William F. Halsey Jr.

Recorded sideAllies (United States, Australia, New Zealand)

Recorded resultdecisive victory

After six months of grinding land, sea, and air battles the Japanese evacuated Guadalcanal; the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific and the first strategic land defeat inflicted on Japan.

Rather than a single decisive blow this was an attrition and logistics contest that the U.S. industrial base and shipping capacity won; the Allies could replace ships, aircraft, and men faster than Japan, while Japanese troops were ground down by combat, starvation, and tropical disease over the long campaign.

What followed

The strategic turning point of the Pacific War on land and at sea, ending Japanese expansion and passing the initiative permanently to the Allies.

Recorded sideAllies (United States, Australia)

Recorded resultdecisive victory

Generally considered the largest naval battle in history; the Imperial Japanese Navy was crippled as an offensive force and organized kamikaze attacks were first used here.

The U.S. won through overwhelming numerical, naval-air, and firepower superiority, but the battle is notable because Japanese deception nearly succeeded against the Americans: Ozawa's Northern Force deliberately exposed its nearly empty carriers as bait, and Halsey took it, steaming north and leaving San Bernardino Strait unguarded. Kurita's battleships broke through to the escort carriers off Samar but, unaware of how close he was to the invasion beaches, turned back.

What followed

Destroyed Japan's remaining naval striking power, secured the Philippine invasion, and marked the debut of the kamikaze as a systematic tactic.