Battle For Okinawa 1945

Contents

	Foreword		vii
	Preface		xi
Chapter			Page
I.	Operation ICEBERG		1
		The Strategic Decision	1
		Nature of the Target	7
		The Plan of Attack	17
		Mounting the Attack	36
II.	Invasion of the Ryukyus		44
		Preliminary Neutralization of Enemy Strength	44
		Seizure of the Kerama Islands	51
		Softening Up the Target	63
III.	Winning the Okinawa Beachhead		68
		The Landing	69
		Moving Inland	74
		Organizing the Beachhead	79
IV.	Where Is the Enemy?		84
		The Japanese Forces	84
		The Japanese Plan of Defense	92
		Enemy Counterattack by Air and Sea	96
V.	Comming to Grips With the Enemy		103
		Through the Outposts, 4-8 April	104
		Assaulting the Shuri Defenses, 9-12 April	113
		The Enemy Takes the Offensive	130
VI.	The Conquest of Northern Okinawa		138
		Drive up the Ishikawa Isthmus, 4-7 April	138
		Probing the Motobu Defenses, 7-13 April	141
		Closing In on Yae-Take, 14-15 April	144
		Conquest of Motobu Peninsula, 16-18 April	146
VII.	The Capture of Ie Shima		149
		Plans and Preparations of the Enemy	150
		American Plans and Preparations	153
		Invasion of Ie Shima, 16-17 April	156
		Stalemate at Bloody Ridge, 18-19 April	163
		Capture of Iegusugu, 20-21 April	173
		Last Phase	181
VIII.	The Attack of 19 April on the Shuri Defenses		184
		Plans and Preparations	184
		Preliminary Attack of the 27th Division, 18 April	190
		The General Attack	194
IX.	Fall of the First Shuri Defense Ring		208
		ITEM Pocket	208
		Assaulting the Outer Shuri Defense Ring	219
X.	Tactics and Tactical Decisions		249
		Tactics and Weapons on Okinawa	249
		Tactical Decisions	258
XI.	Assaulting the Second Shuri Defense Ring		265
		Stalemate on the West Coast	267
		The 7th Division at Kochi Ridge	269
		The Maeda Escarpment Barrier	274
XII.	The Japanese Counteroffensive and Its Aftermath		283
		Planning the Offensive	283
		The Offensive Under Way	286
		Japanese Penetration to Tanabaru, 5 May	294
		The Americans Resume Offensive	302
XIII.	The May Attack On the Shuri Defenses		311
		The Attack in the West	313
		The Attack in the Center	332
		Opening the East Coast Corridor	351
XIV.	Battle In the Rain		360
		Enemy Air Attacks	360
		Stalemate in the Center	364
		The 6th Marine Division Occupies Naha	372
		The 7th Division Bids for Envelopment	377
XV.	The Fall of Shuri		383
		Exodus From Shuri	387
		American Occupation of Shuri	394
XVI.	Behind the Front		403
		Supply Operations	415
		Hospitalization and Evacuation	412
		Military Government	415
		Base Development	419
XVII.	The Enemy's Last Stand		422
		The Push South to the Yaeju-Dake-Yuza-Dake Barrier	422
		The Capture of Oroku Peninsula	427
		Assaulting the Last Defense Line	434
XVIII.	The Battle Ends		455
		End of Organized Resistance	455
		Surrender and Suicide	462
		Final Mop-up	471
		Victory: Cost and Value	473
APPENDICES
A.	Major Tactical Units of Tenth Army In the Ryukyus Campaign		475
B.	Japanese 32d Army Units In the Ryukyus Campaign		483
C.	Statistics of the Ryukyus Campaign		487
Bibliographical Note			503
Glossary
Basic Military Map Symbols
Index			513

	Tables
1.	Strength of Army, Marine, and Naval Forces of Tenth Army in the Ryukyus Campaign, 30 April-30 June 1945	488
2.	Comparative American and Enemy Major Losses in the Ryukyus Campaign, 1 April-30 June 1945	489
3.	Casualties Sustained by Tenth Army, 1 April-30 June 1945	490
4.	Troops and Supplies Loaded for the Initial Assault on the Ryukyus	492
5.	Personnel and Supplies Loaded for Assault and for First Echelon Garrison in the Ryukyus Campaign, by Point of Embarkation	493
6.	Comparison of Estimated Capacities for Unloading at Okinawa Beaches and Quantities Actually Unloaded, 1 April-30 June 1945	494
7.	Cargo Unloaded at Okinawa Beaches, 1 April-30 June 1945	496
8.	Ammunition Expended by Tenth Army Field Artillery, 1 April-30 June 1945	498
9.	Ammunition Expended by the U.S. Navy in the Ryukyus Campaign, March-June 1945	500
10.	Ammunition Expended by XXIV Corps, by Type of Weapon, 4 April-21 June 1945	501
	CHARTS
I.	Organization of Allied Forces for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945	20
II.	Organization of Central Pacific Task Forces for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945	22
III.	Organization of Expeditionary Troops for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945	24
IV.	XXIV Corps Assignment of Shipping for the Assault on Okinawa	43
V.	Organization of the Japanese 62d Division in Okinawa	88
1.	Tenth Army Weekly Battle Casualties, 1 April-30 June 1945	491
2.	Comparison of Estimated Capacities for Unloading at Okinawa Beaches and Quantities Actually Unloaded, 1 April-20 June 1945	495
3.	Average Daily Volume of Supplies Unloaded in the Ryukyus, 1 April-16 May 1945	497
4.	Ammunition Expended by Tenth Army Field Artillery, 1 April-30 June 1945	499
	MAPS
1.	Strategic Situation in the Pacific	3
2.	Ryukyu Islands	5
3.	Okinawa Island Group	6
4.	Island of Okinawa	9
5.	Southern Okinawa	9
6.	The Plan of Attack	30
7.	Kerama Islands: 77th Division, 26-29 March 1945	51
8.	Tenth Army Advance, 1-3 April 1945	71
9.	Japanese Defensive Positions, 1 April 1945	93
10.	Through the Outposts: XXIV Corps, 4-8 April 1945	105
11.	The Pinnacle: 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, 6 April 1945	107
12.	Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 9 April 1945	113
13.	Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 10 April 1945	119
14.	XXIV Corps Advance, 9-12 April 1945	125
15.	Japanese Plan of Attack, 12 April 1945	131
16.	Japanese Attack, 12-14 April 1945	131
17.	Advance in the North: 6th Marine Division, 4-8 April 1945	140
18.	Yae-Take: 6th Marine Division, 8-20 April 1945	141
19.	Landings on Ie Shima: 77th Division, 16 April 1945	153
20.	Ie Shima, 18 April 1945	163
21.	Is Shima, 19 April 1945	171
22.	Ie Shima, 20-21 April 1945	173
23.	XXIV Corps Attack, 19 April 1945	187
24.	Fire Plan of 272d Independent Infantry Battalion: Kakazu Area, 19 April 1945	203
25.	Item Pocket: 165th Infantry, 20 April 1945	209
26.	Item Pocket, 21 April 1945	211
27.	Item Pocket, 22-25 April 1945	213
28.	Skyline Ridge: 7th Division, 19 April 1945	219
29.	Shyline Ridge: 32d infantry, 21 April 1945	225
30.	96th Division, 20-24 April 1945	229
31.	Fight for the Pinnacles, 20 April 1945	235
32.	Kakazu Pocket, 21 April 1945	240
33.	Through the Outer Shuri Defenses, 19-24 April 1945	247
34.	Stalemate at Kochi: 7th Division, 25 April-3 May 1945	269
35.	Maeda Escarpment, 25-29 April 1945	273
36.	Attack on Shuri Defenses, 25 April-3 May 1945	281
37.	Japanese Plan of Attack, 4 May 1945	285
38.	Jjapanese Attack, 4-5 May 1945	287
39.	American Advance, 3-10 May 1945	303
40.	Tenth Army Advance, 11-21 May 1945	313
41.	Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 14-15 May 1945	319
42.	Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division; 16-17 May 1945	319
43.	Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 18 May 1945	321
44.	Flattop and Dick Hills, 11-12 May 1945	343
45.	Flattop and Dick Hills, 13-14 May 1945	345
46.	Flattop and Dick Hills, 15 May 1945	347
47.	Conical Hill, 11-16 May 1945	351
48.	Conical Hill, 17-21 May 1945	357
49.	Closing In on Shuri, 30-31 May 1945	365
50.	Fall of Shuri, 30-31 May 1945	397
51.	The Push South, 1-3 June 1945	423
52.	Oroku and Yaeju-Dake, 4-11 June 1945	425
53.	Breaching Yaeju-Dake, 12-17 June 1945	447
54.	End of Organized Resistance, 18-21 June 1945	459
	ILLUSTRATIONS
Relief Map of the Philippine Islands		20
Okinawans and Okinawan Customs		8
Okinawans and Okinawan Customs		8
Okinawa's Landscape		11
Village on Okinawa		12
American Commanders		18
Loading Supplies for Okinawa		42
Loading Supplies for Okinawa		42
Preliminary Bombardment		47
Preliminary Bombardment		47
Japanese Kamikaze Attacks		48
Japanese Kamikaze Attacks		48
Terrain in the Kerama Retto		53
Terrain in the Kerama Retto		53
Landings in the Keramas		59
Landings in the Keramas		59
"Suicide Boats"		61
"Suicide Boats"		61
Softening Up the Target		62
Softening Up the Target		62
Bombarding the Beaches		71
Bombarding the Beaches		71
The Landings		73
The Landings		73
Moving Inland		78
Moving Inland		78
Supplying and Developing the Beachhead		82
Supplying and Developing the Beachhead		82
Japanese Commanders		86
Japanese Weapons		90
Japanese Weapons		90
Japanese Weapons		90
Japanese Weapons		90
Kamikaze Attacks		98
Kamikaze Attacks		98
Sinking of the Yamato		100
XXIV Corps Turns South		106
XXIV Corps Turns South		106
East Coast Battles		109
East Coast Battles		109
Kakazu West		114
Kakazu West		114
Kakazu Gorge		122
Tombstone Ridge Area		128
Saddle Between Kakazu West and Kakazu Ridge		136
Saddle Between Kakazu West and Kakazu Ridge		136
Fire Bombing		142
Pushing to Yae-Take		145
Pushing to Yae-Take		145
Ie Shima		151
Ie Shima		151
Rockets Over Ie Shima		155
Invasion of Ie Shima		158
Invasion of Ie Shima		158
Fighting Toward Ie		161
Fighting Toward Ie		161
Death of Ernie Pyle		165
Death of Ernie Pyle		165
Ie and the Southern Beaches		166
Typical Defense System		168
Attack on Bloody Ridge		174
Attack on Bloody Ridge		174
Government House Hill		179
Government House Hill		179
Strategic Area of Southern Okinawa		186
Ouki Hill-Skyline Area and Machinato Inlet		188
Ouki Hill-Skyline Area and Machinato Inlet		188
Opening Action, 19 April		195
Opening Action, 19 April		195
Battle for Tombstone Ridge		199
Battle for Tombstone Ridge		199
Death of a Tank		201
Death of a Tank		201
Death of a Tank		201
Death of a Tank		201
West End of Urasoe-Mura Escarpment		206
Item Pocket Area		212
Heart of Item Pocket		216
Skyline Ridge		221
Skyline Ridge		221
Rocky Crags		229
Rocky Crags		229
Nishibaru Escarpment Area		233
Nishibaru Escarpment Area		233
The Pinnacles		239
Urasoe-Mura Escarpment		244
Kakazu Village and Kakazu Pocket		246
Kakazu Village and Kakazu Pocket		246
Japanese Fortifications		251
Japanese Fortifications		251
Japanese Fortifications		251
Japanese Fortifications		251
Japanese Fortifications		251
Naval Fire and Air Support		252
Naval Fire and Air Support		252
Blowtorch and Corkscrew		254
Blowtorch and Corkscrew		254
Southern Coast Line		261
Asa River Area		266
Kochi Area		270
Kochi Area		270
Maeda Escarpment and Tank-Infantry Attacks		277
Maeda Escarpment and Tank-Infantry Attacks		277
Maeda Escarpment Strong Points		278
Maeda Escarpment Strong Points		278
Japanese Sea and Air Attack		288
Japanese Sea and Air Attack		288
Japanese Position at Tanabaru Escarpment, 4-7 May		292
Japanese Land Offensive		294
Japanese Land Offensive		294
Tanabaru Escarpment		298
Tanabaru Escarpment		298
Attacks on Hill 60		305
Attacks on Hill 60		305
American Advance Down the Center		308
West Flank Zone		315
Sugar Loaf and Horseshoe Hills		316
Fighting at Sugar Loaf and Crescent Hills		324
Fighting at Sugar Loaf and Crescent Hills		324
Dakeshi Ridge		327
Dakeshi Ridge		327
Reverse Slope of Wana Ridge		331
Reverse Slope of Wana Ridge		331
Ishimmi Ridge		335
Chocolate Drop Hill		340
Chocolate Drop Hill		340
Dick Hills and Flattop		345
Advance Around Dick Hills and Flattop		350
Advance Around Dick Hills and Flattop		350
Conical Hill and East Coast Flatlands		354
Conical Hill and East Coast Flatlands		354
Japanese Air Raids on Okinawa		363
Japanese Air Raids on Okinawa		363
Wana Draw		367
Wana Draw		367
Mud and Flood		368
Mud and Flood		368
"Three Sisters" and Oboe		371
"Three Sisters" and Oboe		371
Crossing the Asato River and Entering Naha		374
Crossing the Asato River and Entering Naha		374
East Coast Corridor and Yonabaru-Naha Valley		380
East Coast Corridor and Yonabaru-Naha Valley		380
Casualties		385
Casualties		385
Secret Retreat		390
Secret Retreat		390
Shuri Heights		395
Shuri Heights		395
Shuri		3
Shuri		3
Shuri Castle Bell		401
Supply and Communications Installations		404
Supply and Communications Installations		404
Supply and Communications Installations		404
Moving Supplies		408
Moving Supplies		408
Moving Supplies		408
Movement of Wounded		413
Movement of Wounded		413
Movement of Wounded		413
Movement of Wounded		413
Military Government		416
Military Government		416
Military Government		416
Military Government		416
Development of Airfield and Rehabilitation of Port		418
Development of Airfield and Rehabilitation of Port		418
Mud and Supply		426
Mud and Supply		426
Advancing to Yaeju-Dake		429
Advancing to Yaeju-Dake		429
Last Point of Resistance		430
Last Point of Resistance		430
Base of Oroku Peninsula		435
Yaeju-Dake and Hill 95		437
Yaeju-Dake and Hill 95		437
Flame Through a Hose		444
Flame Through a Hose		444
Flame Through a Hose		444
Flame Through a Hose		444
Flame Through a Hose		444
Night Attack on Yaeju-Dake		448
Night Attack on Yaeju-Dake		448
Yuza Peak and Kunishi Ridge		453
Yuza Peak and Kunishi Ridge		453
Fighting Toward Hill 89		457
Fighting Toward Hill 89		457
Lt Gen Simon B Buckner		460
Overcoming the Last Resistance		464
Overcoming the Last Resistance		464
Surrender		466
Surrender		466
Last Japanese Command Post		469
Last Japanese Command Post		469
Raising the American Flag		472

All pictures in this volume are from Department of Defense files.