Aleutian Islands crossing

definitely much colder.

If I recall correctly when the US recaptured the first of the two aleutian islands japan captured there were 8 US/Canadian casualties. There were no japanese casualties, there werent any there. All casualties were from friendly fire.

@oztea:

If I recall correctly when the US recaptured the first of the two aleutian islands japan captured there were 8 US/Canadian casualties. There were no japanese casualties, there werent any there. All casualties were from friendly fire.

I believe you are correct.

Not to Dispute anybody, but the wikipedia article reports the Casualties in the thousands
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands_Campaign

Ok, then I must be thinking of a different battle.

Just to make sure I understand…
You still need a transport to go from the Aleutians to mainland Alaska?

@Butcher,
I am sure you are correct that most of the Allied casualties were due to friendly fire, or related to the elements such as frostbite, hyothermia, and exposure.  I do remember reading that the Japanese fought very poorly, mainly due to being stranded on the inhospitable islands for so long.  They weren’t properly resupplied and when they attempted ressuply we sunk most of their supplies.
Lots of guys on both sides did freeze to death.  I am not an expert on the theatre (and you cannot always beleive everything on wikipedia either) but I have heard many historians compare it with the North African Deserts and South Pacific Malaria ridden Islands as some of the worst fighting terrain of the war.

@leddux:

Just to make sure I understand…
You still need a transport to go from the Aleutians to mainland Alaska?

Yes.

@leddux:

Just to make sure I understand…
You still need a transport to go from the Aleutians to mainland Alaska?

Yes you do. They are islands.  Just like you need a transport from Cylon to India (Calcutta).

It is the same distance with even more favorable weather.
@!ACHTUNG!:

I don’t think so

What is your reasoning for your thought?  Besides what is perceived as closeness due to the way the map was made.

Plus during this time, 1940 to 1945, there were even less roads and infrastructure available.  Much less than other areas of the world.  In fact we are still limited on infrastructure. Bridge to Nowhere that was brought up in the last presidential election ring any bells?  People do not understand just how remote it is up here.

In fact all the cities going towards the Aleutian Islands on the Aleutian Peninsula still do not have roads connecting them today.  It was even worse in 1940.

In fact it takes the Alaska Marine Highway a three week turn just to get out to Unalaska (which is close to Dutch Harbor which was the only real base on the ALeutians during WWII).  THis is in modern day where ships travel about 3 to 5 knots faster at cruise speed.

Sean