Lopsided defeats sometimes shape history. Sometimes they are embarrassing, but with few long term historic consequences. Take the time the Allies in World War II suffered hundreds of casualties invading an island that had no defenders. Or take the time when a confident Japanese fleet set out to inflict what it assumed would be a decisive defeat upon its foe, only to suffer a lopsided loss that changed the tide of WWII in the Pacific. Below are some fascinating facts about those and other lopsided historic battlefield losses.
24. Hundreds of Casualties to Capture an Undefended Island
On June 6th, 1942, the Japanese invaded Kiska, one of the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. 500 Japanese marines stormed and swiftly captured the island, whose only military presence was a weather station manned by 10 US Navy personnel. The invasion force was eventually reinforced by 2000 more Japanese troops. In subsequent months, American forces counterattacked, and recaptured the Aleutian Islands one by one. When nearby Atu Island was recaptured, the Japanese decided that it was no longer possible to defend Kiska, and began an evacuation in July, 1943. By month’s end, the last Japanese had left, and Kiska was abandoned. Their foes were unaware of that, however, and launched Operation Cottage to recapture the undefended island. After days of intense aerial bombing and naval bombardment, 34,000 Americans and 5,300 Canadians stormed Kiska on August 15th, 1943.
The Americans and Canadians landed on separate beaches, and made their way towards each other intending to catch the Japanese between them in a pincer. Offshore, an American destroyer struck a mine that caused serious damage, and killed and wounded more than a hundred sailors. On land, the invaders took casualties from mines and booby traps as they advanced. Having not yet encountered the ferocious defense expected from the Japanese, they were quite nervous and jittery when they finally stumbled upon each other. When contact was made, both Americans and Canadians assumed the other to be Japanese, and opened fire, resulting in yet more casualties. All in all, Operation Cottage resulted in lopsided losses of more than 500 Allied casualties, including almost 200 dead, versus 0 Japanese casualties, since there were no Japanese on the undefended island.
