Asia Pacific 1942: Japanese Onslaught in the Pacific

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Political map of East Asia and the Western Pacific on 23 Jan 1942 (WWII: The Greater East Asia War: Japanese Onslaught in the Pacific), showing the following events: Battle of Borneo; Battle of Wake Island; Battle of Hong Kong; ABDACOM; Dutch East Indies Campaign; Battle of Rabaul.

Following Pearl Harbor, the Japanese quickly overran Allied possessions in China, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific as they moved to seize resources and secure a strategic island perimeter. The Americans, British, Dutch and Australians responded by forming a joint command (ABDA) in an attempt to coordinate a defense.

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Main Events

16 Dec 1941 Battle of Borneo ▲

A Japanese invasion convoy sent from Cam Ranh Bay, French Indochina, lands troops at Miri, Sarawak, and Seria, Brunei, in an attack on British Borneo, after traveling for three days undetected. The two towns fall with minimal British resistance and a few hours later, the Japanese also capture Lutong, Sarawak. in wikipedia

23 Dec 1941 Battle of Wake Island ▲

At the same time as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked the American air refueling station at Wake Island, capturing the Island after 15 days and holding it for the duration of the War. in wikipedia

25 Dec 1941 Battle of Hong Kong ▲

Concurrent with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese forces invaded Hong Kong through China. The British, Indian, and Canadian forces stationed there held out for 17 days, but were outnumbered, and surrendered on 25 December. in wikipedia

1 Jan 1942 ABDACOM ▲

The United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the Commonwealth of Australia form ABDA (American-British-Dutch-Australian) Command in an attempt to halt the Japanese advance. in wikipedia

11 Jan 1942 Dutch East Indies Campaign ▲

The fall of the Netherlands had made the Dutch East Indies a key prize to the Japanese for its rubber and oil resources. The Japanese first invaded through Manado on the island of Celebes, opening a corridor through which to attack Australia and prevent that country from defending the neighboring islands. in wikipedia

22–23 Jan 1942 Battle of Rabaul ▲

In Operation R, the South Seas Force of the Imperial Japanese Navy lands 3,000-4,000 troops on New Ireland, an island of the Australian Territory of New Guinea, seizing the main town of Kavieng without opposition. The next day, before dawn, the invasion fleet enters Simpson Harbour by Rabaul, the most important port on New Britain and the former capital of the Territory, landing around 5,000 troops. The Australians mount a desperate defense but are forced south, where they surrender a few weeks later. in wikipedia

1940s 1942 Asia-Pacific War Australia Brunei China Chinese Civil War Chinese history Hong Kong Indonesia January January 23 Japan Japanese history maps Netherlands Rabaul Sarawak Second Sino-Japanese War United Kingdom United States Wake Island World War II

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