-The beginning of 1943 is the intermission before the second and last action part for both adversary: the Japaneses try to hold on to their 8000km radius around Japan by reenforcing their positions and parking their fleet at Truk (Z plan) ; the Americans build equipments, test tactics and increase their stocks to eventually start a double breakthrough: the infantry will advance onto Rabaul (starting from New-Guinea and Bougainville) leaded by MacArthur while another attack will be made by Nimitz on the Gilbert islands.
-In 1943 the Japaneses want to take control of the waters east of Australia where are situated the major australian harbors. So they send submarines near Brisbane and Sydney.
-At the end of January, the japanese soldiers isolated in the jungle North of Port Moresby at Lae and at Salamava are reenforced with new troops.
-At the beginning of March the Japaneses understand the american plan and so they send more reenforcement from Rabaul to Lae but the convoy ships are destroyed by 200 american airplanes. Bombers are also sent to disturb preparations but they suffer heavy losses.
-April 18th, admiral Yamamoto is shot down while he was flying near Bougainville.
-At the end of May the Americans reconquer the Aleutian by sending 11 000 soldiers to confront the 2600 Japaneses there. The Japaneses with no more ammunitions do banzais (suicidal attack with yelling) at nights with knifes and swords. At dawn of May 30th, the japanese survivors all kill themselves.
-June 16th the Japaneses pull back their submarines from the australian coast.
-July 2nd, the first american counter-attack is started: admiral Halsey with one New-Zeland division, 6 american divisions, 1800 airplanes and the 3rd fleet with its 2 carriers and 6 battleships attack New-Georgia . The Japaneses resist and it will take 5 weeks at 3 times overnumbered Americans to cover the 16km to Munda. If the war continues at this speed, it will not be finished in 8 years! Thus the american strategic brains plan a new tactic: the Hopping: rather than progressing from one island to the other to destroy each japanese bases, the Americans will jump beyong the big fortified islands and continue on their way while ships and airplanes will retain the Japaneses on the island. It is the wrapping up tactic but at a big scale.
-The new tactic is tested by admiral Halsey on August 14th when he go around the major island of the Solomon to land on the next island: Vella Lavella where there is only a small japanese garrison.
-Bougainville is the next stop made by Halsey on October 27th. Troops are unloaded on the South and South-east islands to fog the real landing. November 1st the Americans land on the West coast of Bougainville Island. Three months later, they will attack the fortification.
-On his side MacArthur also begins its plan: operation Cartwheel that starts September 4th when 3 australian divisions take over Lae and Salamava (September 16th) in New-Guinea (MacArthur direct 11 australian divisions, 4 american ones, a thousand planes and the 7th fleet). In October they control the acces to New-Britain. In December the Marines take over the South part of New-Britain: Arawe December 15th and others islands around Rabaul ; Emirau March 20th 1944 that will isolate completely Rabaul. By the end of March 1944, 140 000 Japaneses situated on Rabaul, Bougainville and New-Ireland are completely isolated.
-Nimitz also moves with the 5th fleet under the orders of admiral Spruance which is composed of 7 battleships, 11 carriers -and so a thousand planes-, 44 destroyers ; and also the 5th and 6th amphibic groups which carry 150 000 men. In November the Americans attack the Gilbert Island: Makin falls rapidly but Tarawa resist and cost the lives of 3000 Americans.
-The Americans produce 90 millions tons of steel against only 7.8 millions for the Japaneses.
Introduction Chronologie Biographie Liens Glossaire
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