Island Hopping Strategy

Definition

A military strategy used by the Allies in the Pacific War against Japan and the Axis powers during World War II. It involved selectively attacking specific enemy-held islands and bypassing others.

Analogy

Think of it like playing a game of checkers where you strategically skip over certain pieces to reach your goal more efficiently.

Related terms

Guadalcanal Campaign: A significant strategic combined arms victory by Allied forces over Japanese forces in the Pacific theater during WWII.

Battle of Midway: A decisive naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place between 4 and 7 June 1942, only six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor.

Douglas MacArthur’s “Leapfrogging” Strategy: Another term for island hopping, this strategy was proposed by General Douglas MacArthur to avoid heavy losses and speed up progress towards Japan.