Question

question 10 of 20

in the pacific theater of world war ii, the u.s. strategy of island-hopping involved destroying japans naval forces and disrupting japanese shipping and supply routes primarily by:

a. sending submarines to target japanese aircraft carriers.
b. taking control of many small japanese outposts.
c. bombing islands that had natural resources japan needed.
d. launching a large attack on japan from pearl harbor.

Explanation:

Analyze the core strategy of island-hopping

The question asks how the U.S. strategy of island-hopping in the Pacific theater of World War II disrupted Japanese shipping, supply routes, and naval forces. The Pacific Theater Strategy of island-hopping (or leapfrogging) involved selectively capturing strategically important but weakly defended islands rather than trying to conquer every single Japanese stronghold.

Evaluate the role of captured outposts

By capturing these specific islands, the Allies established airfields and naval bases. These newly acquired bases allowed Allied air and naval forces to project power over the surrounding waters, effectively cutting off, isolating, and starving out the remaining heavily fortified Japanese-held islands by disrupting their supply lines and shipping routes. Therefore, taking control of these outposts was the primary mechanism of the strategy.

Assess the alternative options

• Option A focuses specifically on submarines targeting aircraft carriers, which was a tactical element of naval warfare but does not define the broader territorial "island-hopping" strategy.
• Option C mentions bombing islands with natural resources, which was not the primary operational mechanism of the island-hopping campaign.
• Option D refers to launching a large attack from Pearl Harbor, which is geographically and strategically incorrect as a description of the progressive island-hopping campaign across the Pacific.

Answer:

• (A) sending submarines to target Japanese aircraft carriers.
• (B) taking control of many small Japanese outposts. (Correct answer)
• (C) bombing islands that had natural resources Japan needed.
• (D) launching a large attack on Japan from Pearl Harbor.