The attack on Okinawa follows the one on Iwojima by one month but it is much bigger. With the japanese Air Force and japanese navy completely destroyed, the Japanese are left with only the resistance of their soldiers. Japan is defeated but the fights continue.
Nimitz has to conquer the Ryu Kyu archipelago and so he decides to conquer Okinawa since that island can hold many airbases and harbors and is big enough to receive troops gathering for operations. The attack on Okinawa is called Iceberg operation and is the biggest amphibic operation. Gathered togheter are 1210 ships: the Task Force 51 (with at its head Turner) with 18 escort carriers, 12 cruisers, 10 battleships, 136 destroyers, 134 transports and over 600 landing ships; the Task Force 58 (with at its head Mitscher) with 18 carriers, 8 battleships and 2 cruisers; and the British Pacific Fleet (with at its head Rawlings) which under the orders of Spruance becomes the Task Force 57 with 2 battleships (King George V and Howe), 3 carriers (Indomitable, Formidable and Indefatigable), 7 cruisers and 15 destroyers; also there are about 2000 airplanes and 451 866 soldiers. General S.M. Bruckner is leading the 10th army and covers general Geiger who is leading the 3rd Amphibic corps (1st and 6th Marine divisions) and general Hodge who is leading the 24th US Corps. Three divisions (3rd Marine, 27th and 77th) are left for backup.
Their enemy is the general Ushijima with the 32nd japanese army including the 34th and 62nd divisions, the 44th brigade and parts of the 9th and 28th divisions. Also there is an artillery regiment equipped with 320mm giant mortars. Thus 77 200 soldiers and 20 000 milicians are defending the island. The plan of Ushijima is to stay far from the beaches where he would be without cover and to stay grouped in small resistance groups so that they can hold their positions long enough for their airplanes to attack (Kamikaze) the american fleet.
Before attacking Okinawa the 77th american division clears the Kerama islands (30km West of Okinawa). The combined fleet is bombed in its anchoring harbors at Kure and Kobe by the Task Force 58 and 17 japanese ships are damaged while the Kamikazes hit the carriers Wasp and Franklin along with destroying 115 american aircrafts. Finally the island is bombed for 5 days before the landing occurs. April 1st 1945 (Easter) a landing is made on the West beaches -in the narrowest part of the island. The soldiers progress East rapidly and so the defense of the island is cut in two groups. The 3rd Corps then goes North while the 24th Corps goes South and the two groups don't see the enemy at first. The North of the island is reached April 13th. The 6th Marine division finally meets the 44th brigade of colonel Udo in the peninsula of Motobu. South the 7th and 96th US divisions are stopped by the Shuri Castle's defenses: the PC of general Ushijima. April 19th the 27th division in backup is added to the battle and a big attack is launched on the Shuri Castle but it fail. May 3rd the Japaneses attack with amphibic movement behind the Americans but these last knew it and so the 2 japanese regiments are destroyed along with the 24th japanese division which was attacking the 7th US division.
In the first half of May the 10th american army progresses slowly same way as at Iwojima. On the 18th the 6th Marine division take over the mount over the island's main city and May 19th Conical Hill and its artillery ammunitions is taken as well. On the 22nd the Japaneses are forced to retreat in their last fortifications South-West of the island. In the night of May 24th the Japaneses make a surprise attack with paratroopers dropped on the 2 american airports (Yontan and Kadena) and they destroy 7 aircrafts. May 29th the Shuri Castle is conquered by the Marines: it had been abandonned by the general who is now 20km South. The 6th Marine division then clears the peninsula of Oroku from June 4th to 12th which is defended by admiral Ota and his 4000 men. The Japaneses are missing ammunitions and they are pushed back in the Kiyamu peninsula (South) and the Americans bring back the 2nd Marine division from Saïpan to reeforce their troops. June 25th with the help of an amphibic operation from behind the enemy and so all resistance is eliminated.
It has taken 82 days to finish Iceberg operation and 110 000 japanese death and 7 613 american ones along with 31 800 Americans injured and 10 000 prisoners. Also add the many Kamikaze attacks. So once again the attack make the american officers think about what will be an american landing operation on Japan (Olympic and Coronet operations).
Introduction Chronology Biography Links Glossary
This page hosted by 
Get your own Free Home Page