Interesting information on war in the Pacific

Peleliu 1650 hrs on D-Day,
The Japanese tank counter attack.

The expected Japanese counter-attack on the landing force was launched from the north of the airfield. The area in the southeastern portion of the Umubrogol Mountains that would become known as the "Horseshoe". This was aimed at the 1st battalion of the 5th Marines. This attack had been expected by the Marines who faced open ground in front of the airfield.
Their regimental commanders accordingly had brought up artillery, heavy machine guns, as well as tank support.
Increased Japanese artillery and mortar fire in that area was the first indication something was brewing. Up until 400 yards distant it looked like a coordinated infantry/armor attack. Then the tanks raced towards the Marine line like "Bats outa Hell".
The Type 97 was vulnerable to heavy machine guns and all else bigger.
It has never been accurately determined how many Japanese tanks were destroyed, but reports indicate between 11 and 17. Insufficient pieces were left to give a definite count.
One Marine staff officer had calculated from after action reports that 179 & 1/2 Japanese tanks were destroyed by confirmed hits.
Taking murderous flanking fire from all weapons, light/heavy machine guns, artillery, mortars, anti-tank guns, and a dive bomber (some say the Navy got in some shots).
Exactly who knocked out what, is today, still a mystery.
Two Japanese tanks escaped, and as to whether the Infantry was decimated or withdrew, that question is doubtful if the definitive answer will ever be known.

 

I remember rading years ago, that the operation was conducted with the boat submerged at 120ft to provide a stable platform. Now come to think of it, the pressure inside the sub was ~50mm Hg higher than atmospheric pressure according to the SUBRON 2 Medical Officer's acocunt. Never thought about how that could have affected the anesthetic (inhaled ether was used).

The hero of the story actually got a lot of heat from the Navy Medical Corps for doing the operation without being proper "qualified". Nevertheless, standard operating procedures were developed and two other USN submariners underwent emergency appendectomies during WWII patrols.

The resourcefulness of these "old salts" never ceases to amaze me!

 

Guam 1944

The night of 25 July found the 3rd MarDiv deployed on a 9,000yd front line with few reserves, a situation made all the more difficult because of the chaotic terrain. Only 1/3 was in Division Reserve along with tank, engineer, and pioneer units. One reason the resistance had been so strong during the day is that the Japanese were fighting hard to retain positions from which to launch their planned counter-attack. However, the Japanese lost many first rate troops in the defense of these positions who would've participated in the planned counter-attack.
Lt. General Takeshi developed a plan and assembled units to conduct a major counterattack on the night of 25/26 July, with the goal of splitting the 3rd MarDiv positions and attacking the divided forces.
The 48th IMB would hit 2/9 and 2/21 with its 219th and 220th IIBs and swing northeast to attack the rear of the 3rd Marines, specifically targeting ammunition and supply dumps. The 18th Infantry would attack the center of the 21st Marines and drive to the coast among the headquarters, artillery, and service units. The main attacks were launched from the vacinity of an unnamed hill where the Mt. Tenjo Road crested the Fonte Plateau, a featyre known to the Japanese as "Mt. Mangan" Hundreds of attackers carried demolition charges and hand mines so that, after destroying their targets, the 18th could establish a defense line. This would run from Asan Point east along a ridge south of the Nidual River, facing south to block 9th Marines counterattacks. A company of the 10th IMR would attack down the 600yd wide draw separating the 21st and 9th Marines that was screened by only the 3rd reconnaissances Company. Other 10th IMR battalions apparently followed the 18th battalions, moving through the gap they created.
The 2,500 man Orote Peninsula force would attack the 22nd Marines blocking the peninsula's neck and attempt a breakout to join forces with those on the Fonte Plateau, both across country and by barge across Agat Harbor.
The counterattack was coordinated much better than the disorganized "bansai" charges the Marine had encountered in the past. Regardless, many of the Japanese troops were drunk and some units launched their attacks late. As night fell the intensity of the fighting did not diminish. A company commander in 1/9 reported, "The enemy is in hand grenade range along the entire line to the front and retained strong positions in caves to our rear." The fighting went on all night beginning just before midnight, through constant probes and harassing attacks preceeded this. Japanese units penetrated almost to the beach in the center. Service troops participated in the Marine counterattacks while howitzers were wheeled up and fired pointblank into the attackers. Some 50-70 Japanese overran the 3rd MarDiv field hospital with wounded patients fleeing to the beaches dragging the seriously wounded. The lightly wounded armed themselves and fought back.
Banzai attack on the 3rd MarDiv hospital...
As the Japanese III/18th Infantry rushed through the gap between the 21st and 9th Marines, they headed for the beach area to destroy artillery positions and dumps. Japanese were spotted on the high ground south of the hospital just before dawn. Two companies of pioneers, under the command of LtCol George O. Van Orden, the division infantry training officer, were sent up from the beach to counter this threat. Patients were turned out of their tents and told to head for the beach with the walking wounded carrying the more serious cases. All medical personnel assigned to the Marines were Navy. Medical corpsmen did not wear red-cross armbands (per Geneva Convention = Non Combatant) for fear of snipers, and most carried a .30-cal. M1 carbine to protect their patients.
In the PTO snipers aimed at the "brassards" on your arm, 1,724 corpsmen died in WW 2, 889 in combat (mostly in the PTO) source ( Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton).
The carbine was popular with its 15 round clip, but was intended as a self defense weapon, with poor stopping power and limited penetration of dense brush, not up to the standards of the main combat weapons (M1 rifle/BAR).
41 patients took up whatever weapons they could find and rushed into the fight alongside the medical personnel.
Only one patient was killed along with one medical officer and a corpsman. A medical officer, a medical warrant officer, a dental officer, 12 corpsmen and 16 Marines were wounded.
The Japanese lost 3,500 men (80%), along with 95% of their officers. Marine dead are estimated at 2-300, same+ wounded.
The Orote peninsula some 500 Japanese of II/38 attacked near the left flank of the 22nd Marines. Drunk on Sake, they launched a screaming "Banzai" charge out of the mangrove swamp into L/3/22 Marines. Flanking fire delivered from a platoon of A/1/4 Marines, along with massed artillery fire, the attackers were virtually destroyed.

 

Dec. 7th, 1941
Phillip M. Rasmussen
At Wheeler, a pajama clad Lieutenant and a few fellow pilots worked frantically to arm and fuel their obsolescent P-36s. Finally, they managed to get them aloft between attacks. Once airborne, they received word that Kaneohe was under attack again.
"At 9,000 feet, we spotted dive-bombers and dove to attack them."
Rasmussen "stitched" one Japanese plane with machine gun fire, then pulled up, dodging another Japanese pilot intent on ramming him. Then a Japanese fighter found him.
"At that instant, all hell broke loose. My canopy was shot off. (wonder why pilots wear goggles?) I felt the plane shudder(as I) lost control and tumbled into the clouds below."
The planes hydraulic control lines had been severed, the tail wheel shot off, and "two 20mm cannon shells had buried themselves in the radio behind the pilot seat."
The radio had saved Rasmussen's life. (nice shooting by the Japanese pilot, eh?) Somehow he managed to regain control of his aircraft. Without rudder, brakes, or tail wheel, he made it back to Wheeler and landed safely.
"I shakily got out of my plane, walked over to my room and traded my pajamas for a flying suit, then returned to the flight line."
"A couple of days later, I checked my plane in the hanger and counted some 450 holes."
(I imagine those were both entry & exit holes?)

 

Nice story about the P-36. They get overlooked in their role in WWII. The French used them with some success also. I also read that the Phillipine Air Force scored a few victories flying in hand me down P-26 peashooters.

 

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.

 

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).

 

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.

 

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)

 

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".

 

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.

 

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

 

We have the same book Kai.

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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.