School of War
Ep 170: Evan Mawdsley on WW2 in the Central Pacific
Jan 21, 2025
Evan Mawdsley, an Honorary Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow and expert on World War II, delves into the critical U.S. naval campaign in the Central Pacific during 1944. He discusses the strategic significance of carrier air power and innovative task force tactics that shaped military outcomes. Mawdsley highlights Japan's strategic miscalculations and the limitations of their naval responses, culminating in the pivotal Battle of the Philippine Sea. He also draws intriguing parallels to today's global military dynamics with rising powers like China.
50:04
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Quick takeaways
- The Central Pacific's strategic geography was pivotal for U.S. and Japanese forces, influencing their military planning and operational decisions.
- The success of the U.S. naval campaign relied heavily on innovations in carrier air power and effective logistics for replenishment at sea.
Deep dives
Strategic Geography of the Central Pacific
The strategic geography of the Central Pacific played a crucial role in shaping military strategies for both the U.S. and Japanese forces before and during World War II. This region consists of three main horizontal bands: the North Pacific, South Pacific, and Central Pacific, with the latter being the focus of American military planning. Historically, the Japanese viewed this area as an outer defensive perimeter, while American war plans anticipated an advance from Hawaii towards the Philippines and Japan. Understanding this geography is essential to grasping the operational decisions and movements of naval forces throughout the conflict.
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