USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -This practice-skipping over heavily fortified islands in order to seize lightly defended locations that could support the next advance-became known as island hopping. As Japanese strongholds were isolated, defenders were left to weaken from starvation and disease.

Detailed explanation-2: -Island Hopping: Footholds Across the Pacific The US “island hopping” strategy targeted key islands and atolls to capture and equip with airstrips, bringing B-29 bombers within range of the enemy homeland, while hopping over strongly defended islands, cutting off supply lanes and leaving them to wither.

Detailed explanation-3: -As American and Allied forces “Island Hopped” through the Pacific, one of their key objectives was to cut off Japanese bases from resupply or rescue. After the initial amphibious landings of the “hop, ” Allied land and sea forces would gain control of the areas around the bypassed Japanese bases.

Detailed explanation-4: -The “island hopping” plan involved winning battles on Pacific islands to gain military bases and moving across the Pacific Ocean and closer to Japan. This strategy would span three years and would take U.S. forces in almost a full circle around the Pacific.

Detailed explanation-5: -With Japan entrenched through such a vast territory, the United States had to employ specific tactics to defeat enemy forces in isolated areas, recover occupied territories, and ultimately defeat Japan on its homeland. The employment of island hopping was instrumental in achieving this victory.