The decision to prioritize the Leyte operation in the Philippines during WWII was a strategic move that informed the course of the rest of the war in the Pacific. The plan was heavily criticized for its use of Navy fuel, but ended up being a crucial victory for the United States.
The Pearl Harbor attack left the US Pacific fleet in shambles, with battleships destroyed and countless lives lost. However, the carriers of the Pacific fleet managed to escape and proved to be the instrumental weapon in the US's eventual retaliation against Japan.
Japan had approximately six million tons of merchant shipping at the time of the Pearl Harbor attacks, in short supply for all nations during the war. Submarines would account for roughly 60% of the Japanese merchant ships that were sunk, with allied aircraft accounting for most of the rest.
The abilities of damage control crews back at port, such as Pearl Harbor, to quickly turnaround and repair ships will be crucial to the war effort in WWII. The heroic efforts of these crews in controlling fires, preventing ships from listing, and getting damaged ships back into operation will be vital to winning battles.
This podcast discusses the first great allied counterattack in the Pacific during World War II and how the allies aimed to secure New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in order to create a bulge in the Japanese defense perimeter. It dives into how the Japanese attempted to create a strong point in their defense perimeter and how the allies aimed to counteract it.