Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles As the Rising Sun expanded across East Asia, the United States Pacific Fleet laid broken in the shallow waters of Pearl Harbor. The British colonies had also been invaded, suffering defeat after defeat both in Hong Kong and in the Malayan Peninsula. But this would not be the end of the Japanese aggression, as the strategic American possessions in the Pacific were now up for grabs. Today, we are going to cover the initial landings in the Philippines, as well as the attacks against Guam and Wake Island. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges the world is facing right now and an issue that the Kings and Generals channel considers to be of utmost importance. We all need to do our part and there are simple and effective climate actions that each of us can take today. The sponsor of today's video Klima is an app that focuses on showing every user which steps they can take to limit their carbon footprint. 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As we've already seen, the United States had neglected the defenses of its Pacific possessions for too many years since their victory in the Great War. And with the Japanese threat approaching like dark clouds on the horizon, the effort to prepare for a new war was still minimal, leading to a considerable weakness for the American forces in the Pacific. In July of 1941, after the Japanese occupation of southern Indochina, the USAFFE was formed, including both American and Filipino forces in the region, with Lieutenant-General Douglas MacArthur as its commander-in-chief. The Philippine Army had thousands of troops, but it lacked modern weapons, adequate training, and valuable experience, something MacArthur set out to correct from the get-go, even though he wouldn't have the time to complete his task. The US Navy also had a small presence in the region with the old Asiatic Fleet of Admiral Thomas Hart, which is not to be confused with the Pacific Fleet based on Hawaii. This fleet depended on a few cruisers and WWI-era destroyers , although it counted with a considerable submarine squadron as well, albeit not big enough to successfully struggle against the Japanese. The Asiatic Fleet was also responsible for the defense of Guam, while the defense of Wake Island was under the jurisdiction of Admiral Husband Kimmel's Pacific Fleet. In the Philippines, MacArthur counted some 22,532 men, including one fully-American regiment , three well-trained regiments of Philippine Scouts, two tank battalions , ten inexperienced Philippine divisions, and considerable coastal and anti-aerial artillery . MacArthur also had at his disposal the Far East Air Force under the command of Major-General Lewis Brereton, totaling some 218 modern aircraft , as well as the Philippine Air Corps' six squadrons of obsolete aircraft ; a very sizable air force to stem the Japanese offensive. In Guam, although the US didn't think that the island could be successfully defended, naval forces were under the command of Captain George McMillin, counting with some 271 Navy personnel, as well as 153 Marines led by Lieutenant-Colonel William McNulty and some 246 volunteers of the Guam Insular Force Guard. Meanwhile, in Hawaii, Admiral Kimmel had noticed the valuable strategic importance of Wake Island since the start of the year, ordering the construction of naval-base facilities with the objective of turning it into a stronghold, something that wouldn't be completed by the end of 1941. Kimmel had the 1st Defense Battalion of marine units for the defense of the American islands in the Pacific, with the other three battalions assigned to Midway and Hawaii. Two detachments were sent to the Johnston and Palmyra Islands, while the rest of the battalion remained at Pearl Harbor. On August 8, a new detachment of the 1st Defense Battalion was sent to Wake, totaling some 422 marines under the command of Major James Devereux. In late November, the defense of Wake was placed under the command of Winfield Cunningham, while the defenders would be reinforced with the VMF-211 squadron of Major Paul Putnam, consisting of twelve F4F-3 Wildcat fighters. As for the Japanese, limited by the war in China and the attacks against the British and Dutch colonies, they could only count on 2 divisions and a brigade for their offensives against the American possessions in the Pacific. The rest of the hard work would have to be carried out by the IJN and their Special Naval Landing Force, the Japanese equivalent to the US Marines. For the invasion of the Philippines in particular, Tokyo had planned to first neutralize the American air forces in the Philippines to have full control of the air. To do this, they would also need to execute several amphibious invasions against the main American northern airfields to extend Japanese aircraft capabilities. Once air superiority was assured, they would launch their main amphibious assault against Luzon and Mindanao , then advancing across the Philippines to occupy their vital strategic locations . The 14th Army of Lieutenant-General Homma Masaharu, consisting of the 16th and 48th Divisions, as well as the 65th Independent Mixed Brigade and two tanks regiments, was appointed to carry out this operation, and they would be supported by the 5th Army Air Force Division of Lieutenant-General Obata Hideyoshi, consisting of 183 short-range aircraft . The Japanese also appointed Vice-Admiral Takahashi Ibo's 3rd Fleet to support the invasion of the Philippines, primarily showcasing a variety of cruisers and destroyers , and providing some 358 valuable long-range aircraft in the form of the 11th Air Fleet. Takahashi's role in the Philippines was to destroy the Asiatic Fleet, cover and support the naval landings, and then protect Japanese supply lines and reinforcements. Meanwhile, the 4th Fleet of Vice-Admiral Inoue Shigeyoshi was selected to conduct operations against the islands of the Pacific Ocean, including the invasions of Wake and Guam. For the attack on Wake Island, Inoue planned to conduct three days of aerial bombardment, followed by naval landings on Wilkes Island and Wake proper. The invasion force, designated as “COMDESRON 6” and commanded by Rear-Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi, consisted of a covering and support force of cruisers and destroyers , 34 bombers of the 24th Air Flotilla, an occupation force , and 450 SNLF marines. For the assault on Guam, Inoue assigned the South Seas Detachment of Major-General Horii Tomitaro, mainly counting with 4886 men from the 144th Infantry Regiment . To support the naval landings on Guam, the Japanese would also appoint the 6th Cruiser Division of Rear-Admiral Goto Aritomo, consisting of four heavy cruisers, four destroyers, and 370 SNLF marines . Inoue also planned to occupy the Gilbert Islands and to conduct bombardments of the Howland and Baker Islands. For this operation, he created a supporting group under the command of Captain Miyazaki Shigetoshi, consisting of two minelayers, two destroyers, and a gunboat, to escort the 51st Naval Garrison Unit in its invasion of the Gilberts. At the same time, the 24th Air Flotilla was placed in charge of the bombardment of the Howland, Baker, and Gilbert Islands. As we've seen, on December 2, the order to “Climb Mount Niitaka” was given, setting up the final preparations for the Japanese offensives to be launched on December 8. Three days later, Homma's men departed Haha-jima en route to Guam, with the objective of landing at Tumon Bay, on the southwest coast near Merizo, and on the eastern shore of Talofofo Bay. The other invasions, however, would have to wait first for the air attacks to be successful. Around 03:00 on December 8, the American commanders in the Philippines were informed of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Although the US thought that the Philippines were a lost cause and only wanted to execute a limited resistance for reinforcements of the Pacific Fleet to arrive, MacArthur had planned to do a more active defense, trying to defeat the Japanese on the beaches before they could establish a foothold. Thus, he established three main defense forces, the North Luzon Force of Major-General Jonathan Wainwright; the South Luzon Force of Major-General George Parker Jr.; and the Visayan-Mindanao Force of Brigadier-General William Sharp. MacArthur also believed that the combined strength of the Asiatic Fleet and his air forces were capable of destroying any Japanese fleet; something Admiral Hart opposed, believing it would be best for his forces to retreat south and join a combined fleet with the British and the Dutch. General Brereton wanted to prepare a retaliatory B-17 bombing strike against Formosa in accordance with the Rainbow 5 war plan. At 05:30, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General George Marshall, ordered MacArthur to execute the existing war plan, Rainbow Five, but MacArthur did nothing. General Brereton proceeded three times time to ask permission and was denied until he personally spoke to MacArthur at 11:00 finally obtaining permission. This procrastination of a preemptive attack would cost them dearly. Meanwhile, at Wake, the American defenders were informed of the attack on Pearl Harbor around 06:00, quickly rushing to man the islands' defenses. Four Wildcats were also sent to patrol around Wake, with the rest being prepared for lift-off. Around 07:00, Japanese aircraft took off from Formosa, heading towards the Philippines and then striking Tuguegarao and Baguio at 09:30. At this point, army bombers returned to Taiwan, leaving the Americans feeling like the attack was over, even though it had just begun. 34 bombers had also taken off at dawn from Roi island towards Wake, while from Saipan, Japanese aircraft struck Guam, destroying one of their minelayers . At the same time, Japanese bombers from the Marshall Islands shelled Nauru, Howland, Baker, and the Gilbert Islands. As a result, airstrips and infrastructure in the islands were damaged and Howland lost two of its four cruisers. Meanwhile, troop transports from the Marshalls also began to embark en route to the Gilberts. They would arrive on December 9, with SNLF marines landing on Makin and Tarawa unopposed and starting the construction of seaplane bases there . Two days later, the Japanese would also take control of Little Makin and Bokati, completing their invasion of the Gilbert Islands. And back to the main action, Japanese navy bombers caught the Americans unaware at 12:30, bombarding the Iba airfield and destroying a flight of P-40s and its radar station. They then headed to Clark Field, where they managed to destroy most of the American aircraft on the ground, leaving only 17 B-17s operational. By afternoon, half of the Far East Air Force was shattered, assuring Japanese air superiority for the rest of the campaign. Douglas MacArthur's procrastination of Brereton's requests cost them dearly. At the same time, Japanese bombers at Wake managed to slip through the American patrols, then bombarding the airfield and destroying the eight Wildcats on the ground. They also struck the American camps, defenses, and seaplane facilities, causing considerable damage before returning back to the Marshall Islands. In a single day, the Japanese air forces had repeated their success at Pearl Harbor, leaving the American presence in the Pacific severely weakened. Furthermore, some 490 SNLF marines had already landed in Batan Island, taking control of its small airfield to further execute air operations. This convinced Admiral Hart to order the bulk of the Asiatic Fleet to withdraw and join the British and the Dutch on the Borneo, just as he had planned. More aerial bombardments over the remaining American airfields would follow in the next few days, destroying most of the remaining aircraft and leaving only a handful of P-40 and B-17 unscathed. Thus, MacArthur was left without naval or air forces, alone to defend the Philippines with his ground divisions. Wake and Guam were also hit again on December 9, although this time the American defenders were prepared to brace the Japanese attack, so they didn't suffer much damage. More air attacks would follow on December 10, but this day would also see the first major fighting in the Pacific. Around 02:00, Goto's 370 SNLF marines landed on Agaña Bay , quickly engaging the men of the Guam Insular Force Guard and overtaking their positions with their superior firepower. They subsequently advanced towards Sumay and the Marine barracks, while Horii's South Seas Detachment landed at its objectives practically unopposed and then started its advance across the island. Some fighting ensued on Agaña's Plaza de España, and soon Captain McMillin saw that further resistance was pointless, calling a ceasefire. Around 06:00, he would finally surrender his forces, making Guam the first American territory to fall into Japanese hands. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, the situation was also very grim. At dawn, three Surprise Attack Forces, carrying around 2000 Japanese soldiers each, started their operations, with the first one landing at Aparri. This was a very important target, as its airfield could allow army aircraft of the Japanese to conduct attacks all across the Philippines. Despite this, the Japanese landed unopposed and could capture Aparri, Gonzaga, and the Camiguin Island in a matter of hours. At the same time, the second force disembarked at Vigan, but was met with an intense B-17 and P-40 attack