Guadalcanal soon became a focal point for both sides with heavy commitments of troops and ships in the battle for Guadalcanal. June 1942 launched their main summer offensive against southern Russia, to seize the oil fields of the Caucasus and occupy the Kuban steppe, while maintaining positions on the northern and central areas of the front. By the start of 1943, the Japanese were defeated on the island and withdrew their troops. The second was the insertion of irregular forces behind Japanese frontlines in February which, by the end of April, had achieved mixed results. In Burma, Commonwealth forces mounted two operations. Despite considerable losses, in early 1942 Germany and its allies stopped a major Soviet offensive in central and southern Russia, keeping most territorial gains they had achieved during the previous year.

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The British focused development on anti-submarine weaponry and tactics, such as sonar and convoys, while Germany focused on improving its offensive capability, with designs such as the Type VII submarine and wolfpack tactics. Gradually, improving Allied technologies such as the Leigh Light, Hedgehog, Squid, and homing torpedoes proved effective against German submarines. Land warfare changed from the static frontlines of trench warfare of World War I, which had relied on improved artillery that outmatched the speed of both infantry and cavalry, to increased mobility and combined arms.

US Army in WWII – Strategy.

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