History of United States Naval Operations in World War II

by Morison, Samuel Eliot

• ISBN13: 9780252069970
• ISBN10: 0252069978
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-01
• Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr

Summary

Volume 6: Breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, 22 July 1942-1 May 1944 tracks the Allies' entrance into the offensive phase of the Pacific war. Having gained crucial victories at Midway and Guadalcanal, Allied forces committed substantially increased resources to breaking the Bismarcks barrier, a formidable net of Japanese air and naval bases stretching from the central Solomons to New Guinea, controlling all shipping between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Abbreviations	xxvii
PART I THE PAUAN CAMPAIGN
Strategic Planning in 1943	3	(24)
Casablanca and the Pacific, January 1943	3	(4)
``Trident'' and ``Quadrant,'' May--August 1943	7	(2)
United States Planning in the Pacific	9	(6)
The Japanese Command and Planning System	15	(7)
Japan's ``New Operational Policy'' of September	22	(5)
Holding Papua, May--September 1942	27	(14)
Lay of the Land	27	(3)
``MacArthur's Navy''	30	(3)
Kokoda Trail and Milne Bay, 18 July--17 September	33	(8)
Naval Aspects of the Buna-Gona Campaign, September 1942--January 1943	41	(10)
Lining Up	41	(4)
``Toughest Fighting in the World''	45	(6)
Papuan Pause, February 1943	51	(3)
The Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 2--5 March 1943	54	(12)
Into the Jaws of the B--25S	54	(6)
The PTs Mop Up	60	(6)
Southwest Pacific Submarines, 8 February 1943--1 May 1944	66	(23)
Patrols from Brisbane	66	(9)
Patrols from Fremantle	75	(14)
PART II THE CENTRAL SOLOMONS AND HUON GULF CAMPAIGNS
Preparing an Offensive, February--May 1943	89	(28)
Planes, Plans and Prospects	89	(8)
Russell Islands Occupied	97	(3)
Mainyard and Button	100	(6)
Interim Actions	106	(11)
``Tip'' Bags Two ``Bastards.''
Mining Offensives
Yamamoto's Last Offensive, April--May 1943	117	(13)
The ``I'' Operation	117	(11)
In the Solomons
In New Guinea
Death of a Fleet Admiral, 18 April 1943	128	(2)
MacArthur Moves Forward, 22 June--6 July 1943	130	(8)
The Invasion of New Georgia, 21 June--5 July 1943	138	(22)
Plans and Preliminaries	138	(6)
Task Organization	144	(2)
``Musket-He-Fire-Up,'' 30 June	146	(7)
Squaring Away for Munda, 1--5 July	153	(7)
The Battles of Kula Gulf and Kolombangara, 5--16 July 1943	160	(38)
The Battle of Kula Gulf	160	(15)
Jungle Interlude, 6--12 July	175	(5)
The Battle of Kolombangara, 12--13 July	180	(11)
Rescue Mission for Helena, 6--17 July	191	(3)
Conclusion to Kula Gulf and Kolombangara	194	(4)
Conclusion of the New Georgia Campaign, 13 July--20 September 1943	198	(27)
The Siege of Munda, 13 July--5 August	198	(8)
Air-Surface Actions, 17 July--3 August	206	(3)
Motor Torpedo Boat Actions, 23 July--2 August	209	(3)
The Battle of Vella Gulf, 6--7 August	212	(10)
Mopping Up After Munda, 6 August--20 September	222	(3)
Vella Lavella, 15 August--7 October 1943	225	(29)
Leapfrog to Barakoma, 15 August	225	(8)
Securing the Island, August--September	233	(6)
The Blockade of Kolombangara, 25 August--3 October	239	(4)
The Battle of Vella Lavella, 6--7 October	243	(11)
Lae and Salamaua, 16 June--15 September 1943	254	(15)
Vitiaz and Dampier: the Vital Straits	254	(7)
Lae Punched Out, 4--15 September	261	(8)
Finschhafen and Beyond, 16 September--20 October 1943	269	(10)
Finschhafen Falls, 2 October	269	(2)
Tucking in the Pennants, 1--20 October	271	(8)
PART III THE BOUGAINVILLE CAMPAIGN
The Seizure of Empress Augusta Bay, 12 October--2 November 1943	279	(26)
Bougainville in Pacific Strategy	279	(9)
Forces and Preparation, 12 October--2 November	288	(5)
Treasuries and Choiseul, 27 October--6 November	293	(3)
Cape Torokina Landing, 1 November	296	(9)
The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, 2 November 1943	305	(18)
Carrier Strikes on Rabaul, 5--18 November 1943	323	(14)
Action of 5 November	323	(7)
Action of 11 November	330	(7)
Securing the Beachhead, 2--13 November 1943	337	(13)
LSTs and Second Echelon, 2--7 November	337	(4)
Counter-landing and Koromokina, 7--8 November	341	(1)
Three ``Air Battles of Bougainville,'' 8--13 November	342	(5)
Beachhead Secured	347	(3)
Busy Thanksgiving, 15--25 November 1943	350	(10)
Activities in and around the Perimeter	350	(2)
The Battle of Cape St. George, 25 November	352	(8)
Perimeter Defense and Development, 26 November--27 December 1943	360	(9)
PART IV RINGS AROUND RABAUL
Moving Into New Britain, December 1943--January 1944	369	(23)
Problem, Objective and Strategy	369	(4)
Arawe	373	(5)
Cape Gloucester	378	(11)
Saidor and Sio	389	(3)
Airsols' Assault on Rabaul, 17 December 1943--1 May 1944	392	(18)
``Festung Rabaul''	392	(6)
New Year's Intensification	398	(4)
February Payoff	402	(3)
Rabaul Reduced to Impotence	405	(5)
Northabout, 25 December 1943--20 March 1944	410	(15)
Holiday Express	410	(2)
Occupation of the Green Islands, 10 January--15 February	412	(7)
Destroyer Raids, 17--29 February	419	(4)
Occupation of Emirau, 20 March	423	(2)
The Battle of the Perimeter, January--March 1944	425	(7)
Admiralties Annexed, 29 February--1 May 1944	432	(17)
``Reconnaissance in Force''	432	(5)
Momote and Los Negros	437	(7)
Seeadler and Manus	444	(5)
Index	449