tanks and tractors and shipwrecks off the coast of islands


Stunning aerial images have revealed remnants from the Pacific conflict in the Second World War which are strewn across forests, shorelines and beaches of islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The remnants were photographed on the Northern Mariana Islands, Solomon Islands and the Rock Islands in Palau.

They include tanks, tractors, artillery, shipwrecks, including naval transport vessels, debris from Japanese Imperial Navy destroyers and even personal items from soldiers such as helmets.

A United States M4 Sherman tank remains in shallow water off Chalan Kanoa beach in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Debris of a United States Naval transport vessel remains abondoned after being stranded in Nggela Islands, Solomon Islands

The Pacific conflict, often referred to as the Pacific Theatre, was part of the Second World War where Japanese forces fought primarily against the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Army.

The UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and other Allied nations also contributed forces until a turning point in the war - the defeat of the Japanese at Guadalcanal in February 1943.

There were more than 41,000 US Army ground troop causalities, while the Marine Corps and Navy corpsmen suffered total casualties of 23,160.

In one image, the Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer Kikuzuki is seen partially sumberged at Tokyo Bay in Nggela Islands, Solomon Islands, with small mangrove trees growing from it.

Another shows a US tank in shallow water off Chalan Kanoa beach in Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands, while the wing of an Imperial Japan fighter named 'Zero' is seen sticking up in the air in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, in the Solomon Islands.

Mangrove trees grow from debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer Kikuzuki at Tokyo Bay in Nggela Islands, Solomon Islands

Pictured is debris of the Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, in the Solomon Islands

More debris of the Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' in a jungle on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

Local people are pictured playing near debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy transport vessel Kinugawa Maru at Tassafaronga beach in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

Debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy fighter A6M 'Zero' in a field on Pagan Island, Northern Mariana Islands

An aerial image showing a general view of a lone island in the Rock Islands in Palau

Another image of debris of the Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

The wing of the Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' remains in thick jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

A Type 96 15 cm howitzer used by the Imperial Japan Army is seen in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

A close-up of debris from the Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

An aerial view shows more debris from the Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' remains in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

An aerial image showing various piers used by the Imperial Japanese Navy in Gavutu Island, Solomon Islands

A former prison used by Imperial Japan is seen at Garapan area in Saipan, on the Northern Mariana Islands

More debris of the Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

An aerial image of Seventy Island in Palau, taken 75 years after the war with Imperial Japan started

An aerial image showing debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy fighter A6M 'Zero' in a field in Pagan Island, which is in the Northern Mariana Islands

Debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer Kikuzuki lies partially submerged at Tokyo Bay in Nggela Islands, Solomon Islands

A girl walks in a bunker at the Last command post in Saipan, which is in the Northern Mariana Islands

Debris of the United States Marine Corps amphibious tractor in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

In this aerial image showing debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy transport vessel Kinugawa Maru lies at Tassafaronga beach in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

An aerial image of debris of the Imperial Japan Navy Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplane in shallow water in Solomon Islands

An aerial image showing the remains of the Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer Kikuzuki, lying in Tokyo Bay in the Solomon Islands

Debris of the United States Marine Corps amphibious tractors in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

An aerial view of debris from the Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer Kikuzuki lies at Tokyo Bay in Nggela Islands, Solomon Islands

Debris of Imperial Japan fighter 'Zero' remains in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

The Japanese Imperial Navy transport vessel Kinugawa Maru lies at Tassafaronga beach in Guadalcanal Island, in the Solomon Islands, to this day

Debris of the United States Marine Corps amphibious tractors in a jungle in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

A young mangrove tree grows amid the debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer Kikuzuki at Tokyo Bay in Nggela Islands, Solomon Islands

Pictured is a helmet sitting on a rock that was used by Imperial Japan soldier in a jungle in Barana, Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

A Type 96 15 cm howitzer used by Imperial Japan Army in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

An aerial image showing the Japanese Imperial Navy transport vessel Kinugawa Maru at Tassafaronga beach in Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands

Debris of the Japanese Imperial Navy destroyer Kikuzuki at Tokyo Bay in Nggela Islands, Solomon Islands