of the Admin Box February 5–23, 1944 · Allied victory
  - Operation U-Go March 1944 – June 1944 · British victory
  - Battle of Imphal March 8 – July 3, 1944 · British victory
  - Battle of Kohima April 4 – June 22, 1944 · Allied victory
  - Siege of Myitkyina May 17 – August 3, 1944 · Allied victory
  - Burma campaign (1944–1945) November 1944 – August 7, 1945 · Allied victory
  - Burma campaign (1944) November 1944 · Allied victory
  - Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay January 1 – March 29, 1945 · Allied victory
  - Battle of Ramree Island January 14 – February 22, 1945 · British victory
  - Battle of Hill 170 January 22–31, 1945 · British victory
  - Battle of the Sittang Bend July 2 – August 7, 1945 · British victory
- Battle of Rabaul (1942) January 23, 1942 – February 1942 · Japanese victory
- Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina March 9 – May 15, 1945
Battle of Guam (1941) December 8–10, 1941 · Japanese victory
Battle of Hong Kong December 8–25, 1941 · Japanese victory
Battle of Wake Island December 8–23, 1941 · Japanese victory
Japanese declaration of war on the United States and the British Empire December 8, 1941
United States declaration of war on Japan December 8, 1941
British declaration of war on Japan December 8, 1941
Battle of Corregidor December 29, 1941 – May 6, 1942 · Japanese victory

1942 26 events

Solomon Islands campaign January 1942 – August 21, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo August 7–9, 1942 · Allied victory
- Operation Vengeance April 18, 1943
Battle of Bataan January 7 – April 9, 1942 · Japanese victory
Battle of Manado January 11–12, 1942 · Japanese victory
Battle of Balikpapan (1942) January 23–24, 1942 · Japanese victory
Marshalls–Gilberts raids February 1, 1942 · Minor damage to Japanese garrisons
Battle of Singapore February 8–15, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Kranji February 9–10, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Bukit Timah February 10–12, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Pasir Panjang February 13–14, 1942 · Japanese victory
Battle of Palembang February 13–15, 1942 · Japanese victory
Invasion of Sumatra February 14 – March 28, 1942 · Japanese victory
Battle of Badung Strait February 18–20, 1942 · Japanese victory
Operation K March 4, 1942 · Inconclusive
Invasion of Salamaua–Lae March 13, 1942 · Japanese victory
Indian Ocean raid March 31 – April 10, 1942 · Japanese victory
Battle of Christmas Island March 31 – April 1, 1942 · Japanese victory
Japan campaign April 18, 1942 – September 2, 1945 · Allied victory
- Air raids on Japan August 15, 1939 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
  - Bombing of Tokyo April 18, 1942 · American victory
  - Bombing of Osaka 1945 · American victory
  - Bombing of Okazaki in World War II July 19, 1945
  - Bombing of Nagaoka August 1, 1945 · Extensive damage to the city.
  - Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki August 6–9, 1945
  - Bombing of Akita in World War II August 14, 1945
- Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign February 19 – June 21, 1945 · Allied victory
  - Battle of Iwo Jima February 19 – March 26, 1945 · American victory
  - Battle of Okinawa April 1 – June 22, 1945 · Allied victory
Battle of the Coral Sea May 4–8, 1942
Aleutian Islands campaign June 3, 1942 – August 15, 1943 · Allied victory
- Japanese occupation of Kiska June 6, 1942 – July 28, 1943 · Japanese victory
- Battle of the Pips May 27 – July 29, 1943
Battle of Midway June 4–7, 1942 · American victory
Kokoda Track campaign July 21 – November 16, 1942 · Allied victory
Guadalcanal campaign August 7, 1942 – February 9, 1943 · Allied victory
- Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo August 7–9, 1942 · Allied victory
- Battle of the Tenaru August 21, 1942 · Allied victory
- Battle of the Eastern Solomons August 24–25, 1942 · American victory
- Battle of Edson's Ridge September 12–14, 1942 · Allied victory
- Actions along the Matanikau September 23 – October 9, 1942 · September action: Japanese victory; October action: American victory
- Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands October 25–27, 1942
- Battle of Tassafaronga November 30, 1942 · Japanese victory
- Carlson's patrol December 4, 1942 · Allied victory
- Operation Ke January 14 – February 7, 1943 · Japanese victory
- Battle of Rennell Island January 29–30, 1943 · Japanese victory
Raid on Makin Island August 17–18, 1942 · American victory
Battle for Henderson Field October 23–26, 1942 · American victory
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands October 25–27, 1942
Matanikau Offensive November 1–4, 1942 · United States victory
Koli Point action November 3–12, 1942 · Allied victory
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal November 13–15, 1942 · American victory
Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse December 15, 1942 – January 23, 1943 · Allied victory

1943 20 events

Battle of the Bismarck Sea March 2–4, 1943 · Allied victory
Battle of Blackett Strait March 6, 1943 · American victory
Battle of the Komandorski Islands March 27, 1943 · American victory
Salamaua–Lae campaign April 22 – September 16, 1943 · Allied victory
Battle of Attu May 11–30, 1943 · Allied victory
Convoy GP55 June 15–20, 1943 · Japanese victory
Battle of Kula Gulf July 6, 1943 · Inconclusive
Battle of Kolombangara July 12–13, 1943
Battle off Horaniu August 17–18, 1943
Landing at Nadzab September 5, 1943 · Allied victory
Huon Peninsula campaign September 22, 1943 – March 1, 1944 · Allied victory
Battle of Vella Lavella (naval) October 6, 1943 · Japanese victory
Bougainville campaign November 1, 1943 – August 21, 1945 · Allied victory
- Bougainville counterattack March 8–25, 1944 · Allied victory
Bombing of Rabaul (November 1943) November 2–11, 1943 · Allied victory
Raid on Choiseul November 3, 1943 · Indecisive
Landings at Cape Torokina November 3, 1943 · Allied victory
Battle of the Treasury Islands November 12, 1943 · Allied victory
Battle of Tarawa November 20–23, 1943 · Allied victory
New Britain campaign December 15, 1943 – August 21, 1945 · Allied victory
Battle of Arawe December 15, 1943 – February 24, 1944 · Allied victory

1944 17 events

Operation Matterhorn 1944
Battle of the Green Islands January 29 – February 27, 1944 · Allied victory
Operation Hailstone February 17–18, 1944 · American victory
Indian Ocean raid (1944) March 1–16, 1944 · Inconclusive
Operation Cockpit April 19, 1944 · Inconclusive
Battle of Biak May 27 – August 17, 1944 · Allied victory
Battle of Saipan June 15 – July 9, 1944 · American victory
Battle of the Philippine Sea June 19–20, 1944 · American victory
Battle of Tinian July 24 – August 1, 1944 · American victory
Operation Boomerang August 11, 1944
Battle of Peleliu September 15 – November 27, 1944 · American victory
Battle of Angaur September 15 – October 22, 1944 · American victory
Battle of Morotai September 15 – October 4, 1944 · Allied victory
Battle of Leyte October 17 – December 31, 1944 · Allied victory
Philippines campaign (1944–1945) October 20, 1944 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Leyte October 17 – December 31, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle of Mindoro December 13–16, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle of Luzon January 9 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
  - Invasion of Lingayen Gulf January 6–9, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Baguio February 21 – April 26, 1945 · Allied victory
- Invasion of Palawan February 28 – April 22, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Mindanao March 10 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Visayas March 18 – July 30, 1945 · Allied victory
Battle of Leyte Gulf October 23–26, 1944 · Allied victory
- Battle off Samar October 25, 1944 · American victory
Battle of Ormoc Bay November 11 – December 21, 1944 · American victory

1945 15 events

Battle of Luzon January 9 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
- Invasion of Lingayen Gulf January 6–9, 1945 · Allied victory
South China Sea raid January 20, 1945
Battle of Manila (1945) February 3 – March 3, 1945 · Allied victory
Bombing of Kobe in World War II February 4, 1945
Operation Kita February 10–20, 1945 · Japanese victory
Battle of Iwo Jima February 19 – March 26, 1945 · American victory
Battle of Okinawa April 1 – June 22, 1945 · Allied victory
- Operation Ten-Go April 7, 1945 · American victory
  - Operation Kikusui April 6 – June 22, 1945 · Allied victory
Operation Starvation April 1945
Operation Ten-Go April 7, 1945 · American victory
- Operation Kikusui April 6 – June 22, 1945 · Allied victory
Battle of Tarakan (1945) May 1 – June 21, 1945 · Allied victory
Battle of the Malacca Strait May 15–16, 1945 · British victory
Battle of North Borneo June 10 – August 15, 1945 · Allied victory
- Battle of Labuan June 10–21, 1945 · Allied victory
Operation Inmate June 15, 1945 · Allied victory
Battle of Balikpapan (1945) July 1, 1945 · Allied victory
Soviet invasion of Manchuria August 9–20, 1945 · Soviet victory
- Battle of Mutanchiang August 16, 1945