Pacific Theater World War 2 timeline

  • Singapore Falls to Japanese Occupation

    By the morning of Chinese New Year, 15 February, the Japanese had broken through the last line of defence and the Allies were running out of food... Read more

  • Battle of Badung Strait

    The Battle of Badung Strait was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the night of 19–20 February 1942 in Badung Strait... Read more

  • Japanese Forces Invade Portuguese Timor

    During the night of 19–20 February, 1,500 troops from the Imperial Japanese Army's 228th Regimental Group, 38th Division, XVI Army, under the... Read more

  • Battle of the Java Sea

    The Battle of the Java Sea was a major naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Allied navies suffered a disastrous defeat at the hand... Read more

  • Battle of Sunda Strait

    The Battle of Sunda Strait was a naval battle which occurred during World War II. On the night of February 28 – March 1, 1942, the United States... Read more

  • Battle of Java (1942)

    The Battle of Java (Invasion of Java, Operation J) was a battle of the Pacific theatre of World War II. It occurred on the island of Java, between... Read more

  • Battle of Tachiao

    Battle of Tachiao March 18 - 19, 1942, was the first clash in the Battle of Yunnan-Burma Road in the Burma Campaign of World War II and Second... Read more

  • Battle of Toungoo

    On the 24th of March, the Japanese 112th Regiment made frontal attacks on the Oktwin positions while the 143rd Regiment with the aid of friendly... Read more

  • Battle of Oktwin

    On March 20, the 143rd Regiment plus cavalry units attacked the positions of the Chinese Cavalry Regiment north of River彪关, driving the Chinese... Read more

  • Imperial Japanese Navy Begins Sustained Attacks on Allied Forces in the Indian Ocean

    Following the destruction of the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command forces in the battles around Java in February and March, the Japanese... Read more

  • Japanese Forces Gain Control of Island of Borneo

    The Battle of Borneo was a successful campaign by Japanese Imperial forces for control of Borneo island and concentrated mainly with the... Read more

  • Easter Sunday Raid

    With Japan's entry into the war, and especially after the fall of Singapore, Ceylon became a front-line British base against the Japanese. Admiral... Read more

  • Japanese Attack Allied Harbor at Trincomalee

    On 9 April 1942 the Japanese attacked the harbor at Trincomalee at 07:00. The British again had warning of the attack, and Hermes and her escorts... Read more

  • Battle of Yenangyaung

    It was now essential to deny the oil fields at Yenangyaung to the Japanese some 100 miles north of Prome. The allied lines of defence were planned... Read more

  • Doolittle Raid

    The Doolittle Raid, 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike a Japanese home island (Honshū) during World War II. It... Read more

  • Zhejiang-Jiangxi Campaign

    As the raiders landed in China, most were aided by local Chinese forces or civilians. One raider, Corporal Leland D. Faktor, died while bailing... Read more

  • Battle of the Coral Sea

    The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought during May 4–8, 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial... Read more

  • The Battle of Midway

    The Battle of Midway, fought over and near the tiny U.S. mid-Pacific base at Midway atoll, represents the strategic high water mark of Japan's... Read more

  • Makin Island Raid

    The Makin Island Raid (pronounced, "Muckin") (occurred on August 17, 1942 – August 18, 1942) was an attack by the United States Marine Corps on... Read more

  • Remaining Australian Forces Evacuated from Portuguese Timor Leaving Japanese to Occupy the Island

    By the end of 1942, the chances of the Allies re-taking Timor were remote, as there were now 12,000 Japanese troops on the island and the commandos... Read more

  • Battle of the Komandorski Islands

    When dawn broke on the morning of March 26, the American task force was east of the International Date Line, (so it was actually March 27) 180... Read more

  • Battle of Attu

    The Battle of Attu took place May 11, 1943 – May 30, 1943 on Attu Island off of Alaska as part of the Aleutian Islands Campaign during the Pacific... Read more

  • Operation Cottage

    Operation Cottage was a tactical maneuver during the Aleutian Islands campaign. In the operation, which took place on August 15, 1943, Allied... Read more

  • Battle of Changde

    The Battle of Changde (simplified Chinese: 常德会战; traditional Chinese: 常德會戰; pinyin: Chángdé Huìzhàn) was a major engagement in the Second... Read more

  • Battle of Tarawa

    The Battle of Tarawa was a battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, largely fought from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It was the second... Read more