First Battle of Wake Island: Difference between revisions
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'''Wake Island''', an American territory approximately 2000 miles west of Hawaii, was captured by the Japanese in December 1941, but not without a substantial battle over two weeks. It was recaptured in 1945 in the [[Second Battle of Wake Island]]. | |||
==First attack== | |||
On 11 December, it was attacked by a Japanese force under Rear Admiral [[Sadamichi Kajioka]], with a light cruiser, six destroyers, and 560 landing troops — was thrown back by a small [[United States Marine Corps]] garrison under Major [[James Devereux], and other island defense forces under Commander [[Winfred Cunningham]], USN. They had a small Marine air squadron with a few fighters. | |||
The Japanese started with three days of bombing, which caused significant damage. Two U.S. submarines, covering the island, spotted the reinforced invasion convoy and gave warning, but their torped attacks had no effect. | |||
As the convoy approached, Marine shore batteries responded, sinking the destroyer ''IJN Hayate'' and damaging others. Light bombs dropped by a Marine [[F4F Wildcat]] sunk another, ''IJN Kisaragi''. | |||
==Attempt at relief== | |||
==Second relief== | |||
==References== | |||
Revision as of 15:32, 8 September 2010
Wake Island, an American territory approximately 2000 miles west of Hawaii, was captured by the Japanese in December 1941, but not without a substantial battle over two weeks. It was recaptured in 1945 in the Second Battle of Wake Island.
First attack
On 11 December, it was attacked by a Japanese force under Rear Admiral Sadamichi Kajioka, with a light cruiser, six destroyers, and 560 landing troops — was thrown back by a small United States Marine Corps garrison under Major [[James Devereux], and other island defense forces under Commander Winfred Cunningham, USN. They had a small Marine air squadron with a few fighters.
The Japanese started with three days of bombing, which caused significant damage. Two U.S. submarines, covering the island, spotted the reinforced invasion convoy and gave warning, but their torped attacks had no effect.
As the convoy approached, Marine shore batteries responded, sinking the destroyer IJN Hayate and damaging others. Light bombs dropped by a Marine F4F Wildcat sunk another, IJN Kisaragi.