Japanese Expansion - WW2 Timeline (December 1941

The Empire of Japan knew it had to act fast and in number to complete the sphere of influence its authorities envisioned throughout the Pacific and in Southeast Asia. This meant a rapid and mobile military force with calculating and resource-minded objectives that would help keep air, land, and sea forces humming along like a well-oiled machine.

Carrier warfare was nothing new to the world by the time of World War 2 though tactics and technology regarding its operational use evolved much since the days of The Great War. Aircraft carriers would become the new king of the sea by the end of it all, supplanting the mighty battleship at the top of the pecking order. The surprise attack by the Japanese Navy against the American fleet at Pearl Harbor reaped some initial, albeit limited, results as U.S. Naval activity out of Hawaii was temporarily disrupted. The greatest flaw in the Japanese attack was the American carriers being out at sea, saving these very important battlefield pieces for future use.

On a similar note, the British Royal Navy - now charged with policing the waters making up the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions - were at the mercy of the powerful air arm of the Imperial Japanese Navy. With a limited set of warships in the theater, the Royal Navy did what they could against the calculated assaults of the Empire only to be handed subsequent defeats themselves.

With the battered United States Navy still regrouping and the stretched British Royal Navy reeling, Japanese forces now moved on the islands that made up former European colonies through amphibious assaults forcing the Allies into retreat, surrender, or destruction. At any rate, carrier warfare had proven its worth as both sides began to showcase their floating islands throughout the many campaigns of the Pacific Theater.

The Japanese reach in the Pacific and Asia was at its apex by the end of 1942 as the Allies finally mobilized to take the offensive through an island hopping strategy. Japanese expansion had engulfed tiny Wake Island, the Philippines, Malaya, Burma, the Dutch East Indies, parts of New Guinea, the Caroline Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Marianas Islands, and some of the Solomon Island chain.

If the Allies were going to act, it would have to be sooner rather than later.

There are a total of (38) Japanese Expansion - WW2 Timeline (December 1941 - August 1942) events in the SecondWorldWarHistory.com database. Entries are listed below by date-of-occurrence ascending (first-to-last). Other leading and trailing events may also be included for perspective.

Day-by-Day Timeline of Events

Sunday, December 7th, 1941

In conjunction with the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Wake Island is assaulted by a Japanese invasion force all its own - this under the command of Rear-Admiral Kajioka Sadamichi.

Wednesday, December 10th, 1941

Along the north of Luzon - at Aparri, Gonzago and Vigan - two large Japanese Army forces land via amphibious assault.

Friday, December 12th, 1941

The airfields at Laoang and Tuguegarao fall to the Japanese invaders.

Monday, December 22nd, 1941

The Japanese 48th Division lands at Lingayen Bay on Luzon.

Tuesday, December 23rd, 1941

The order is given by American General Douglas MacArthur to retreat from Luzon and take up positions on the Bataan Peninsula.

Tuesday, December 23rd, 1941

MacArthur's forces are cut-off from further retreat by a Japanese Army force advancing from the south.

Tuesday, December 23rd, 1941

Despite an out-numbered yet heroic resistance on the part of American forces, Wake Island falls to the Japanese.

Tuesday, December 23rd, 1941

The American military detachment at Wake Island surrenders. During their stand, the Americans accounted for at least 1,000 Japanese casualties and 4 Japanese navy warships.

Thursday, December 25th, 1941

The Japanese 48th Division makes substantial progress against American forces, working their way towards the capital city of Manila.

Saturday, December 27th, 1941

The Philippine capital city of Manila eventually falls to the invading Japanese Army.

Friday, January 9th, 1942

The Japanese begin their offensive against the dug-in American forces on the Bataan Peninsula.

Sunday, January 11th, 1942

Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaya, falls to the invading Japanese 5th Division.

Sunday, January 11th, 1942

Three Japanese amphibious forces take on the Dutch East Indies.

Thursday, January 15th, 1942

Japanese forces invade Burma beginning their assault at Victoria Point.

Monday, January 19th, 1942

The Japanese Army makes short work of the light British defenses, covering some 230 miles in reaching Tavoy.

Friday, January 23rd, 1942

The American defensive lines finally break.

Saturday, February 14th, 1942

By this time, the Japanese have captured Borneo, Celebes and Sarawak.

Sunday, February 15th, 1942

Singapore eventually falls to the might of the Japanese assault resulting in the capture of some 60,000 Allied prisoners against the cost of 2,000 Japanese soldiers.

Thursday, February 19th, 1942

The Japanese 1st Air Fleet conducts a surprise attack on Allied ships at Broome and Darwin. Twelve ships are sunk in the assault.

Sunday, March 8th, 1942

By this date, the Japanese capture the Dutch East Indies with the occupations of Bali, Timor and Java.

Sunday, March 8th, 1942

Japan invades New Guinea.

Sunday, March 8th, 1942

Rangoon, Burma falls to the Japanese.

Sunday, March 8th, 1942

The British Burma Army escapes anhilation in Burma.

Thursday, April 1st, 1942

The Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo enters the Bay of Bengal.

Friday, April 3rd, 1942

No fewer than five Japanese Navy aircraft carriers reach the Indian Ocean.

Saturday, April 4th, 1942

A small contingent of British Royal Navy vessels operating in the Indian Ocean are warned of the arriving Japanese Navy force.

Saturday, April 4th, 1942

Admiral Sir James Somerville detaches a force to intercept the arriving Japanese fleet.

Monday, April 6th, 1942

The Imperial Japanese Navy unleashes a surprise attack, with some 120 aircraft, on British forces at Columbo Harbor, Ceylon.

Monday, April 6th, 1942

Twenty-six Allied aircraft are destroyed.

Monday, April 6th, 1942

The British Royal Navy cruisers HMS Cornwall and HMS Dorsetshire are sunk by the Japanese air strike.

Monday, April 6th, 1942

The British Royal Navy destroyer HMS Tenedos is sunk by the Japanese air strike.

Thursday, April 9th, 1942

American forces fighting on the Bataan Peninsula finally surrender to the Japanese.

Thursday, April 9th, 1942

An 85-strong Japanese Navy aircraft contingent attacks airfields and targets of opportunity at Trincomalee, Ceylon.

Thursday, April 9th, 1942

The HMS Hermes is one of four Royal Navy ships sunk by Japanese Navy aircraft.

Tuesday, May 5th, 1942

The Japanese enact an offensive to take Corregidor Island, a strategic point providing access to Manila Bay.

Wednesday, May 6th, 1942

Corregidor Island falls to the Japanese, giving the invaders control over Manila Bay.

Friday, May 15th, 1942

Burma falls to the Japanese.

Monday, August 31st, 1942

By this date, the Japanese have completed their takeovers of the Caroline Islands, the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Marianas Islands and a portion of the Solomon Islands. This is the farthest that the Japanese Empire would reach in the Pacific.

Japanese Expansion - WW2 Timeline (December 1941 - August 1942)

Not to be out-done by the Germans in Europe, the Empire of Japan enacted their own brand of Blitzkrieg when taking over the Pacific and portions of Asia.