Atlas of Battles

battle, major, interwar and Second World War

Battle of Attu

Battle of Attu was a battle fought on 11 May 1943 at Attu Island, in what is now Alaska, United States; it lasted 19 days. It was part of the Pacific War, which ran from 1941 to 1945. The recorded result: Allied victory. Recorded strength: 15,000 against 2,600.

See it on the globe Read the article

US troops navigate snow and ice during the battle on Attu in May, 1943. Public domain as Crown copyright lasts 50 years in Australia.
US troops navigate snow and ice during the battle on Attu in May, 1943. Public domain as Crown copyright lasts 50 years in Australia.. This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Comm, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought11 May 1943lasted 19 days
WhereAttu Island, Alaska, United States52.879N, 173.157E
OutcomeAllied victory
BelligerentsUnited States; CanadaagainstEmpire of Japan
Part ofPacific War1941 to 1945

Where it sits in the Pacific War

Bombing of Tokyo, 1940Bombing of South-East Asia, 1940Japanese invasion of French Indochina, 1940Battle of Guam, 1941Bombing of Bangkok in World War II, 1941Shelling of Johnston and Palmyra, 1941Axis and Soviet air operations during Operation Barbarossa, 1941Attack on Pearl Harbor, 1941Philippines Campaign, 1941Battle of Hong Kong, 1941Battle of Wake Island, 1941Dutch East Indies campaign, 1941Bombing of Singapore, 1941Battle of Prachuap Khiri Khan, 1941Japanese invasion of Batan Island, 1941Attack on Clark Field, 1941Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse, 1941Japanese invasion of Aparri, 1941Japanese invasion of Vigan, 1941Battle of Jitra, 1941Japanese invasion of Legazpi, 1941Battle of Gurun, 1941Battle of Borneo, 1941Japanese Invasion of Davao, 1941Battle of Piis, 1941Battle of Kampar, 1941Solomon Islands Campaign, 1942Burma Campaign, 1942Battle of Savo Island, 1942Battle of Rabaul, 1942Battle of Corregidor, 1942Invasion of Tulagi, 1942Battle of Java, 1942Battle of Tarakan, 1942Japanese invasion of Cotabato, 1942Bombing of Mandalay, 1942Battle of Slim River, 1942Battle of Bataan, 1942Battle of Manado, 1942Battle of Kuala Lumpur, 1942Battle of Muar, 1942Battle of Gemas, 1942New Guinea campaign, 1942Battle of Balikpapan, 1942Battle of Ambon, 1942Marshalls–Gilberts raids, 1942Battle for Australia, 1942Battle of Port Moresby, 1942Battle of Makassar Strait, 1942Battle of Singapore, 1942Battle of Kranji, 1942Battle of Sarimbun Beach, 1942Battle of Bukit Timah, 1942Battle of Palembang, 1942Battle of Pasir Panjang, 1942Battle of Badung Strait, 1942Bombing of Darwin, 1942Battle of Timor, 1942Air raids on Australia, 1942–43, 1942Bombardment of Ellwood, 1942Wake Atoll raid, 1942Battle of Los Angeles, 1942Battle of the Java Sea, 1942Battle of Sunda Strait, 1942Second Battle of the Java Sea, 1942Attack on Broome, 1942Operation K, 1942Bombing of Sukabumi, 1942Battle of Tjiater Pass, 1942Invasion of Salamaua–Lae, 1942Invasion of Sumatra, 1942Indian Ocean raid, 1942Battle of Christmas Island, 1942Doolittle Raid, 1942air raids on Japan, 1942Japan Campaign, 1942Ogu Air Raid, 1942Japanese invasion of the Lesser Sunda Islands, 1942Japanese invasion of Zamboanga, 1942Battle of the Coral Sea, 1942Aleutian Islands Campaign, 1942Battle of Midway, 1942Battle of Dutch Harbor, 1942Attack on Sydney Harbour, 1942Shelling of Newcastle, 1942Bombardment of Fort Stevens, 1942Action of 5 July 1942, 1942Operation Fischreiher, 1942Attack on the Dureenbee, 1942Guadalcanal campaign, 1942Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo, 1942Makin Island raid, 1942Battle of the Tenaru, 1942Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 1942Battle of Milne Bay, 1942Battle of Isurava, 1942Battle of Mission Ridge – Brigade Hill, 1942Battle of Edson's Ridge, 1942Actions along the Matanikau, 1942Lookout Air Raids, 1942Battle of Cape Esperance, 1942Battle of Goodenough Island, 1942Battle for Henderson Field, 1942Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 1942Koli Point action, 1942Matanikau Offensive, 1942Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942Kokoda Track campaign, 1942Battle of Buna–Gona, 1942Battle of Tassafaronga, 1942Arakan Campaign 1942–1943, 1942Carlson's patrol, 1942Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse, 1942Bombing of Rabaul, 1943Operation Python, 1943Operation Ke, 1943Shelling of Port Gregory, 1943Battle of Rennell Island, 1943Battle of Wau, 1943Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 1943Battle of Blackett Strait, 1943Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 1943Operation I-Go, 1943Operation Vengeance, 1943Salamaua–Lae campaign, 1943Battle of Mubo, 1943Battle of Bobdubi, 1943Raid on Darwin, 1943Battle of Attu, 1943Japanese evacuation of Kiska, 1943New Georgia Campaign, 1943Operation Chronicle, 1943Battle of Lababia Ridge, 1943Operation Cartwheel, 1943Battle of Wickham Anchorage, 1943Landings on Rendova, 1943Battle of Viru Harbor, 1943Battle of Kula Gulf, 1943Landing at Nassau Bay, 1943Battle of Enogai, 1943Battle of Kolombangara, 1943Battle of Mount Tambu, 1943Drive on Munda Point, 1943New Georgia counterattack, 1943Battle of Bairoko, 1943Battle of Munda Point, 1943Battle of the Pips, 1943Battle of Vella Gulf, 1943Battle of Roosevelt Ridge, 1943Operation Cottage, 1943Battle off Horaniu, 1943Bombing of Wewak, 1943Landing at Nadzab, 1943Finisterre Range campaign, 1943Battle of Kaiapit, 1943Huon Peninsula campaign, 1943Battle of Finschhafen, 1943Battle of Dumpu, 1943Battle of Scarlet Beach, 1943Naval Battle of Vella Lavella, 1943Land Battle of Vella Lavella, 1943Battle of John's Knoll–Trevor's Ridge, 1943Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign, 1943Bougainville Campaign, 1943Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, 1943Raid on Choiseul, 1943Landings at Cape Torokina, 1943Battle of Koromokina Lagoon, 1943Battle for Piva Trail, 1943Battle of the Treasury Islands, 1943Action of 13 November 1943, 1943Battle of Sattelberg, 1943Battle of Piva Forks, 1943Battle of Tarawa, 1943Battle of Makin, 1943Battle of Wareo, 1943Battle of Arawe, 1943Battle of Sio, 1943Battle of Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A, 1943New Britain campaign, 1943Operation Dexterity, 1943Pacification of Rabaul, 1943Battle of Cape Gloucester, 1943Battle of The Pimple, 1943Battle of Kohima, 1944Battle of Mindoro, 1944Operation Matterhorn, 1944Formosa Air Battle, 1944Action of 11 January 1944, 1944Battle of Crater Hill, 1944Battle of Kwajalein, 1944Battle of the Admin Box, 1944Action of 14 February 1944, 1944Battle of Eniwetok, 1944Operation Hailstone, 1944Battle of Karavia Bay, 1944Battle of the Green Islands, 1944Operation U-Go, 1944Bougainville counterattack, 1944Battle of Imphal, 1944Battle of Talasea, 1944Indian Ocean raid, 1944Battle of Shangshak, 1944Battle of Madang, 1944Battle of the Tennis Court, 1944Operation Cockpit, 1944Battle of Hollandia, 1944Western New Guinea campaign, 1944Landing at Aitape, 1944Siege of Myitkyina, 1944Battle of Wakde, 1944Battle of Biak, 1944Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, 1944Bombing of Yawata, 1944Battle of Saipan, 1944Bombing of Yawata on June 1944, 1944Battle of the Philippine Sea, 1944Battle of Noemfoor, 1944Battle of Driniumor River, 1944Action of 17 July 1944, 1944Battle of Tinian, 1944Operation Crimson, 1944Battle of Guam, 1944Operation Boomerang, 1944Battle of Sansapor, 1944Battle of Lone Tree Hill, 1944Battle of Angaur, 1944Battle of Morotai, 1944Bombing of Okinawa, 1944Battle of Leyte, 1944Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 1944Battle off Samar, 1944Battle of Cabo Engaño, 1944Aitape–Wewak campaign, 1944Burma Campaign 1944, 1944Japanese air attacks on the Mariana Islands, 1944Bombing of Singapore, 1944Action of 10 November 1944, 1944Battle of Ormoc Bay, 1944Battle of Peleliu, 1944Battle of Wide Bay, 1944Battle of Pearl Ridge, 1944Battle of Okinawa, 1945Battle of Manila, 1945Borneo campaign, 1945Battle of Tarakan, 1945Bombing of Osaka, 1945Bombing of Macau, 1945Bombing of Hamamatsu in World War II, 1945Bombing of Kure, 1945Action of 8 June 1945, 1945Bombing of Kyoto, 1945Bombing of Nara, 1945Bombing of Tsu, 1945Battle of Sulu Islands, 1945Bombing of Ujiyamada, 1945Bombing of Kagoshima, 1945Bombing of Kushikino, 1945Bombing of Taira, 1945Bombing of Hikone, 1945Bombing of Fujisawa, 1945Bombing of Kamakura, 1945Operation Sunlag, 1945Bombing of Kuwana, 1945Invasion of Lingayen Gulf, 1945Battle of Luzon, 1945Battle of Ramree Island, 1945Battle of Camotes Islands, 1945Battle of Tsimba Ridge, 1945South China Sea raid, 1945Battle of Hill 170, 1945Raid at Cabanatuan, 1945Battle of Bataan, 1945bombing of Kobe in World War II, 1945Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations, 1945Battle of Iwo Jima, 1945Volcano and Ryukyu Islands campaign, 1945Bombing of Yonamoto, 1945Battle of Baguio, 1945Battle of Balete Pass, 1945Raid on Los Baños, 1945Battle of Corregidor, 1945Invasion of Palawan, 1945Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay, 1945Battle of Lashio, 1945Japanese coup d'état in French Indochina, 1945Bombing of Tokyo (10 March 1945), 1945Battle of Mindanao, 1945Bombing of Kuala Lumpur, 1945Operation Tan No. 2, 1945Battle of the Visayas, 1945Attack on Kure, 1945Battle of Bacsil Ridge, 1945Bombing of Innoshima, 1945Battle for Cebu City, 1945Battle of Slater's Knoll, 1945Operation Starvation, 1945Cactus Ridge, 1945The Pinnacle, Battle of Okinawa, 1945Operation Kikusui, 1945Operation Ten-Go, 1945Battle of Bōno-Misaki, 1945Battle of Kakazu, 1945Operation Copper, 1945Bombing of Kōriyama, 1945Bombing of Kawasaki, 1945Battle of the Hongorai River, 1945Battle of Davao, 1945Operation Dracula, 1945Battle of Elephant Point, 1945Battle of Sugar Loaf Hill, 1945Battle of the Malacca Strait, 1945Battle of Ipo Dam, 1945Bombing of Yokohama, 1945Raid on Taipei, 1945Battle of Bessang Pass, 1945Battle of Ratsua, 1945Battle of Porton Plantation, 1945Bombing of Atsuta, 1945Battle of North Borneo, 1945Battle of Labuan, 1945Bombing of Hitachi, 1945Bombing of Chiba in World War II, 1945Battle in the Hills of Kuniyoshi, 1945Operation Inmate, 1945Bombing of Yokkaichi, 1945Bombing of Fukuoka, 1945Bombing of Shizuoka in World War II, 1945Toyohashi Air Raid, 1945Bombing of Himeji, 1945Bombing of Mizushima, 1945Bombing of Sasebo, 1945Bombing of Okayama, 1945Bombing of Nobeoka, 1945Bombing of Shimonoseki, 1945Battle of Balikpapan, 1945Attack on Yokosuka, 1945Bombing of Ichinomiya, 1945Bombing of Takamatsu, 1945Bombing of Tokushima, 1945Bombing of Kōchi, 1945Bombing of Kōfu in World War II, 1945Bombing of Gifu, 1945Bombing of Wakayama, 1945Bombing of Sendai during World War II, 1945Bombing of Utsunomiya during World War II, 1945Bombing of Tsuruga, 1945Bombing of Hokkaido, 1945naval bombardment of Kamaishi, 1945Bombing of Otaru, 1945naval bombardment of Muroran, 1945Tajimi Air Raid, 1945Bombing of Hiratsuka in World War II, 1945Bombing of Numazu in World War II, 1945Bombing of Ōita, 1945Bombing of Okazaki in World War II, 1945Bombing of Fukui, 1945Bombing of Chōshi, 1945Battle of Sagami Bay, 1945Bombing of Ōtsu, 1945Action of 24 July 1945, 1945Bombing of Handa, 1945Bombing of Hodojima, 1945Bombing of Shimada, 1945Bombing of Matsuyama, 1945Bombing of Kure, 1945Bombing of Aomori in World War II, 1945Oyamaguchi train air raid incident, 1945Bombing of Hamada, 1945Bombing of Yonago, 1945Bombing of Ōgaki, 1945Nakagawa iron bridge air raid, 1945Bombing of Nagaoka in World War II, 1945Bombing of Toyama, 1945Bombing of Hachiōji, 1945Bombing of Mito, 1945Bombing of Maebashi, 1945Bombing of Saga during World War II, 1945atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 1945atomic bombing of Hiroshima, 1945Battle of the Sittang Bend, 1945Bombing of Toyokawa in World War II, 1945Bombing of Fukuyama, 1945Chikushi Station Train Air Raid Incident, 1945Soviet–Japanese War, 1945atomic bombing of Nagasaki, 1945Bombing of Ōminato, 1945Bombing of Hanamaki, 1945Bombing of Tosu during World War II, 1945Bombing of Kurume during World War II, 1945Bombing of Kajiki, 1945Bombing of Nagano, 1945Bombing of Ōtsuki, 1945Bombing of Akita in World War II, 1945Bombing of Kumagaya in World War II, 1945Bombing of Odawara, 1945Bombing of Isesaki, 1945Seishin Operation, 1945Philippines campaign of 1944–1945, 1945Operation Jurist, 1945Operation Tiderace, 1945Operation Agas, 1945UN Offensive Campaign, 195019401950Battle of Attu, 1943
415 placed engagements of the Pacific War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date11 May 1943
to 30 May 1943
PlaceAttu Island, Alaska, United States
52.879N, 173.157E
KindBattle, interwar and Second World War
Strength15,0002,600
Casualties and losses549 killed; 1,148 wounded; 1,814 frostbitten and sick2,351 killed or committed suicide; 28 captured; ~200 missing or holding out
Commanders
  • John L. DeWitt
  • Thomas C. Kinkaid
  • Albert E. Brown
  • Eugene M. Landrum
  • Archibald Vincent Arnold
  • Yasuyo Yamasaki
Battle of AttuBattle of Attu100 km52.879N, 173.157E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Battle of Attu
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 50 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Battle of Attu today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2024-08-05. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2024.

The recorded site stands at about 35 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from -1 to 808 m, 809 m of relief, steep country and today it is 74% grassland, 18% moss and lichen, 6% tree cover.

grassland: 74%moss and lichen: 18%tree cover: 6%grassland 74%moss and lichen 18%tree cover 6%
west to east, 10.0 km2 to 629 mnorth to south, 10.0 km0 to 629 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1943

Battle of Attu is one of 4,429 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas and one of 1,264 in present-day United States (11 in Alaska).

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q700572, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Attu, revision 1383960419, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.