Battle of Guam (1941)

Battle of Guam
Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II

A Japanese illustration of the main landing on Guam by the 144th Infantry Regiment, South Seas Detachment. Painting by Kohei Ezaki.
DateDecember 8–10, 1941
Location
Guam, Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean
Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
 United States  Japan
Commanders and leaders
George J. McMillin Tomitaro Horii
Strength
Land:
547 marines and sailors
Sea:
1 minesweeper
2 patrol boats
1 freighter		 Land:
5,900 infantry and marines
Sea:
4 heavy cruisers
4 destroyers
2 gunboats
6 submarine chasers
2 minesweepers
2 tenders
Air:
unknown air forces
Casualties and losses
17 killed
35 wounded
406 captured
1 minesweeper scuttled
1 patrol boat scuttled
1 patrol boat captured
1 freighter damaged		 1 killed
6 wounded
1 aircraft destroyed
  • 13 American civilians and five POWs were killed by Japanese forces during the battle.
  • Three Japanese infiltrators were captured by American forces but were released upon the surrender of the island.
Japanese landings on Guam
Illustration of the route Japanese forces followed during the invasion
Not to be confused with the Battle of Guam (1944).

The Battle of Guam was an engagement during the Pacific War in World War II, and took place from 8 December to 10 December 1941 on Guam in the Mariana Islands between Japan and the United States. The American garrison was defeated by Japanese forces on 10 December, which resulted in an occupation until the Second Battle of Guam in 1944.