Island hopping was a key part of the Allied strategy. They focused on isolating and blocking enemy troops rather than attacking them. This article will discuss the benefits of this strategy as well as the cost. Let's start by looking at how Japan's limited resources led to this tactic.
An Allied strategy that isolating and blocking, rather than attacking
"Island hopping," also known to as "leapfrogging," is an Allied strategy used by the US Navy in the early twenty-first century to dominate Japan's Western Pacific area. After the strategy was published in 1920 by a British journalist, Japanese imperial officers studied it and adopted it for their Southeast Asian offensive. "Island hopping", a tactic that Allied troops used to evade enemy forces, was a well-known strategy by the end of World War II.
After the Pacific War was over, the Allied Forces continued to "island hop," gaining ground, and moving closer toward mainland Japan. After they had captured Rabaul and other islands they turned their attention to the Marshall Islands and the Gilbert Islands. These were Japanese strongholds. These areas were effectively blocked by the Allies, which led to Japan being forced into submission.
Success of the Allied island hopping’ campaign
The Allied island hopping strategy proved to be a very efficient strategy in WWI. Leapfrogging is another name for this tactic. It allowed the Allies to quickly and easily cross the ocean, bypassing Japanese. The Japanese lost the ability to continue their offensive operations, and were defeated by the United States.
Cost of Allied island hopping’ campaign
In the late 1940s, the United States began the "island-hopping" campaign to capture small islands in the Pacific. It was intended to establish military bases and prepare for an invasion by Japan. It was a tremendous success but also very costly. The U.S. army lost more than 6,000 troops in the Battle of Iwo Jima over 36 days, while the Japanese lost nearly 22,000 men.
The Allied troops continued their "island hopping” campaign across the Pacific, gaining ground nearer to Japan. Okinawa was the final major island reached by the Allied Forces. It was vital for the Allied bombing campaign against Japan.