Page 59 - History of War - Issue 01-14

THE US PACIFIC CAMPAIGN

On 1 April – Easter Sunday – after six days
of bombardment by battleships and cruisers,
Admiral Richmond Turner’s invasion fl eet was A Japanese kamikaze aircraft strikes
ready to launch its amtracs and landing craft. the deck of the US aircraft-carrier Saratoga
After all the horrors of Iwo Jima, the landings off Iwo Jima, February 1945. Badly damaged,
proved a mixture of anticlimax and euphoric it was forced to return to the US for repair
relief. The 2nd Marine Division made a feint
assault on the south-eastern tip, then returned
to Saipan. Only 28 men were killed on the fi rst
day, out of the 60,000 men from two Marine
and two Army divisions that had landed on the
west coast. Facing negligible opposition, they
advanced inland to secure two airfi elds. The 1st
and the 6th Marine Divisions advanced north-
eastwards across the Ishikawa Isthmus into
the main part of the island, which Ushijima had
defended so lightly. After the relief of landing
unopposed, they began to feel tense. “Where
are the Nips?” Marines kept wondering. They
passed large numbers of terrifi ed Okinawans
and directed them back to internment camps
set up in the rear. The Marines gave their candy
and some rations to the children, who did not Getty
show fear like their elders. The Army’s 7th and
96th Divisions swung south, not knowing that
they were headed for Ushijima’s main defence attack to the Navy fl yers. The Japanese suicide
lines across the island in front of Shuri. squadron was tailed by US reconnaissance North of Suri, the 7th Infantry Division took
Only on 5 April, when the two Army divisions aircraft, and they guided the Hell divers and seven days to advance 6km. The 96th needed
reached the limestone hills with their natural Avenger torpedo bombers towards it. three days to take Cactus Ridge. It then seized
and manmade caves did they understand what The fi rst wave scored two hits. The second Kakazu Ridge in a surprise attack before
a battle awaited them. The caves had once wave less than an hour later hit the Yamato fi ve dawn, but was forced back when the Japanese
again been linked up with tunnel systems, and times. Another ten bombs struck home as the concentrated all their fi re upon it. After nine
the hills were dotted with traditional Okinawan great battleship slowed and began to settle in days of fi ghting, both divisions were blocked and
funeral vaults in stone, which made excellent the water. The cruiser Yahagi was also stricken. had lost 2,500 men altogether.
General Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr, the
BY THE END OF THE OKINAWA CAMPAIGN, Commander of the 10th Army, at least had
good news from the Marines advancing north.
THE SUICIDES OF 1,465 PILOTS HAD SUNK The 29th Marine Regiment, encountering some
29 SHIPS, DAMAGED 120, KILLED 3,048 Okinawans who spoke English, had discovered
where Udo’s base was. He had selected a peak
SAILORS AND WOUNDED ANOTHER 6,035 called Yaedake, deep in the forest overlooking
a river. On 14 April, the 29th and 4th Marine
machine-gun nests. Ushijima’s artillery batteries Then the Yamato rolled slowly over and blew Regiments attacked from opposite sides. After
were positioned to the rear, with forward up. The Yahagi went down, too, along with four a two-day battle and having suffered heavy
observation offi cers on the hills ready to direct destroyers. The great sortie was one of the casualties, they took Yaedake. Udo, they found,
their fi re. His main tactic was to separate the US most futile gestures in modern warfare, costing had slipped through them with some of his men
infantry from their tanks, which were attacked the lives of several thousand sailors. to pursue the fi ght from elsewhere in the forest.
by concealed teams who jumped out and ran The second series of kamikaze attacks on the On 19 April, an impatient General Buckner
up to the Shermans with Molotov cocktails and invasion fl eet began on 11 April, and this time ordered an intense bombardment of the
satchel charges. Tank crews who abandoned they did aim for the carriers. The USS Enterprise Japanese lines and Shuri citadel, using all the
their blazing vehicles were shot down. was hit by two of them, but survived with heavy artillery, Navy aircraft and big guns of the fl eet,
While the two Army divisions were shaken to damage. The Essex was also hit, but was not in preparation for a three-division attack.
fi nd what they were up against, Admiral Turner’s put out of action. Next day, the battleship USS The assault on the ridges right across the
fl eet offshore began to receive the full brunt Tennessee was hit and a destroyer sunk. The island failed. On 23 April, Admiral Nimitz fl ew to
of Japanese kamikaze attacks launched from destroyer’s crew were machine-gunned by other Okinawa. He was worried by the losses infl icted
Kyushu and Formosa. On 6 and 7 April, 355 fi ghters as they struggled in the sea. A third series on his ships offshore and wanted the seizure of
kamikaze pilots took off. Although they had been of attacks began on 15 April, by which time the Okinawa completed rapidly. It was suggested
ordered to target carriers, most went for the fi rst stress on naval crews was beginning to tell.
ship they saw. With their thin armour and only a Kamikaze attacks were also made against the
few anti-aircraft guns, the fl eet stood no chance. Royal Navy’s Pacifi c Fleet, which Admiral Ernest
Combined with the air attacks, the most King had been so reluctant to accept in what he
conspicuous suicide mission came in the form regarded as his theatre of war. Task Force 57,
of the giant battleship Yamato, accompanied by as Spruance had designated it, was bombing
a light cruiser and eight destroyers. They had airfi elds on the island of Sakishimagunto. The
sailed from the Inland Sea through the straits fl ight decks of British aircraft carriers consisted
between Kyushu and Honshu, and were to attack of three inches of armour plate. When a Zeke
the US fl eet off Okinawa, beach their ships and kamikaze smashed into the fl ight deck of HMS
use them as fi xed batteries to support General Indefatigable and exploded, it simply left a dent.
Ushijima’s forces. Many senior naval offi cers The US Navy liaison offi cer aboard remarked:
were horrifi ed at this waste of the Yamato, which “When a kamikaze hits a US carrier, it’s six
had received just enough fuel for the one-way trip. months’ repair at Pearl. In a Limey carrier, it’s
On 7 April, Admiral Mitscher was warned of the a case of, ‘Sweepers, man your brooms.’”
Yamato’s approach by US submarines. He fl ew The US Navy paid a heavy toll. By the end of
off his aircraft, although he knew that Admiral the Okinawa campaign, the suicides of 1,465 US Marines run for cover as they disembark
from the LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked) in
Spruance wanted his battleships to have the pilots had sunk 29 ships, damaged 120, killed which they came ashore, Okinawa, April 1945 Getty
honour of sinking her. Spruance conceded the 3,048 sailors and wounded another 6,035.
HISTORY WAR 59
of

HoW01.Pacific invasion.indd 59 30/01/2014 14:02