BarelyEvolved t1_iwf2p8v wrote on November 15, 2022 at 3:50 AM

Reply to comment by KiaPe in TIL that the civilian sailors of the U.S. Merchant Marine had a higher casualty rate during World War II than any branch of the armed forces. by p38-lightning

The islands were only fought over for area denial. The US Navy was trying to contest the entire Pacific ocean.

The Burma campaign was only won in 44, im talking about the US Navy being the only real force conducting offensive operations or contesting the Japanese in the pacific from 41 to 43.

In terms of straight manpower i'm pretty sure the Allied forces in the pacific were pretty much carried by India.

bearsnchairs t1_iwf4g9b wrote on November 15, 2022 at 4:04 AM

By 1945 the US had 3.6 million personnel across the Navy, Marines, and Army in the pacific. China had over 10 million though. China probably takes the cake in terms of numbers.

BarelyEvolved t1_iwf4w6m wrote on November 15, 2022 at 4:07 AM

I dont really count China in terms of allies, because of the civil war it was a White china v Red China v Japan and who was doing what and to who is confusing.

bearsnchairs t1_iwf60ot wrote on November 15, 2022 at 4:16 AM

That is odd. China was certainly one of the allied powers. Hell they were on of the parties that issued the Potsdam Declaration.

BarelyEvolved t1_iwf7ktj wrote on November 15, 2022 at 4:29 AM

Im not saying they didnt matter, its just that when I think about China in WW2, I personally put them in thier own sub category in my mind.

I do the same thing with Scandinavia(and screw you nordics, I include Finland).

There was just so much going on that wasnt overt battles that I put them in a different mental sub category.