United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific
Campaign In the Marianas
by Philip A. Crowl
1959
. . . to Those Who Served
Contents
The Author
Part One: Introduction
Chapter 1: Background of Strategy
Prewar Origins of the Central Pacific Concept – War in the Pacific: First Year – Revival of the Central Pacific Concept – General MacArthur’s Strategy – Enter the Army Air Forces – Cairo Conference – Scheduling Operations – Acceleration of Operations – Washington Planning Conferences: February-March 1944
In History – The Japanese Invasion of Guam – Description of the Islands
Part Two: Saipan
Chapter 3: Planning the Invasion
Organization and Composition of the Attack Force – Tactical Planning – Training and Rehearsals – Loading and Embarkation – The Prospects Ahead: Intelligence of the Enemy
Prewar Japanese Activities in the Marianas – From Pearl Harbor to Invasion – Japanese Doctrine for Island Defense – Enemy Troop Strength and Dispositions on Saipan – Japanese Expectations
Softening the Target: Pre-D-Day Bombardment – D-Day Bombardment and Ship-to-Shore Movement – Breakdown of the Landing Plan – Expanding the Beachhead – Summary of the Situation at Nightfall
Chapter 6: Capture of Aslito Airfield
Counterattack: Night of 15-16 June – Consolidating the Beachhead: 16 June – Night of 16-17 June – Change of Plans – First Landings of the 27th Infantry Division – D Plus 2: 17 June – D Plus 3: 18 June – The Japanese Situation
Chapter 7: Supporting Arms and Operations
Battle of the Philippine Sea – Logistics – Post-landing Naval Gunfire Support – Close Air Support – Artillery
Chapter 8: The Capture of Nafutan Point
Action of 19 June – Action of 20 June – Action of 21 June – Change of Plan: Relief of the 165th Infantry on Nafutan Point – Action of 22 June – Stalemate on Nafutan: 23-24 June – Nafutan Secured: 25-28 June
Chapter 9: The Fight for Central Saipan – I
Preparations for the Drive to the North – 22 June: The Jump-off – 23 June: Into Death Valley – The First Night in Death Valley – 23 June: Marines on the Flanks – 24 June: Action of the 27th Division – 24 June: Action on the Flanks
Chapter 10: Smith Versus Smith
Relief of Major General Ralph C. Smith – Inter-service Controversy – Conclusions
Chapter 11: The Fight for Central Saipan – II
25 June – The Plight of the Japanese – 26 June – 27 June – Japanese Reactions – 28 June – 29 June – 30 June – Central Saipan: Sum-up
Chapter 12: The Capture of Northern Saipan
Drive to Tanapag – Change of Direction – 5 July – 6 July – 7 July – Final Victory
Part Three: Tinian
Chapter 13: American and Japanese Plans
Plan for the Invasion – The Enemy
Chapter 14: Invasion and Capture
Preliminary Bombardment – The Landings – Japanese Counterattack: 24-25 July – Capture of Northern Tinian – Drive to the South – Tinian Secured
Part Four: Guam
Chapter 15: Plans and Preparations
The Island – Plans for the Invasion – Change of Plans – 77th Infantry Division Training and Preparation – Loading and Embarkation – Preliminary Bombardment – Intelligence of the Enemy
Troops and Troop Dispositions – Supporting Weapons – Fortifications – Japanese Situation on the Eve of Battle
Chapter 17: The Fight for the Beachhead
W-Day Preliminary Bombardment – From Ship to Shore – The Northern Beaches – The Southern Beaches – Landing the 305th Infantry – Japanese Counterattack – Consolidating the Southern Beachhead: 22-24 July – Landing the Reserves – Consolidating the Northern Beachhead: 22-24 July – Initial Supply Over the Beaches
Chapter 18: The Assault Completed: 25-30 July
Preparations for the Assault on Orote: 25 July – The Fight in the North: 25 July – Japanese Counterattack: 25-26 July – The Capture of Orote – The Capture of Fonte and the Force Beachhead Line – Reconnaissance of Southern Guam
Chapter 19: Pursuit to the North
The Japanese Withdrawal – Drive to the O-2 Line: 31 July-1 August – Supply Problems – To Barrigada and the O-3 Line: 2-4 August – 77th Division: 3 August – 77th Division: 4 August – The Marines: 2-4 August
77th Division: 5-6 August – 3rd Marine Division: 5-6 August – Capture of Mount Santa Rosa: 7-8 August – The Marines: 7-8 August – The End on Guam
Part Five: Conclusion
Chapter XXI: Fruits of Victory
Appendices
Appendix A: Tactical Units of Northern Troops and Landing Force on Saipan
Appendix B: Pacific Ocean Area Unit of Fire for Ground Weapons
Appendix C: Japanese Order of Battle on Saipan
Appendix D: Troop List of the 77th Infantry Division for the Guam Operation
Appendix E: Order of Battle of III Amphibious Corps for the Guam Operation
List of Abbreviations
Glossary of Code Names
Basic Military Map Symbols
I. Saipan Island
II. 27th Division, 16-22 June 1944
III. Advance 5-6 July
IV. Tinian Island
V. Island of Guam
VI. Northern Beachhead, 21-25 July 1944
VII. Southern Beachhead, 21-25 July 1944
Inline Maps
1. Pacific Ocean Areas, 15 June 1944
2. Southern Marianas
3. Japanese Defense Sectors on Saipan
4. D Day on Saipan, 15 June 1944
5. Advance 16-18 June
6. Advance 19-22 June
7. Into Death Valley, 23-24 June 1944
8. 27th Division, 25 June 1944
9. 27th Division, 26-27 June 1944
10. 27th Division, 28-30 June 1944
11. Drive to Tanapag, 1-4 July 1944
12. 105th Infantry, Morning, 6 July 1944
13. 105th Infantry, Afternoon, 6 July 1944
14. Last Days of Battle on Saipan, 7-9 July 1944
15. Japanese Defense Sectors on Tinian
16. Capture of Tinian, 24 July-1 August 1944
17. Disposition of Japanese Troops on Guam, July 1944
18. Landings on Guam, 21 July 1944
19. Capture of Orote Peninsula, 25-29 July 1944
20. Securing the Force Beachhead Line, 26-29 July 1944
21. Reconnaissance of Southern Guam, 28 July-2 August 1944
22. Drive to O-2 Line, 31 July-1 August 1944
23. Approach to Barrigada, 2 August 1944
24. Advance to O-3 Line, 2-4 August 1944
25. Advance to O-4 Line, 5-6 August 1944
26. Advance 7-8 August and Capture of Mt. Santa Rosa
Tables
1. Estimated Strength of the Japanese Garrison on Tinian
2. Artillery on Guam
Charts
1. Task Organization for Major Commands for Attack on Saipan and Tinian
2. Task Organization for Major Commands for Attack on Guam
Illustrations
Top Naval Commanders in the Marianas Campaign – Vice Adm. Richmond Kelly Turner – Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith – Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith – Destruction at Charan Kanoa – Dummy Searchlight Platform on East Coast of Saipan – Japanese Type 96 25-mm. Machine Cannon – Amphibian Tractors in Line Abreast Formation – Congestion on 2nd Marine Division Beach – Early Wave on the Beach – Marines Digging Foxholes – D-Day Command Post – Narrow-Gauge Railroad Near Charan Kanoa – Soldiers Watch Destruction of a Pillbox – Reinforcements Moving Inland – 105th Infantrymen Wading in From the Reef – Aslito Field Becomes Conroy Field – Examining an Enemy Gun – Shore Parties Unloading Supplies on BLUE Beach 1 – Caterpillar Tractor Pulling Ammunition Pallets From an LCM – Pontoon Causeway and Barge in Charan Kanoa Harbor – North Central Saipan – Seaward Cliff Line, Nafutan Peninsula – 27th Division Troops at Cliff Edge, Nafutan Peninsula – Infantryman at the Base of Cliff, Nafutan Peninsula – Infantryman Milking an Island Goat – Skirmish Line – Americans Rescuing Baby From Nafutan Cave – Hill 500 – Marines on the Crest of Hill 500 – Japanese Type 93 13.2-mm. Machine Gun – Japanese Field of Fire – Mt. Tapotchau Dominating Death Valley – Tree Line in Death Valley – Driven to Concealment – Marines Emerging From Purple Heart Ridge Complex – Tank-Infantry Cooperation – In Hell’s Pocket Area – Inland of Garapan Harbor – Maj. Gen. Sanderford Jarman – Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith – Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, Jr. – Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith – Lower End of Death Valley – Bazooka Team Preparing to Fire – Maj. Gen. George W. Griner – Truck-Mounted Rocket Launchers Firing – Marines Dash Through Blazing Garapan – Infantrymen Observe Hill 767 – Troops Searching Out the Enemy – Harakiri Gulch – Waiting To Move Up – Marines Examining Destroyed Enemy Tank – Flame Thrower Blasting Paradise Valley Cave – Coastal Area, Northwest Tinian – Marianas Leaders Confer at Tinian – LVT With Ramp – 155-mm. Gun Firing at Tinian From Saipan – Invasion Craft – 4th Marines Wading Toward WHITE Beach 1 – Ushi Point Airfield – Open Terrain of Central Tinian – 155-mm. Howitzer Emplacement on Tinian – Cliff Line at Tip of Orote Peninsula – Orote Peninsula – Maj. Gen. Roy S. Geiger – Japanese Beach Obstacles at Guam – Japanese Open-Trench Beach Defenses at Agat – First Wave of Landing Craft Heads for Agat Beaches – Asan’s GREEN and BLUE Beaches – 3rd Marine Division Beachhead – Circling Landing Craft – 4th Marines Moves Inland Toward Mt. Alifan – Assembly Area of 305th Infantry on 22 July – Smoldering Japanese Tanks – Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce – Pontoon Barge With Crane – Troops in Bivouac – Japanese Airfield, the Prime Objective on Orote Peninsula – Marine Corps Officers – Antitank Crew – Men of Company B, 305th RCT – Forward Observers of the 77th Division – Artillery Column Moving Inland – Mt. Santa Rosa – Burning U.S. Medium Tanks – Lt. Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift – LSTs, LCIs, Small Boats – Harmon Field, Guam
Photographs are from Department of Defense files with the following exceptions: photographs on pages 37 and 38 from the personal files of Col. Robert C. Richardson, III; the photograph on page 418 from the Bishop Museum, Oahu, Hawaii; and that on page 444, by J. R. Eyerman – Life. (c) 1950 Time Inc.
United States Army in World War II
Stetson Conn, General Editor
Advisory Committee, (As of 15 March 1959)
Elmer Ellis, University of Missouri
Maj. Gen. Hugh M. Harris, U.S. Continental Army Command
Samuel Flagg Bemis, Yale University
Brig. Gen. Edgar C. Doleman, Army War College
Gordon A. Craig, Princeton University
Brig. Gen. Frederick R. Zierath, Command and General Staff College
Oron J. Hale, University of Virginia
Brig. Gen. Kenneth F. Zitzman, Industrial College of the Armed Forces
W. Stull Holt, University of Washington
Col. Vincent J. Esposito, United States Military Academy
T. Harry Williams, Louisiana State University
Office of the Chief of Military History
Col. Warren H. Hoover, Acting Chief
Stetson Conn, Chief Historian
Lt. Col. Joseph Rockis, Chief, Histories Division
Lt. Col. E. E. Steck, Chief, Publication Division
Joseph R. Friedman, Editor in Chief
Elliot Dunay, Chief, Cartographic Branch
Margaret E. Tackley, Chief, Photographic Branch