What term refers to the Allied strategy of bypassing heavily fortified Japanese positions and capturing nearby islands to secure airfields?

• A. Island hopping (leapfrogging)
• B. Total War
• C. Guerrilla warfare
• D. Naval blockade

Answer: (A)

The tactic shown is island hopping, sometimes called leapfrogging. It centers on bypassing heavily fortified Japanese strongholds and moving from one less-damaged or strategically useful island to another to seize airfields and bases. This lets the Allies project air power and naval support quickly, shorten supply lines, and isolate and neutralize enemy garrisons without slogging through their toughest defenses. By choosing islands with workable airfields, they could base fighters and bombers closer to Japan, accelerate operations, and pressure Japan from multiple fronts.

Other options don’t fit as neatly. Total War refers to a broad mobilization of society and economy for total conflict, not a campaign pattern in the Pacific. Guerrilla warfare involves irregular, small-unit hit-and-run tactics, not large-scale island-seizing campaigns. A naval blockade aims to starve an enemy of resources by cutting sea access, but it doesn’t describe the deliberate capture of nearby islands to establish air bases for projection of force.