Direct Fire Assets Helped Impacted The Battle Of Okinawa

Last and biggest of the Pacific island battles of World War II, the Okinawa campaign (April 1—June 22, 1945) involved the 287,000 troops of the U.S. Tenth Army against 130,000 soldiers of the Japanese Thirty-second Army. At stake were air bases vital to the projected invasion of Japan ("Battle of Okinawa," 1996). The Battle of Okinawa remembered more for its iconic photograph of US Marines raising the US flag on Okinawa more so than any other war or battle ever fought. Okinawa the largest of the Ryukus islands played a major role in the American forces overall strategic efforts to advance to the mainland’s of Japan. Because it was the last major battle of WWII, the battle of Okinawa used lessons learned and TTP’s from all previous

The battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were two of the most important American operations in the Pacific Theatre against the Empire of Japan during World War Two. The goal of the two operations was to secure strategically important islands close to Japan to use for bombing campaigns. The battles for Iwo Jima(February-March 1945) and Okinawa f(April-June 1945) killed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians and helped to win the war for the United States.

Slowly but surely the American soldiers made progress and secured some of the airfields because by the beginning of March, two thirds of the island was captured by American soldiers because they had a strong Marine base and were able to push the Japanese back.

The American forces plan consisted of a “divide and conquer” methodology. The U.S. focused on landing its assault force expediently and quickly and securing Mt. Suribachi and dominant high ground of the island. The Americans expected victory in less than a week. Their forces consisted of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions were to land on the eastern beaches the 4th on the right and the 5th on the left. The 3rd Marines would either land on the eastern beaches or assume a defensive role, which ever was called (Planning for the Battle of Iwo Jima, n.d.).

The battle of Iwo Jima started off as an amphibious invasion by the Americans; a strong desire for claiming the island to create a base on the land flourishing with the ever-growing American spirit. Three U.S. marine divisions executed a carefully well thought plan during February of 1945. The Japanese were not very well prepared, having roughly 23,000 people defending Iwo Jima, a fifth of how many Americans there were. However, they did have strong beliefs and would refuse to surrender, giving their all to the battle until they died.

Okinawa was known as the “longest and largest battle” (157). This time, causing more casualties than previously. As mentioned previously, Okinawa was Japanese territory and they knew the terrain perfectly. This time, not only was there constant rain, but constant shelling. Constant shelling made it very difficult for Americans. It was very difficult for them to get those men who were wounded and needed help. Taking such risk, would sometimes cause the casualties and stretcher-bearers to get hit. As a result, they would have to leave behind the marines who died on Okinawa unlike Peleliu. “From my experience, of all the hardships and hazards the troops had suffer, prolonged shell fire was more apt to break a man psychologically than anything else” (265). The Americans had to be vigilant at all times. “Most nights on Peleliu, we had to keep a sharp lookout in front, rear, right and left. But that night on Okinawa, we had to scan even the dark sky for parachutes” (220). The Japanase wanted to ensure by any means necessary that there was bloodshed, even if they had to literally put their own life on the line. To ensure that, the Japanese had kamikaze and suicide

This was a sequence of battles fought in the Japanese Ryukyu Islands, centered around Okinawa Island. This battle contained the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War and also lasted 82 days beginning April 1 and ending June 22, 1945.

The plan was developed on February 19, 1945 for the United States Marine Corps invade and take control of the island of Iwo Jima. After arriving, it was clear that the Japanese were already in place waiting for the invaders. On the site nationalww2museum.org it was said to be as much as 74,000 marines and 21000 Japanese fighters fought in battle on the tiny island. Making it a 3 to 1, the United States had the upper advantage as it came to numbers. After the 36th day, it was estimated that 7,000 marines were killed while another 20,000 were wounded. With that many casualties, the United States knew it wasn’t going to be taken away that easy.

The Battle of Iwo Jima started on February 19 and lasted until March 26, 1945. It was a major battle in which the United States Marine Corps landed on and eventually captured the Island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. The Japanese defenders of the island were dug into bunkers deeps within the volcanic rocks. Around 70,000 U.S Marines and 18,000 Japanese soldiers took part in this battle. In the thirty-six days of fighting on the island nearly 7,000 U.S Marines were killed. Another 20,000 were badly wounded. Marines captured 216 Japanese soldiers; the rest were killed in action. The island was finally declared secured on March 16, 1945. It had been one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history.

forces were an offensive force for a majority of the pacific theater, invading a string of islands in the pacific to get closer to the main island of Japan. On the island of Peleliu the us had multiple divisions from both Marines and Army. Of the forces on the island the units were 1st, 2nd, 5th,7th Marines and the U.S. Armys 81st Infantry division. Sledge (2007) notes, “ During World War II, amphibious planners considered the safe ratio of attackers to defenders in an amphibious assault to be three to one. To the leaders at Peleliu, the total Marine force of 30,000 provided a safe margin over the Japanese.” (p.57) The U.S. forces had an overwhelming amount of soldiers and equipment but where at a disadvantage to the Japanese because they had a well built tunnel system with hardened positions. What the Japanese did not account for how the U.S. forces could constantly reinforce and push all their well trained soldiers to accomplish the

After the Battle of Midway, Allied forces went on the attack. On August 7, 1942, U.S. Marines landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon islands. For the next six months, with U.S. Navy and Army support, the Marines held their position against Japanese ground, air, and sea attacks. in February 1943, the Japanese abandoned both Guadalcanal and New Guinea.

After the Battle of Midway, the United States and Douglas MacArthur launched a counter-offensive strike known as "island-hopping,". Hopefully by doing this, a line of forces would come together. Establishing a line of overlapping island bases, as well as air control for the people. The idea was to capture certain key islands, one after another, until Japan came within range of American bombers. Basically this would help the people “divide and conquer”. Led by General douglas MaCarthur, Commander of the Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific, and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, the first stage of the offensive began with the Navy under Nimitz. Marine landings on Guadalcanal and nearby islands in the Solomons

Brown led the Army’s 7th Division of three regiments of infantry, four battalions of artillery, the 13th Combat Engineer Battalion, and the attachment of the 50th Combat Engineer Battalion.1 Nearly a year before the battle took place, June 3rd, 1942, the Japanese seized Attu with only natives living there. The Japanese reestablished a base on Attu on October 29, 1942 under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Hiroshi Yanekawa.1 The Japanese set up strong defensive positions with antiaircraft and numerous caches of arms, ammunition and food spread across different locations on the island. U.S. forces did not have such advantage and had a difficult time with logistics due to the unforgiving elements. The islands beaches consisted of muskeg which created very difficult circumstances for U.S. vehicles that the engineers were crucial in resolving. Although the harsh climate and terrain caused many problems for both sides, it was more impactful against the Japanese due to the long period of acclimation they endured.2

By October 1944, the US had strung together a series of victories successfully pushing the Japanese troops further and further back. It was clear that the US had the upper hand Naval wise and it was apparent. Japan for the first time in the war, began using kamikaze suicide bombers in an attempt to destroy American support vessels. The last major campaigns of the Pacific war were Luzon and Okinawa. The battle at Luzon lasted a total of 7 months and was the army's longest land campaign of the Pacific War. MacArthur’s army took nearly 40,000 casualties before successfully subduing the Japanese troops there. The battle at Okinawa was headed up by Admiral Nimitz who was in charge of the POA. The battle began on April 1, 1945 and would last 3 months.

Okinawa was taken everywhere as military 90%. They took almost all the places that good for cultivation. For the U.S. soldiers, Okinawa was the place where they enjoy girls and alcohol drink in those days. For there are many militaries, they drill of place accident and a combat place makes very large sounds, so many people can’t sleep well around