PACIFIC WAR &

GUADALCANAL

MIDN GRAHAM

JAPAN

SITUATION

Russian, Chinese, U.S. forces

Equipped with aircraft, troops and growing

U.S. fleet

MISSION

1. Invade Manchuria

2. Expansion in China

3. Efforts shift south

4. Pearl Harbor

5. Guam, Malaya, Singa

pore

6. Solomons

7. Battle of Coral Sea

8. Battle of Midway

EXECUTION

Three Phases:

1. Neutralize U.S. Pacific Fleet with a surprise

attack (Pearl Harbor) and seize Southern

Resources Area (SRA)

2. Establish invincible perimeter around SRA

3. Await and smash U.S. counterattack

U.S. STRATEGY

SITUATION

30,000 Japanese troops in Pacific,

Interlocking bases expanding empire and

trying to destroy us as threat.

Upon attack they defend

Intelligence regarding enemy forces and

terrain almost nonexistent. Maps

crude, hand-drawn; aerial photos arrived

after the landings

SITUATION - FRIENDLY

U.S. carriers undamaged in Pearl Harbor

Attack

Marine division in Pacific is trained for

amphibious operations

MISSION

Newly constructed airfield on Guadalcanal

Secure and use islands for attack on Japan

EXECUTION

Phase I: Seizure of other Solomon islands

plus positions on New Guinea by MacArthur

Phase II: Capture Guadalcanal

Phase III: Use bases to attack

WAR PLAN ORANGE

OUTCOME

Importance of air and sea control with

amphibious operation

Need for amphibious reconnaissance

Guadalcanal illustrates the mobility and

flexibility an amphibious campaign offers