From the archive, 7 December 1942: The naval war in the Pacific

Originally published in the Manchester Guardian on 7 December 1942


A disclosure of the exact damage done to the United States Pacific Fleet by the treacherous Japanese attack at Pearl Harbour a year ago provides the world with an answer to the question asked so often last spring, "What is the American fleet doing?"

It is now obvious that an entire battle squadron was rendered temporarily incapable of action by that attack and, although the long-term results of the treachery were slight, the immediate effect on the campaign in the Pacific was to give the Japanese that freedom of movement by sea which was essential to their plan of territorial conquest throughout Greater East Asia.

Half the total American battleship strength was out of action and the other half was employed elsewhere on tasks that could not be neglected. For one thing, the Atlantic front, which had been effectively held by the British Navy, needed strengthening for there had arisen other urgent calls on Britain. The Prince of Wales and Repulse had been sent East. The Barham had been lost to our Mediterranean strength. An Indian Ocean Battle Fleet had to be built up against possible emergencies — which developed as we know. The addition of an American task force of considerable strength to our Home Fleet in Northern Europe was a primary need. It came over under Admiral Giffen.

For the time being any opposition by sea to the Japanese adventures in the East Indies had to be entrusted to such light forces of the United Nations as could be mustered in the area. These were overwhelmed in the early months, but they made the Japanese pay a heavy price among their own light craft and by so doing contributed to the gradual change in the position there. The effect of those battles round the Dutch East Indian islands last spring is being seen today in the repeated inability of the Japanese to win freedom of movement for their reinforcements to the Solomons and to New Guinea.

The position in the Pacific in December, 1942, wears a very different aspect for the Japanese than did that which arose immediately after Pearl Harbour. They have gained vast areas of territory but had their naval strength reduced by half. The American Navy moves again in full strength, whereas Japanese resources are not great enough to replace all the lost aircraft-carriers, cruisers and destroyers that have been expended during the year on glittering adventures. The Japanese grasped the shadow of land conquest and are threatened with the loss of that sea control which is the sole defence of an island power.

Today's best video

Explore the Guardian & Observer archive

Today in pictures
