Good story, Frank.

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Best Regards,
Not Slipdigit

During their defense of Saipan & Tinian the Japanese had numerous coastal defense batteries. Some were comprised of British made 150mm guns purchased in 1906. Most such batteries were easily detected and destroyed prior to the landings. Usually located on points, and unable to engage targets once inland.
An episode in a "short list" of successes for such emplacements.
One battery of three such weapons located south east of Tinian Town, were so well concealed that they had not been detected until they opened fire on J-1. During the pre-landing bombardment this battery opened fire on the USS Colorado (BB), scoring 22 hits, and on the USS Norman Scott (DD-690) achieving 6 hits. The Colorado suffered 43 dead (10 Marines), and 198 wounded (32 Marines). While the Norman Scott lost 19 dead and 47 wounded.
These guns had inflicted enough damage that both ships were withdrawn from the gun line for repairs.

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"Yet it is eyes which blind the man,"....
"Because a man can see, he does not look."

Master Po

Okinawa
The Imperial Japanese Army provided four battalion-size sea-raiding regiments each with 100 Kamikaze boats in the Kerama Retto. They were to launch night attacks on the invading fleet. It was a tactic first used in the Philippines, and considerable faith was misplaced in it.
Kamikaze Boats at Naha
Q-boats, also known as Renraku-tei (liason boats) as a cover designation, were 18 ft long and 5 ft wide. Their 85 hp six-cylinder Chevrolet engine gave them a 20-knot speed, which was not particularly fast, and a 3 1/2 hour range. The cheaply constructed plywood boats carried a 551 lb explosive charge in the bow. Some had a rack on either side of the cockpit for a 264 lb depth charge intended for dropping within 5 yds of a ship after making a U-turn to allow an escape.
Battalion-size sea raiding regiments, code-named Akatsuki (dawn), consisted of an 11 man headquarters and 31-man companies, each with 3 nine-man platoons and nine boats. A 900 man base battalion with mechanics and service personnel supported each regiment. The boats were hidden in caves or other camouflaged shelters and moved to launching ramps on a two-wheeled cart.
The 16-17 year old volunteers were 2nd and 3rd year officer cadets in the five year officer academy. If one failed to return from his mission, he was presumed successful and posthumously promoted to Lieutenant. The hoped for, "blasting to pieces" of the American fleet by "Whirlwind" Q-boat attacks never materialized.
Numerous boats sortied, but were intercepted by "Flycatcher" patrols of PT boats and an alert shipboard watch.
They only managed to sink an LCI(G) and damage two destroyers and an LCS(L).

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"Yet it is eyes which blind the man,"....
"Because a man can see, he does not look."

Master Po

Very good story again. I will never understand the military mind or defence spending ! Why would the Imperial Japanese Army do navy type work and pay for the boats ?

It is like the US Army. They have many ships and soldiers to man them.

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

The Japanese 320mm Spigot Mortar

Although the tubes only held out for five or six rounds, enough shells were lobbed onto Marine positions to make a lasting impression on those who suffered through that campaign. According to a platoon leader who served with the 28th Marines, the spigot mortar (referred to as "the screaming Jesus" in his unit) was always afforded a healthy respect and, along with the eight-inch Japanese naval rocket, remains one of his most vivid memories of Iwo Jima. General Robert E. Cushman, Jr., who commanded the 2d battalion, 9th Marines, at Iwo Jima and went on to become the 25th Commandant of the Marine Corps, recalled that the tumbling projectile's inaccuracy made it that much more terrifying. "You could see it coming," he said, "but you never knew where the hell it was going to come down."

Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima (The Drive North)

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Bitter taste of Okinawa
Reducing a Tomb Stronghold

The hillsides of southern Okinawa were dotted with tens of thousands of lyre-shaped tombs unique to the Okinawan culture. Generations of ancestors were buried in the limestone and concrete tombs. When a relative died the tomb was opened and the body interned in a front chamber to decompose. The bones were later cleaned and placed in ceramic urns in the tomb's main room. Families would have celebrations within the small wall-enclosed lawn fronting the tombs to honor their ancestors.
The Japanese frequently converted the tombs to pillboxes by smashing in the small sealed entrance and emplacing a machine gun. The machine gun was supported by riflemen, and although the position lacked all-round fire, the flanks were protected by fire from other tombs and dug-in covering positions. There was of course no escape, and they became tombs for the Japanese soldiers as well.
Thousands were destroyed along with the remains of many generations of ancestors. Many were blasted with artillery and tank fire merely on the suspicion that they might harbor Japanese defenders, and many did.
The desecration of the tombs was a terrible affront to the Okinawans, and a necessary evil.
The reduction of a tomb required special tactics. An entire platoon might be required to reduce a fortified tomb and adjacent covering positions. Artillery and mortars first saturated the tomb and surrounding area to kill any enemy on the surface and drive those within the defenses away from the firing positions. Under the cover of direct fire from tanks and self-propelled 105 mm howitzers the infantry would close in on the position's flanks staying out of the field of fire. Machine-guns, BAR, rifle, and rifle grenade fire was directed at the firing port to cover, bazooka, flamethrower, and demolition teams closing in from the flank.
The Americans called this the ""blowtorch and corkscrew," the Japanese called it "straddle tactics".

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"Yet it is eyes which blind the man,"....
"Because a man can see, he does not look."

Master Po

My Dad worked on Okinawa after the war on a construction project and he said after a year the bones had to be cleaned by a virgin and then put back in the tomb.

He also said hundreds of tools, trucks and equipment were bull dozed in the ocean that was left behind by the military and the Okinawains would cut aircraft drop tanks into and make small boats out of them.

Also the military made him carry a .45 side arm that he did not like to carrry because it was heavy. He left it behind alot and got yelled at alot for leaving it. They claimed after the war there were still Japanese survivors but he never saw or heard of any.

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Work Harder ! Millions on welfare are depending on you.

Kakazu Ridge April 19th 1945

On 19 April the US 193rd tank Battalion advanced south on route 5 between Kakazu and Nishibaru Ridges with 30 tanks and 105 mm M7 self-propelled howitzers, supporting an attack by 1/105th infantry, 27th Infantry Division. It was overwhelmed by the Japanese 272nd Independent Infantry battalion, supported by elements of the 2nd Mortar and 22nd Independent Antitank Gun Battalions. Heavy Japanese fire separated the infantry from the tanks. Mines, 47 mm Model 1 antitank guns, artillery, and suicide squads destroyed 18 M4A3 Sherman tanks and four attached 713th Tank Battalion M4A1 flame tanks. Suicide squads first blinded tank crews with hand-thrown Model 94 smoke candles, kept them buttoned up with model 97 grenades and small arms fire, and flung 22 lb satchel charges beneath the tanks.Hand-placed model 99 magnetic demolition charges were also used- their 1 1/2 pounds of TNT could penetrate a Sherman tank´s side and top armor. Some tank crews bolted 2 in. planks on the hull sides and festooned the tops of hatches with nails to counter the hand mines. Japanese swarmed over some disabled tanks forcing the hatches open and grenading the crews. Some crewmen dug-in under their disabled tanks and held out for two days before returning to American lines. Only eight tanks and self-propelled howitzers survived the attack and were reassigned to other battalions to replace the losses. The 193rd was not reconstituted for the remainder of the campaign.

From Okinawa 1945 by Gordon Rottman

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We have the same book Kai.

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"Yet it is eyes which blind the man,"....
"Because a man can see, he does not look."

Master Po

Indeed Skunk works...

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On the logistics of the Okinawa operation:

Participating units staged at Espritu Santo, Guadalcanal,the Russels, Saipan, Guam, Eniwetok,New Caledonia, Leyte,Oahu and the West Coast of the United States. They formed up at Ulithi over 1,000 miles to the southeast of Okinawa while other forces moved directly from Leyte. Just the effort and resources required to support all these far flung bases and maintain a supply line 4,000 miles and 17 days steaming from Pearl Harbor- 6,200 miles , 26 days steaming from the West Coast-were phenomenal. A total of 458 ships were required to tranport and support landing forces. Ammunition expenditure rates would be so high, over three times that used in the Marianas, that shortages were experienced from the West Coast all the way across the Pacific.

From Okinawa 1945 by Gordon Rottman

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With the death of Lieutenant-General Buckner on 18 June 1945, Roy S Geiger assumed command of Tenth Army, the only Marine officer to command a field army, while retaining command of IIIAC. The next day he was promoted to Lieutenant-General. General Buckner had expressly picked Geiger to assume command in the event of his death. Five days later, Geiger was relieved by Lieutenant-General Joseph W. Stilwell.

Okinawa 1945 by G Rottman

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A responce to skunk works posting on the invasion of Tinian. The actual invasion was to the north of Tinian. The Colorado BB, the Cleveland CL, the Norman Scott DD, the Remey DD, the Wadleigh DD and the Monssen DD were part of a fake invasion force. They were sent to the south of Tinian to make the Japanese think the ivansion was going to be in the southern part of the Island. It worked. The Colorado was hit first. The Norman Scott was going to the Colorado's aid. The Colorado moved out of range of the shore batteries. The Norman Scott moved closer to knock out the shore batteries. The Norman Scott was 25 seconds from getting the solution to her fire director that controlled her five 5 inch guns. Before the Norman Scott could return fire, she was hit. The captain Seymour Owens was killed along with 22 of his ship mates, 57 were wounded. The Norman Scott laid dead in the water. Her two forward 5 inch guns were the ownly guns able to fire back. They were set on manual control. The Norman Scott was dead in the water and drifting towards shore. The Cleveland CL 55 got between the Norman Scott and the shore batteries with her 12 - 5 inch and 12- 6 inch guns firing. The Cleveland took out the 3 shore batteries and saved the Norman Scott from being sunk or destroyed. The navy made a film called This is America - Navy Yard. The film is about the repair of the Norman Scott. The Norman Scott was part of the famous squadron of DesRon 54. Desron 54 opened the battle at Surigao Striat. The Norman Scott was just leaving Mare Island to join her squadron at that battle. The Melvin DD sank the battle ship Fuso and the McGowan sank two Japanese destroyers and crippled another. On July 15, 1945 Desron 54 was the first surface ships to bomb the Japanese homeland. They went in with the battle ships Wisconsin, Missouri and the Iowa. Halsey was on the Missouri. Evey one thought they were going to be clobbered. The Japanese never fired back. Desron 54 was a squadron of 7 Fletcher class destroyers. Wayne

The invasion of Tinian was in the northern part of the Island. A fake invasion force was sent to the south. The ships were the Colorado BB, the Cleveland CL, the Norman Scott DD, the Remey DD, the Wadleigh DD, and the Monssen DD. The were there to draw fire, they did. Three six inch Japanese shore batteries were waiting. The Colorado was first to receive the first salvos. The Norman Scott went to the Colorado's aid as the Colorado moved out of range. The Norman Scott moved closer to knock out the shore batteries. The Norman Scott was 25 seconds from getting the solution for her fire director to fire back. Before she could return fire the Norman Scott was hit. The captian Seymour Owens was killed along with 22 of his ship mates, 57 were wounded. The Norman Scott laid dead in the water. Her two forward 5 inch guns were the ownly guns returning fire, they were set on manaul. The Norman Scott laid dead in the water and drifting towards the shore. The Cleveland CL 55 got between the Norman Scott and the shore batteries with her 12- 5 inch and 12-6 inch guns ablazing. The Cleveland knocked out the shore batteries and saved the Norman Scott from beign sunk or destroyed. The navy made a film called This is America - Navy Yard. I was about the repair of the Norman Scott. The Norman Scott was part of the famous squadron of Desron 54. Desron 54 opened the battle at Surigao Srait. The Norman Scott was just leaving Mare Island after her repair to join her squadron. The Melvin sank the battle ship Fuso at that battle and the McGowan sank two Japanese destroyers and crippled a third. On July 15, 1945 Desron 54 was the first surface ships to bomb the Japanese homeland. Desron 54 went in with the battle ships Wisconsin, the Missouri and the Iowa. Halsey was on the Missouri. Everyone thought they were going to be clobbered. The Japanese never fire a shoot. Desron 54 was a squadron of 7 Fletcher class destroyers.

Good info Wayne. It's good to have another PTO fan on the site. Way too many of those ETO, MTO, and Eastern Front pukes here.

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Best Regards,
Not Slipdigit

I didn't mean to suggest that the invasion was repulsed, quite the contrary. I only pointed out a success of a shore battery, a limited number, definitely.
I knew the battery would get pasted the minute it revealed its position. I did not know who actually did it.
I was aware that the main invasion was conducted by the 24th and 25th marines on beaches White 1 & White 2 after a excellent fake (including marines actually going over the side)(and then back) to fool the Japanese into moving to Tinian Town.
INVASION OF TINIAN
6 LCi(G)s (9 on right, White 2 & 6 on left, White 1). Amphibian tanks and 8 amtracs easily secure White 1.
Amphibian tanks and 16 amtracs secure White 2, 3 are lost.
Within the first day 15,614 marines were ashore, for a loss of 15 KIA and 225 WIA.
The Japanese counter attacked all night with 6 tanks (banzai) and a company sized unit even reached the beach before being wiped out.
Total losses for the night were for the marines 100 casualties, and for the Japanese 1,200 dead and 5 tanks.
Something from the Naval Institute...
Perhaps the hardest destroyer action in the Marianas campaign was fought by Fire Support Unit Three-battleship Colorado (Rear AdmiralT.D.Ruddok Jr.), cruiser Cleveland and destroyers Remey (flagship of Captain J.G.Coward, ComDesRon 54). Norman Scott, and Mossen. During the assult on Tinian on July 24th these ships conducted a diversionary demonstration off Tinian Town. Camouflaged Japanese opened fire about 0740. Colorado and Norman Scott were hit hard. Six 6-inch shell slammed into the Scott before she could dodge away. The blasting killed 19 men and wounded 63. Among those killed were the destroyers skipper, Commander S.D.Owens.
Admiral Oldendorf later wrote...
"The conduct of the Norman Scott reflect great credit upon its compliment and upon the courageous name which it bears."

Good to have another PTO "fan" on board !

Leyte....Palawan Passage-Sibuyan Sea-Surigao Straight-Samar Island are a book in themselves...perhaps 3 or 4.

__________________
"Yet it is eyes which blind the man,"....
"Because a man can see, he does not look."

Master Po

" A Japanese staff functioned very differently from its Western counterpart. The commander bore the burden of spiritual responsibility, maintained contact with higher headquarters, and guided his staff. The chief-of-staff and operations officer possessed far more power than a Western chief-of-staff and G-3. Staff officers presented options to the chief and decisions were derived by negotiation, guided by the commander, to reach a common concensus. In reality, aggressive and opinionated staff officers, concerned with face-saving, often battled their way through planning sessions with factions of offficers taking sides. Planning was made more difficult in an environment where anyone advising caution was branded a coward, where major commanders took complete operational freedom ( Dokudan Senko ) from higher headquarters, and subordinates often ignored their commanders ( Gekokujo ).

From Okinawa 1945 by G Rottman

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Hewitt Wheless and B-17 and fight against 18 Zeroes(?!!)....


Wings of Valor II-* Harl Pease, B17 Pilot

B-17 Flying Fortress Units of the ... - Google-teoshaku

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Bombing of Tokyo:

The New York Times reported at the time, "Maj. Gen. Curtis E. LeMay, commander of the B-29s of the entire Marianas area, declared that if the war is shortened by a single day, the attack will have served its purpose."

Curtis LeMay - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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