Description
Book SynopsisThis study describes the air-sea offensive supporting the ground-force invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in February and April 1945, which led to the sinking of the Yamato and the onslaught of the Japanese kamikaze.
The island invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were the last two major ground campaigns to be initiated during the Pacific War. This superbly illustrated volume explores the airsea aspects of these pivotal battles. Among the events covered are the ''death ride'' of the Japanese battleship Yamato (the largest ever built), and the mass kamikaze attacks off Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as the amphibious invasions themselves, including the airsea bombardment of the two islands. By early 1945, the US Navy had reached an exceptional level of coordination in its amphibious operations and was able to overrun and subdue Japanese territories efficiently. Faced with the increasing might of these forces and to prevent further defeat, Japan deployed its squadron of kamik
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION The strategic setting Origins of the campaign CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS Japanese Allied OPPOSING FORCES Japanese Allied Operation Iceberg orders of battle, April 1, 1945 OPPOSING PLANS Japanese Allied THE CAMPAIGN Commencing Detachment, February 16–20, 1945 Kamikaze attacks against Fifth Fleet, February 21 Winning Iwo Jima, February 24–March 26 Iceberg preliminaries, March 1945 L-Day at Okinawa, April 1 The Great Onslaught: Kikisui No. 1, April 6–7 Ten-Ichi-Go: Yamato’s death ride, April 6–7 Kikisui No. 2, April 12–13 Kikisui No. 3, April 16 Kikisui No. 4, April 27–28 Kikisui No. 5, May 3–4 Kikisui No. 6, May 10–11 Kyushu diversion, May 13–14 Air and naval gunfire support of Tenth Army Kikisui No. 7, May 23–25 Kikisui No. 8, May 27–29 Okinawa secured, June–July 1945 AFTERMATH THE WARSHIPS TODAY FURTHER READING ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS INDEX
