Battle of Okinawa

The Japanese had prepared their positions well and fought tenaciously. The 96th Infantry Division began to encounter fierce resistance in west-central Okinawa from Japanese troops holding fortified positions east of Highway No. Summary: The battle of Okinawa, also known as Operation Iceberg, took place in April-June 1945. For the April 1945 invasion of Okinawa, the Allies assembled the most powerful naval force in history. But wanting to bring the war to a swift end, and knowing over 2 million Japanese troops were awaiting battle-weary American soldiers, Japan didn’t give in immediately, so Truman ordered the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9. Counterattacking, Ushijima sent his men forward on the nights of April 12 and 14, but was turned back both times. On June 21, the island was declared secure, though fighting lasted another week as the last Japanese forces were mopped up. The troops quickly secured both Kadena and Yontan airfields.Japan’s 32nd Army, some 130,000 men strong and commanded by Lt. Gen. Mitsuru Ushijima, defended Okinawa. General Douglas © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. U.S. As a result, countless took their own lives.To encourage their surrender, General Buckner initiated propaganda warfare and dropped millions of leaflets declaring the war was all but lost for Japan.About 7,000 Japanese soldiers surrendered, but many chose death by suicide.

British Carrier Force (TF 57) under Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings with 4 carriers, 2 battleships, 5 cruisers, 14 destroyers and fleet train; 3. The Americans bore over 49,000 casualties including 12,520 killed. They suffered over 1,500 battle casualties in the process, while killing or capturing about 4,500 Japanese, yet the battle had only just begun, for it was now realized they were merely outposts guarding the Shuri Line. For the coming campaign, Buckner possessed nearly 200,000 men. In addition, it gave the Allies airfields that were only 350 miles from Japan. The army had two Although Allied land forces were entirely composed of U.S. units, the There was a hypnotic fascination to the sight so alien to our Western philosophy. In five days of fighting, they secured the island and its airfield. While troops eliminated the IJN forces at Oroku, Buckner pushed south against the new Japanese lines. The Battle of Okinawa (April 1, 1945-June 22, 1945) was the last major battle of World War II, and one of the bloodiest. Proceeding up the Ishikawa Isthmus, they battled through rough terrain before encountering the main Japanese defenses on the Motobu Peninsula. It became routine for U.S. soldiers to shoot at Okinawan houses, as one infantryman wrote, "There was some return fire from a few of the houses, but the others were probably occupied by civilians – and we didn't care. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-okinawa

In addition, there were 9,000 IJN troops supported by 1,100 militia, with approximately 4,000 holed up at the underground headquarters on the hillside overlooking the Okinawa Naval Base in the Oroku Peninsula, east of the airfield. The 18,000 U.S. Marines sent to The World War II Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the Allies in the Pacific theater. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. That may be because people are too comfortable driving around it in the concrete jungle of Naha, or, have not learned this part of Okinawa's history yet. Much of the fighting centered on heights known as Sugar Loaf and Conical Hill. An Army medic during that battle rescued 75 of his wounded comrades. The main assault moved forward against the Hagushi beaches on the west coast of Okinawa on April 1. Torrential rains made the hills and roads watery graveyards of unburied bodies.Casualties were enormous on both sides by the time the Americans took Shuri Castle in late May. As the land battle progressed, Allied naval vessels remained in the area and were subjected to a relentless succession of kamikaze attacks. One of the longest and costliest battles of the Pacific Theater, Okinawa saw American forces sustain 49,151 casualties (12,520 killed), while the Japanese incurred 117,472 (110,071 killed).

It was the largest amphibious landing in the Pacific theater of World War II.

Only eight miles from Okinawa, the Marines quickly emplaced artillery on these islets to support future operations. A total of 7,401 soldiers surrendered or were captured during the battle. Numbering between 67,000 and 77,000 men, his command was further supported by Rear Admiral Minoru Ota's 9,000 Imperial Japanese Navy troops at Oroku. Fast Carrier Force (TF 58) under Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher with 88 ships (including 11 fleet carriers, 6 light carriers, 7 battleships and 18 cruisers); 2. Wave after wave of troops, tanks, ammunition and supplies went ashore almost effortlessly within hours. In addition, 142,058 civilians became casualties. In addition, 142,058 civilians became casualties. Periodic heavy air attacks continued through April.