OKINAWA 1 April - 2 July 1945 |
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Okinawa is a long, skinny island located 450 miles and an easy flight distance from Kyushu, Japan; Singapore, China; and Taiwan (Formosa). Naval air and B-29s made all airfields on Kyushu inoperable for that first week. British TF-57 held off air attack from Formosa. Escort carriers provided combat air patrols over the island and ships nearby. The US 5th Fleet operated in support. The operation began with the capture of a small island group, Kerama Retto, March 26-27, to act as ship anchorage, supply and repair facility and seaplane base. An island 8-miles from Okinawa was occupied for use by army long-range artillery support for the invasion.
The assault on April 1 included 81,165 marines, 98,567 army, and 2,380 sailors from 77 transports and 187 LSTs. Troops landed almost unopposed and enveloped the airfields by noon, a task which had been scheduled for day 4.
On day six : Troops confronted the prepared underground defenses. The first and largest "floating chrysanthemum" kamikaze attack on warships. And Yamato, the world's largest battleship was detected making a run to Okinawa to attack remaining ships.
Kamikazes attacked every day with one to 20 one-way flights between March 26 and the end of July. Ten mass kamikazes attacks were made, the first on 6 April was of 355 planes. Conventional bombing took place throughout the battle. The second big attack on April 12 included 185 kamikazes, 45 torpedo bombers along with 150 fighters.
Yamato, 68,000 tons, 9- 18.1" guns with sufficient fuel for a one-way voyage to Okinawa, escorted by a squadron of 8 destroyers and their flagship, light cruiser Yahagi, was detected. While a battleship force advanced to intercept, the suicide force was attacked by 280 planes from 5th fleet ; Yamato, Yahagi, and four destroyers went under in less than 2-hours.
On April 8 a Marine fighter wing of 82 Corsairs arrived ; by April 15 radar equipped night fighters could help cover the fleet from dawn and dusk attack. Ie Shima island and airfield was taken April 16-21. Attacks on Kyushu began from there on 17May. The 3rd Fleet withdrew to Leyte for rest and refit.
Hard fighting continued for two months until the southern end of Okinawa was secured on 2 July. Mopping up continued until the island was surrendered 7 Sept. By the end of June, 100,000 construction troops were converting the island into an advanced base for the attack and invasion of Japan. 750 aircraft were already based there.
The fleet lost 32 ships and craft with 368 damaged;
Sailors : 4,900 killed and 4,824 wounded ;
Marines : 2,899 dead, 11,677 wounded..
Other troops : 2,789 killed, 20,130 wounded plus 26,000 non-combat casualties (shell shock).
The Japanese lost 7,830 planes; the U.S. 768.
The ships sunk were mostly destroyer-sized radar picket ships. Capital ships were also targets and damaged, tho they survived. For example, one kamikaze hit on Enterprise put her out of service for 48-hours. In planning for the invasion of Japan, we must note that the kamikazes were delayed for 6-days and missed getting the thin-skinned transports loaded with troops.
CAPITAL SHIPS ENGAGED Battleships : 10 Fleet Carriers : 11 Light Carriers : 4 British Carriers : 5 Support Carriers : 22 CVE Train Carriers : 6 CVE
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Last updated on June 25, 2005
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