 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - IJN yakatanga kurwisa kusingatarisirwi paPearl Harbor, ichiuraya vaAmerica 2 403 uye ichikanganisa U.S. Pacific Fleet. Mukati memwedzi mitanhatu yokutanga yeHondo yePacific, IJN yakafarikanya budiriro inoshamisa ichipa kukundwa kwakakomba kumauto eAllied. Ngarava dzehondo dzeAllied dzakaparadzwa mukati mokukunda kweJapan Southeast Asia. Ndege dzehondo dzomugungwa dzeJapan dzakanga dzichikonzerawo kunyura kweHMS Prince of Wales neHMS Repulseiyo yakanga iri nguva yokutanga iyo ngarava huru dzakanyudzwa nehondo yemhepo dzichifamba. Muna April 1942, kudenha kweIndian Ocean kwakadzinga Royal Navy kubva kuSoutheast Asia. 