The largest American naval fleet ever assembled launched the largest amphibious military operation in the history of warfare on April 1, 1945, a bizarre holiday combination of Easter Sunday and April Fools’ Day. [1] Although April 1, named Love Day, marked the beginning of the invasion of Okinawa, the bloodshed began days before as the American naval forces sailed through the ocean. The Japanese kamikaze attacks and air raids caused the majority of the bloodshed at sea.[2]
Kamikazes were responsible for the largest number of United States casualties inflicted at sea during World War II.[3] Throughout the campaign for Okinawa, Japanese kamikaze planes alone were responsible for sinking 26 American ships and damaging an additional 164. In all, Japanese forces sank a total of 36 American ships and damaged a total of 368.[4] The combination of Japanese bombing raids and kamikaze attacks proved to be a deadly force.
The campaign for Okinawa presented the United States with its toughest naval task of World War II. It included the challenge to protect a massive naval fleet against the Japanese kamikaze attacks. As American ships floated off the coast of Okinawa, they served as large, bobbing targets for the Japanese kamikazes. On the other hand, the anti-aircraft guns on American ships and American fighter planes proved to be a formidable defense against the deadly Japanese kamikaze planes. The assembled naval fleet withstood the majority of these seemingly endless air attacks and continued to support the troops landing on the beaches of Okinawa.[5]
[1] George Feifer, Tennozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb (New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1992), 133.
[2] Sloan, 26-30.
[3] Yahara, 33.
[4] Appleman, 489.
[5] Megan Tzeng, “The Battle of Okinawa, 1945: Final Turning Point in the Pacific,” The History Teacher 34 (2000): 97.
Kamikazes were responsible for the largest number of United States casualties inflicted at sea during World War II.[3] Throughout the campaign for Okinawa, Japanese kamikaze planes alone were responsible for sinking 26 American ships and damaging an additional 164. In all, Japanese forces sank a total of 36 American ships and damaged a total of 368.[4] The combination of Japanese bombing raids and kamikaze attacks proved to be a deadly force.
The campaign for Okinawa presented the United States with its toughest naval task of World War II. It included the challenge to protect a massive naval fleet against the Japanese kamikaze attacks. As American ships floated off the coast of Okinawa, they served as large, bobbing targets for the Japanese kamikazes. On the other hand, the anti-aircraft guns on American ships and American fighter planes proved to be a formidable defense against the deadly Japanese kamikaze planes. The assembled naval fleet withstood the majority of these seemingly endless air attacks and continued to support the troops landing on the beaches of Okinawa.[5]
[1] George Feifer, Tennozan: The Battle of Okinawa and the Atomic Bomb (New York: Ticknor and Fields, 1992), 133.
[2] Sloan, 26-30.
[3] Yahara, 33.
[4] Appleman, 489.
[5] Megan Tzeng, “The Battle of Okinawa, 1945: Final Turning Point in the Pacific,” The History Teacher 34 (2000): 97.
As the battle raged on at sea, the troops approached the beaches in an eerie silence. American troops were surprised to encounter no enemy resistance on the beaches of Okinawa. Part of the Japanese strategy involved delaying any serious resistance in order to preserve the limited troops and keep the defensive positions hidden. The Japanese guns and artillery were ordered not to fire, save a small number of snipers.[1] Nonetheless, the American troops enjoyed an unopposed invasion of Okinawa. Eugene Sledge, a World War II veteran, writes about his personal experience:
We advanced inland, and I neither heard nor saw any Japanese fire directed against us. As we moved across the small fields and gardens onto higher elevations, I could see troops of the 6th Marine Division heading toward the big Yontan Airfield on our left. Jubilation over the lack of opposition to the landing prevailed, particularly among the Peleliu veterans. Our new replacements began making remarks about amphibious landings being easy.[2]
After a couple of days, however, the battle on Okinawa would be far from easy for the American troops. Although the Japanese army presented no resistance on Love Day, they would later form one of the most formidable defenses that the United States military would ever face. These series of formidable Japanese defensive lines inflicted the most American casualties of any battle in the Pacific War.[3]
[1] Feifer, 142.
[2] Sledge, 188.
[3] Appleman, 473.
We advanced inland, and I neither heard nor saw any Japanese fire directed against us. As we moved across the small fields and gardens onto higher elevations, I could see troops of the 6th Marine Division heading toward the big Yontan Airfield on our left. Jubilation over the lack of opposition to the landing prevailed, particularly among the Peleliu veterans. Our new replacements began making remarks about amphibious landings being easy.[2]
After a couple of days, however, the battle on Okinawa would be far from easy for the American troops. Although the Japanese army presented no resistance on Love Day, they would later form one of the most formidable defenses that the United States military would ever face. These series of formidable Japanese defensive lines inflicted the most American casualties of any battle in the Pacific War.[3]
[1] Feifer, 142.
[2] Sledge, 188.
[3] Appleman, 473.
After successfully landing on the beaches and advancing inland, the American troops faced a series of heavily fortified ridges. Every hillside that the Marines took cost them devastating casualties. Once they seized a ridge from the tight grip of the Japanese defenders, the American troops faced yet another ridge to assault. When the American troops overran the Japanese forces, the Japanese retreated to the next ridge. Finally, the American soldiers reached the Kunishi Ridge, the last ridge of defense for the Japanese troops who had no way of escape. The leader of the Japanese army, General Ushijima, ordered the remainder of his army, 30,000 men, to fight to the death. To surrender or retreat was forbidden.[1]
During the battle of Okinawa, the Japanese defenses inflicted the most American deaths during the Pacific War. The American casualties for the campaign for Okinawa totaled more than 12,500 killed and many more injured or missing. Due to the desperate, sacrificial efforts to defend Okinawa, the Japanese forces suffered tremendous casualties as well. In all, a total of 107,500 Japanese soldiers had been counted dead. At least 20,000 additional Japanese soldiers were estimated to have been buried and sealed in the caves by American flame throwers and explosives.[2] The tremendous number of casualties over such a small territory made the campaign for Okinawa the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War.
[1] Sloan, 279-280.
[2] Martin Gilbert, The Second World War: A Complete History (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1991), 657.
During the battle of Okinawa, the Japanese defenses inflicted the most American deaths during the Pacific War. The American casualties for the campaign for Okinawa totaled more than 12,500 killed and many more injured or missing. Due to the desperate, sacrificial efforts to defend Okinawa, the Japanese forces suffered tremendous casualties as well. In all, a total of 107,500 Japanese soldiers had been counted dead. At least 20,000 additional Japanese soldiers were estimated to have been buried and sealed in the caves by American flame throwers and explosives.[2] The tremendous number of casualties over such a small territory made the campaign for Okinawa the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War.
[1] Sloan, 279-280.
[2] Martin Gilbert, The Second World War: A Complete History (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1991), 657.