What was the first battle for the US after Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

World War Two World War Two Answer On the same day that American territory was attacked at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked the territory of the Philllippines, which lead to the fall of Corregidor. Do not forget the attacks and invasions of Wake Island and Guam, both US properties!

Answer 2

For the US, the Japanese invaded the Philippine Islands within two days after Pearl Harbor, resisted by US and Philippine troops under the command of General Douglas MacArthur. The whole Japanese reason for going to war with the US was to neutralize US military power in the Philippines, so the US would have no means of interfering with the Japanese conquest of the Dutch East Indies (today's Malaysia). The Japanese wanted Malaysia for its oil. President Roosevelt had embargoed oil sales to the Japanese in an effort to get them to stop their invasion of China. The Japanese knew invading the Dutch East Indies would likely mean war with the US, therefor they knew they had to knock out US power in the Philippines to do so without interference. The Japanese were divided over whether to also attack Pearl Harbor, but in the end decided to do as much damage to the US Pacific Fleet as possible, to deny the US the ability to interfere with their plans for as long as possible.

Within a month of Pearl Harbor the Japanese also attacked US held Wake Island. They were repulsed in their first effort, but returned, landed, and killed or captured the entire Marine garrison, along with several hundred civilian laborers.

In February and March 1942 the US Navy used its aircraft carriers to raid Japanese held islands, and in April US Army Air Force bombers were launched from a Navy carrier to bomb the Japanese home islands. There were only sixteen of these medium bombers and they did little damage but it was a big psychological, morale and propaganda coup.

In May 1942 the Battle of the Coral Sea was fought between the Japanese and American navies. This was the first naval battle ever where the opposing fleets did not see one another. It was the first carrier battle, with strikes made by aircraft on the enemy fleet. The Japanese were stopped from further landings on New Guinea and probably Australia.

In early June 1942 the Battle of Midway was the crucial battle of the war. The US sank four Japanese aircraft carriers. There was no way the Japanese could win the war after this, but it took more than three years and hundreds of thousands of deaths to convince them.

In early August 1942 the US landed troops on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, which became the first large scale land battle against the Japanese.

In November 1942 the US and British landed troops in North Africa. This was the beginning of the land war against Germany and Italy for the US. The first opponents though were French troops, fighting for the Vichy French regime, which had been installed by the Germans as a puppet, collaborationist government. The French surrendered after about four days and came over to the Allied side.

Answer 3

The Second World War had already been under way for two years when the attack on Pearl Harbour took place. The result was to cause the USA to declare war on Japan and on Germany.

Answer 4

The first real battle of the Pacific after Pearl Harbor assuming that Wake Island and the Philipines and others do not count because it was unprovoked was Tarawa.

Answer 5

The japanese attack on pearl harbour brought the usa into the ongoing World War 2, the next major conflict for the usa was the korean issue.

Answer 6

Numerous battles including the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway in the Pacific Theater. Be more specific in your question.