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The Americans took the offensive in August with a landing on the island of [[Guadalcanal]].  The overall American offensive strategy was two-pronged.  Forces in the south advanced up the Solomon island chain and New Guinea, while in the central Pacific, Marines took island after island, including [[Battle of Tarawa|Tarawa]], Eniwetok, [[Saipan]], and [[Guam]].  The two lines of attack came together at the Philippines.

The Americans took the offensive in August with a landing on the island of [[Guadalcanal]].  The overall American offensive strategy was two-pronged.  Forces in the south advanced up the Solomon island chain and New Guinea, while in the central Pacific, Marines took island after island, including [[Battle of Tarawa|Tarawa]], Eniwetok, [[Saipan]], and [[Guam]].  The two lines of attack came together at the Philippines.

Integral to the strategy was the policy of island hopping.  Many Japanese strongholds were bypassed, allowing the American forces to concentrate on more strategically significant islands.  For example, Truk and Rabaul were home to major Japanese air and naval bases, but once the bases were neutralized, there was no reason to take on the troops there.  This policy not only saved thousands of American (and Japanese) lives, it shortened the war by at least several months.

Integral to the strategy was the policy of island hopping.  Many Japanese strongholds were bypassed, allowing the American forces to concentrate on more strategically significant islands.  For example, [[Truk]] and Rabaul were home to major Japanese air and naval bases, but once the bases were neutralized, there was no reason to take on the troops there.  This policy not only saved thousands of American (and Japanese) lives, it shortened the war by at least several months.

The American invasion of the Philippines took place in late October of 1944 when Marines landed on Leyte Island.  A few days later, the US Navy shattered what was left of Japanese naval power in the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]].  The Japanese fought hard, however, and Leyte took two months to secure.  When the Americans landed on the other islands, they found the troops there equally unwilling to retreat, but with American superiority in almost every area, the outcome was never really in doubt.  [[Manila]] was captured by March, and the American position had become solid enough that leaders could start preparing for the final stage: [[Operation Downfall|the invasion of Japan]].  The first step was taken when the island of [[Okinawa]] was captured in June after two months of heavy fighting.  Operation Olympic, the invasion of [[Kyushu]], was scheduled for November 1945, followed by Operation Coronet, the invasion of [[Honshu]], in March of 1946.

The American invasion of the Philippines took place in late October of 1944 when Marines landed on Leyte Island.  A few days later, the US Navy shattered what was left of Japanese naval power in the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]].  The Japanese fought hard, however, and Leyte took two months to secure.  When the Americans landed on the other islands, they found the troops there equally unwilling to retreat, but with American superiority in almost every area, the outcome was never really in doubt.  [[Manila]] was captured by March, and the American position had become solid enough that leaders could start preparing for the final stage: [[Operation Downfall|the invasion of Japan]].  The first step was taken when the island of [[Okinawa]] was captured in June after two months of heavy fighting.  Operation Olympic, the invasion of [[Kyushu]], was scheduled for November 1945, followed by Operation Coronet, the invasion of [[Honshu]], in March of 1946.