United States Army in World War II: The War in the Pacific
Okinawa: The Last Battle
by Roy E. Appleman, James M. Burns, Russell A. Gugeler, and John Stevens
1947
. . . to Those Who Served
Table of Contents
The Strategic Decision – Nature of the Target – The Plan of Attack – Mounting the Attack
Chapter 2: Invasion of the Ryukyus
Preliminary Neutralization of Enemy Strength – Seizure of the Kerama Islands – Softening Up the Target
Chapter 3: Winning the Okinawa Beachhead
The Landing – Moving Inland – Organizing the Beachhead
Chapter 4: Where is the Enemy?
The Japanese Forces – The Japanese Plan of Defense – Enemy Counterattack by Air and Sea
Chapter 5: Coming to Grips with the Enemy
Through the Outposts, 4–8 April – Assaulting the Shuri Defenses, 9–12 April – The Enemy Takes the Offensive
Chapter 6: The Conquest of Northern Okinawa
Drive up the Ishikawa Isthmus, 4–7 April – Probing the Motobu Defenses, 7–13 April – Closing In on Yae-Take, 14–15 April – Conquest of Motobu Peninsula, 16–18 April
Chapter 7: The Capture of Ie Shima
Plans and Preparations of the Enemy – American Plans and Preparations – Invasion of Ie Shima, 16–17 April – Stalemate at Bloody Ridge, 18-19 April – Capture of Iegusugu, 20-21 April – Last Phase
Chapter 8: The Attack of 19 April on the Shuri Defenses
Plans and Preparations – Preliminary Attack of the 27th Division, 18 April – The General Attack
Chapter 9: Fall of the First Shuri Defense Ring
ITEM Pocket – Assaulting the Outer Shuri Defense Ring
Chapter 10: Tactics and Tactical Decisions
Tactics and Weapons on Okinawa – Tactical Decisions
Chapter 11: Assaulting the Second Shuri Defense Ring
Stalemate on the West Coast – The 7th Division at Kochi Ridge – The Maeda Escarpment Barrier
Chapter 12: The Japanese Counteroffensive and its Aftermath
Planning the Offensive – The Offensive Under Way – Japanese Penetration to Tanabaru, 5 May – The Americans Resume Offensive
Chapter 13: The May Attack on the Shuri Defenses
The Attack in the West – The Attack in the Center – Opening the East Coast Corridor
Chapter 14: Battle In the Rain
Enemy Air Attacks – Stalemate in the Center – The 6th Marine Division Occupies Naha – The 7th Division Bids for Envelopment
Exodus From Shuri – American Occupation of Shuri
Supply Operations – Hospitalization and Evacuation – Military Government – Base Development
Chapter 17: The Enemy’s Last Stand
The Push South to the Yaeju-Dake–Yuza-Dake Barrier – The Capture of Oroku Peninsula – Assaulting the Last Defense Line
End of Organized Resistance – Surrender and Suicide – Final Mop-up – Victory: Cost and Value
Appendix A: Major Tactical Units of Tenth Army in the Ryukyus Campaign
Appendix B: Japanese 32nd Army Units in the Ryukyus Campaign
Appendix C: Statistics of the Ryukyus Campaign
I. Strategic Situation in the Pacific
II. Island of Okinawa
III. Southern Okinawa
IV. Kerama Islands: 77th Division, 26–29 March 1945
V. Tenth Army Advance, 1–3 April 1945
VI. Japanese Defensive Positions, 1 April 1945
VII. Through the Outposts: XXIV Corps, 4–8 April 1945
VIII. The Pinnacle: 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, 6 April 1945
IX. Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 9 April 1945
X. Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 10 April 1945
XI. XXIV Corps Advance, 9–12 April 1945
XII. Japanese Plan of Attack, 12 April 1945
XIII. Japanese Attack, 12–14 April 1945
XIV. Yae-Take: 6th Marine Division, 8–20 April 1945
XV. Landings on Ie Shima: 77th Division, 16 April 1945
XVI. Ie Shima, 18 April 1945
XVII. Ie Shima, 19 April 1945
XVIII. Ie Shima, 20–21 April 1945
XIX. XXIV Corps Attack, 19 April 1945
XX. Fire Plan of 272nd Independent Infantry Battalion: Kakazu Area, 19 April 1945
XXI. Item Pocket: 165th Infantry, 20 April 1945
XXII. Item Pocket, 21 April 1945
XXIII. Item Pocket, 22–25 April 1945
XXIV. Skyline Ridge: 7th Division, 19 April 1945
XXV. Skyline Ridge: 32nd Infantry, 21 April 1945
XXVI. 96th Division, 20–24 April 1945
XXVII. Fight for the Pinnacles, 20 April 1945
XXVIII. Through the Outer Shuri Defenses, 19–24 April 1945
XXIX. Stalemate at Kochi: 7th Division, 25 April–3 May 1945
XXX. Maeda Escarpment, 25–29 April 1945
XXXI. Attack on Shuri Defenses, 25 April–3 May 1945
XXXII. Japanese Plan of Attack, 4 May 1945
XXXIII. Japanese Attack, 4–5 May 1945
XXXIV. American Advance, 3–10 May 1945
XXXV. Tenth Army Advance, 11–21 May 1945
XXXVI. Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 14–15 May 1945
XXXVII. Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 16–17 May 1945
XXXVIII. Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 18 May 1945
XXXIX. Flattop and Dick Hills, 11–12 May 1945
XL. Flattop and Dick Hills, 13–14 May 1945
XLI. Flattop and Dick Hills, 15 May 1945
XLII. Conical Hill, 11–16 May 1945
XLIII. Conical Hill, 17–21 May 1945
XLIV. Closing in on Shuri, 22–29 May 1945
XLV. Fall of Shuri, 30–31 May 1945
XLVI. The Push South, 1–3 June 1945
XLVII. Oroku and Yaeju-Dake, 4–11 June 1945
XLVIII. Breaching Yaeju-Dake, 12–17 June 1945
XLIX. End of Organized Resistance, 18–21 June 1945
Tables
1: Strength of Army, Marine, and Naval Forces of Tenth Army in the Ryukyus Campaign, 30 April–30 June 1945
2: Comparative American and Enemy Major Losses in the Ryukyus Campaign, 1 April–30 June 1945
3: Casualties Sustained by Tenth Army, 1 April–30 June 1945
4: Troops and Supplies Loaded for the Initial Assault on the Ryukyus
5: Personnel and Supplies Loaded for Assault and for First Echelon Garrison in the Ryukyus Campaign, by Point of Embarkation
6: Comparison of Estimated Capacities for Unloading at Okinawa Beaches and Quantities Actually Unloaded, 1 April–30 June 1945
7: Cargo Unloaded at Okinawa Beaches, 1 April–30 June 1945
8: Ammunition Expended by Tenth Army Field Artillery, 1 April–30 June 1945
9: Ammunition Expended by the U.S. Navy in the Ryukyus Campaign, March–June 1945
10: Ammunition Expended by XXIV Corps, by Type of Weapon, 4 April–21 June 1945
Charts
I: Organization of Allied Forces for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945
II: Organization of Central Pacific Task Forces for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945
III: Organization of Expeditionary Troops for the Ryukyus Campaign, January 1945
IV: XXIV Corps Assignment of Shipping for the Assault on Okinawa
V: Organization of the Japanese 62nd Division in Okinawa
1: Tenth Army Weekly Battle Casualties, 1 April–30 June 1945
2: Comparison of Estimated Capacities for Unloading at Okinawa Beaches and Quantities Actually Unloaded, 1 April–20 June 1945
3: Average Daily Volume of Supplies Unloaded in the Ryukyus, 1 April–16 May 1945
4: Ammunition Expended by Tenth Army Field Artillery, 1 April–30 June 1945
Maps
1: Strategic Situation in the Pacific
2: Ryukyu Islands
3: Okinawa Island Group
4: Island of Okinawa
5: Southern Okinawa
6: The Plan of Attack
7: Kerama Islands: 77th Division, 26–29 March 1945
8: Tenth Army Advance, 1–3 April 1945
9: Japanese Defensive Positions, 1 April 1945
10: Through the Outposts: XXIV Corps, 4–8 April 1945
11: The Pinnacle: 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, 6 April 1945
12: Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 9 April 1945
13: Kakazu Ridge: Attack of 10 April 1945
14: XXIV Corps Advance, 9–12 April 1945
15: Japanese Plan of Attack, 12 April 1945
16: Japanese Attack, 12–14 April 1945
17: Advance in the North: 6th Marine Division, 4–8 April 1945
18: Yae-Take: 6th Marine Division, 8–20 April 1945
19: Landings on Ie Shima: 77th Division, 16 April 1945
20: Ie Shima, 18 April 1945
21: Is Shima, 19 April 1945
22: Ie Shima, 20–21 April 1945
23: XXIV Corps Attack, 19 April 1945
24: Fire Plan of 272nd Independent Infantry Battalion: Kakazu Area, 19 April 1945
25: Item Pocket: 165th Infantry, 20 April 1945
26: Item Pocket, 21 April 1945
27: Item Pocket, 22–25 April 1945
28: Skyline Ridge: 7th Division, 19 April 1945
29: Skyline Ridge: 32nd infantry, 21 April 1945
30: 96th Division, 20–24 April 1945
31: Fight for the Pinnacles, 20 April 1945
32: Kakazu Pocket, 21 April 1945
33: Through the Outer Shuri Defenses, 19–24 April 1945
34: Stalemate at Kochi: 7th Division, 25 April–3 May 1945
35: Maeda Escarpment, 25–29 April 1945
36: Attack on Shuri Defenses, 25 April–3 May 1945
37: Japanese Plan of Attack, 4 May 1945
38: Japanese Attack, 4–5 May 1945
39: American Advance, 3–10 May 1945
40: Tenth Army Advance, 11–21 May 1945
41: Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 14–15 May 1945
42: Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division; 16–17 May 1945
43: Sugar Loaf Hill: 6th Marine Division, 18 May 1945
44: Flattop and Dick Hills, 11–12 May 1945
45: Flattop and Dick Hills, 13–14 May 1945
46: Flattop and Dick Hills, 15 May 1945
47: Conical Hill, 11–16 May 1945
48: Conical Hill, 17–21 May 1945
49: Closing In on Shuri, 30–31 May 1945
50: Fall of Shuri, 30–31 May 1945
51: The Push South, 1–3 June 1945
52: Oroku and Yaeju-Dake, 4–11 June 1945
53: Breaching Yaeju-Dake, 12–17 June 1945
54: End of Organized Resistance, 18–21 June 1945
Illustrations
Relief Map of the Philippine Islands – Okinawans and Okinawan Customs – Okinawa’s Landscape – Village on Okinawa – American Commanders – Loading Supplies for Okinawa – Preliminary Bombardment – Japanese Kamikaze Attacks – Terrain in the Kerama Retto – Landings in the Keramas – “Suicide Boats” – Softening Up the Target – Bombarding the Beaches – The Landings – Moving Inland – Supplying and Developing the Beachhead – Japanese Commanders – Japanese Weapons – Kamikaze Attacks – Sinking of the Yamato – XXIV Corps Turns South – East Coast Battles – Kakazu West – Kakazu Gorge – Tombstone Ridge Area – Saddle Between Kakazu West and Kakazu Ridge – Fire Bombing – Pushing to Yae-Take – Ie Shima – Rockets Over Ie Shima – Invasion of Ie Shima – Fighting Toward Ie – Death of Ernie Pyle – Ie and the Southern Beaches – Typical Defense System – Attack on Bloody Ridge – Government House Hill – Strategic Area of Southern Okinawa – Ouki Hill–Skyline Area and Machinato Inlet – Opening Action, 19 April – Battle for Tombstone Ridge – Death of a Tank – West End of Urasoe–Mura Escarpment – Item Pocket Area – Heart of Item Pocket – Skyline Ridge – Rocky Crags – Nishibaru Escarpment Area – The Pinnacles – Urasoe–Mura Escarpment – Kakazu Village and Kakazu Pocket – Japanese Fortifications – Naval Fire and Air Support – Blowtorch and Corkscrew – Southern Coast Line – Asa River Area – Kochi Area – Maeda Escarpment and Tank-Infantry Attacks – Maeda Escarpment Strong Points – Japanese Sea and Air Attack – Japanese Position at Tanabaru Escarpment, 4–7 May – Japanese Land Offensive – Tanabaru Escarpment – Attacks on Hill 60 – American Advance Down the Center – West Flank Zone – Sugar Loaf and Horseshoe Hills – Fighting at Sugar Loaf and Crescent Hills – Dakeshi Ridge – Reverse Slope of Wana Ridge – Ishimmi Ridge – Chocolate Drop Hill – Dick Hills and Flattop – Advance Around Dick Hills and Flattop – Conical Hill and East Coast Flatlands – Japanese Air Raids on Okinawa – Wana Draw – Mud and Flood – “Three Sisters” and Oboe – Crossing the Asato River and Entering Naha – East Coast Corridor and Yonabaru–Naha Valley – Casualties – Secret Retreat – Shuri Heights – Shuri – Shuri Castle Bell – Supply and Communications Installations – Moving Supplies – Movement of Wounded – Military Government – Development of Airfield and Rehabilitation of Port – Mud and Supply – Advancing to Yaeju-Dake – Last Point of Resistance – Base of Oroku Peninsula – Yaeju-Dake and Hill 95 – Flame Through a Hose – Night Attack on Yaeju-Dake – Yuza Peak and Kunishi Ridge – Fighting Toward Hill 89 – Lt Gen Simon B Buckner – Overcoming the Last Resistance – Surrender – Last Japanese Command Post – Raising the American Flag
All pictures in this volume are from Department of Defense files.