Why Did Japan Invade Australia During Ww2

During World War Two, the year 1942 is considered one of the most important years of the war in the Pacific. The Japanese Empire, now at war with the United States and its Allies, would begin massive military operations across the Pacific Theater to conquer the strategic islands and territories that it required to sustain the war effort. The Japanese grand strategy to defeating the United States was to gain control of the Pacific by defeating the United States Navy and then force the Allies to waste men and material as they try to re-conquer their colonies in Asia. This year would also seem massive battle on land and sea as the Allies fought the Japanese across Asia. One of the first territories that Japan attacked precluding Pearl Harbor

Both sides were fighting for control of Port Moresby, a very strategic port that controlled the supply routes between Australia and the United States. The dense jungle and mountainous terrain created a very difficult battle ground for the combatants, and it quickly gained a reputation as one of the harshest fronts of the entire war. Although Japan never desired to invade Australia, they did see a need to destroy its capability to fight and supply other regions resisting Japanese control. Japan would launch numerous air strikes on Australia from newly created airfields in the Solomon Islands which were intended to shell Australia into submission. These attacks would culminate into the bombing of Darwin, a very important Australian port, in the largest air raid by Japan since Pearl Harbor. However, Australia continued to resist against Japan and would continue to be a very important combatant in the fight against

The US Pacific Fleet, under Admiral Chester Nimitz counterattacked on May 7, 1942 in what become known as the Battle of the Coral Sea. This was the first time in history opposing carriers fought each other in pitched battle, and also the first time enemy navies engaged each other without ever seeing each other, at a range of nearly 200 miles. The Japanese had won a tactical victory losing fewer ships than the U.S, but their attack on Port Moresby was called off. Two Japanese carriers were also heavily damage and had to be docked and repaired. This proved to be very critical for the coming conflicts for control of the Pacific. Now encouraged by his recent victory, Admiral Yamamoto planned to lure the remaining three U.S. carriers into a trap at Midway. However, U.S. intelligence was able to decipher Japanese war plans, and Admiral Nimitz was able to create his own ambush for the Japanese navy. After a colossal engagement between carriers and battleships, the Japanese Navy was defeated with most of their navy destroyed. The Battle of Midway became the turning point of the war; the Japanese had lost six carriers and thousands of skilled pilots and sailors in the battle, and they could not recover from the losses sustained at Midway. With the Japanese Navy in total disarray, the Allies took the initiative and began the first Allied