124 THE WIDENING WAR 1942
GuadalcanalWoodlark
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Port
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Hollandia
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Fakfak
Amboina
Rabaul
Lorengau
Talasea
Kieta
Kerema
Horn Island
Townsville
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Buna
Yodda
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Feb 19 The first major
Japanese bombing raid on
Australia kills 236 people in
Darwin, destroys 30 aircraft,
and sinks or damages 39 ships.
Apr 1 The Japanese
land at Fakfak.
ADMIRAL ISOROKU YAMAMOTO 1884–1943
Japanese Admiral Isoroku
Yamamoto played a major role
in Japan’s naval battles in the
Pacific Ocean. A student of
Harvard University and twice
naval attaché in Washington, he
opposed war with the US and
disagreed with the invasion of
China in 1937. Nevertheless, he
became an admiral in 1940 and
planned the attacks on Pearl
Harbor and Midway. He was
heavily involved in the Battle
of the Coral Sea.
Japan began its assaults on New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and
Australia from January 1942, and its determination to expand its
defensive perimeter was heightened by the Doolittle Raid, a US
bombing raid on Tokyo and other Japanese cities on April 18, 1942.
While this attack did little damage, it made the Japanese realize
the potential threat to their homeland.
To achieve their goals, the Japanese planned to capture Midway
Atoll to the east (see pp.126–127) to deny its use to American
bombers, to take the Australian base at Port Moresby in New Guinea
to the south, and to extend their control over the Solomon Islands.
This would isolate Australia from its ally, the US, and leave Allied
nations and colonies in the region vulnerable.
The initial invasion of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
began favorably, but the assault against Port Moresby was stalled
first by stalemate in the two-day Battle of the Coral Sea in May
and then by the Japanese failure to seize the port via the overland
Kokoda Trail in July. The Japanese had outrun their supply lines
and were forced to retreat. The defeats suffered in and around New
Guinea were the first major setbacks to Japanese expansion.
JAPANESE
SETBACKS
In early 1942, Japan sought to extend its defensive
perimeter south and east across the Pacific. However,
its plans were frustrated in an inconclusive naval
battle in the Coral Sea, and its forces went on to
suffer defeats in New Guinea.
“Without a doubt ... the Coral Sea was the
most confused battle area in world history.”
US VICE ADMIRAL H. S. DUCKWORTH, 1972
THE KOKODA TRAIL
JULY 1942–JANUARY 1943
Still anxious to gain Port Moresby, the Japanese landed
at Buna in Papua in July and headed along the Kokoda
Trail. They came within sight of Port Moresby in
September before the Australians beat them back.
US troops joined in the fighting after landing at Fasari.
Meanwhile, a Japanese onslaught against the Allied air
base at Milne Bay was defeated, the first major land
battle in the Pacific theater won by the Allies.
5
British and Commonwealth
possessions, Jan 1942
Dutch possessions,
Jan 1942
US fleet
Allied air base
JAPAN FALTERS
In the first months of 1942, the Japanese launched
attacks against New Guinea, the Solomon Islands,
and Australia. They succeeded in establishing a major
base at Rabaul, but were halted in a landmark naval
battle in the Coral Sea and on land in New Guinea.
2
3
4
1
TIMELINE
JAN 1943 MAR
5
JAN 1942 MAR MAY JUL SEP NOV
KEY
Japanese bombing
raids on Australia
Japanese fleets
US troops
US paratroop
drop
Japanese troops
Australian troops
Kokoda Trail
US_124-125_Japanese_Setbacks.indd 124 22/03/19 2:39 PM