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Iwo jima

Iwo jima. FEBRUARY – MARCH, 1945. BACKGROUND. IWO JIMA : LOCATION: 750 mi. SOUTH OF TOKYO CONSIDERED ONE OF JAPAN’S “HOME ISLANDS” (define) USED BY JAPANESE AS PART OF “INNER” DEFENSE LINE (unlike Tarawa, Guadalcanal, etc.) OCCUPIED & FORITFIED BY JAPANESE MILITARY SINCE 1930’s

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Iwo jima

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  1. Iwo jima FEBRUARY – MARCH, 1945

  2. BACKGROUND • IWO JIMA: • LOCATION: 750 mi. SOUTH OF TOKYO • CONSIDERED ONE OF JAPAN’S “HOME ISLANDS” (define) • USED BY JAPANESE AS PART OF “INNER” DEFENSE LINE (unlike Tarawa, Guadalcanal, etc.) • OCCUPIED & FORITFIED BY JAPANESE MILITARY SINCE 1930’s • AFTER THE BATTLE OF THE PHILIPPINE SEA(1944): • JAPAN REALIZES IWO JIMA GARRISON MUST BE STRENGTHENED • BECAUSE…A U.S. ATTACK ON HOME ISLANDS IS IMMINENT (define) • SO… • MORE TROOPS SENT • MORE EQUIPMENT SENT • FORTIFICATIONS STRENGTHENED • RESULT? • JAPANESE TROOP STRENGTH (2/45) = 22,800 (approx.) • MASSIVE UNDERGROUND TUNNEL/BUNKER NETWORK • JAPANESE DEFENSES: MIXTURE OF… • HEAVY ARTILLERY • LIGHT WEAPONS • MORTARS • CONCEALED BUNKERS / “MURDER HOLES”

  3. BACKGROUND (cont’d.) • LATE ‘44/EARLY ‘45: • U.S. MILITARY INCREASES AERIAL BOMBING CAMPAIGN ON HOME ISLANDS • U.S. NEEDS TO CONTROL IWO JIMA (& other islands – ex. OKINAWA) • WHY? • IWO HAS LARGE AIRFIELD COMPLEX • AIRSTRIPS WOULD PROVIDE… • BASE FOR U.S. BOMBERS TARGETING JAPAN • SHORTEN AERIAL DISTANCE TO JAPAN • PROVIDE EMERGENCY LANDING STRIPS FOR DAMAGED U.S. AIRCRAFT • BASE FOR LONG-RANGE FIGHTER ESCORTS • JAPANESE WERE USING ISLAND FOR AERIAL ATTACKS ON U.S. FLEET • ISLAND WOULD BE USED AS A NAVAL / AIR / SUPPLY BASE FOR INVASION OF JAPAN

  4. IWO JIMA STRATEGIC MAP

  5. IWO JIMA, PRESENT-DAY

  6. JAPANESE & U.S.UNIT DISPERSAL, IWO JIMA, FEB. 19, 1945

  7. IWO JIMA:JAPANESE TUNNEL & BUNKER PLAN

  8. ORDER OF BATTLE • IJA / IJN FORCES: 23,000 (approx.) • IWO GARRISON HAS NO NAVAL SUPPORT • VERY LITTLE / IRRELEVANT AIR FORCE • U.S. • 70,000 – MOSTLY USMC & USN LANDING FORCES • U.S. HAS COMPLETE AIR & NAVAL SUPERIORITY • JAPANESE STRATEGY: • HOLD FIRE UNTIL SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS OF U.S. FORCES HAVE LANDED • INFLICT AS MANY CASUALTIES AS POSSIBLE • NO RELIEF FROM MAINLAND EXPECTED • NO SURRENDER

  9. U.S. ASSAULT PLAN, IWO JIMA, FEBRUARY, 1945

  10. LT. GENERAL TADAMICHI KURIBAYASHI, IJACOMMANDING OFFICER, JAPANESE FORCES, IWO JIMA, FEB. – MARCH, 1945

  11. IJA OFFICER AND SOLDIER WITH STANDARD COMBAT GEAR, WWII

  12. U.S. ASSAULT CRAFT APPROACH IWO JIMA, FEB. 19, 1945

  13. MARINES ADVANCE OFF “RED BEACH” UNDER FIRE, FEB. 19, 1945

  14. MARINES UNDER FIRE, RED BEACH, FEB. 19, 1945

  15. MARINE KIAs, IWO JIMA

  16. USMC ADVANCE, IWO JIMA, FEB.19 – MARCH 11, 1945

  17. THE BATTLE • BATTLE LASTS OVER 1 MONTH: • FEBRUARY 19 - MARCH 26, 1945 • FEW JAPANESE REMAIN AFTER MARCH 11th • Mt. SURIBACHI – TAKEN ON FEB. 23-24TH • MADE FAMOUS FOR “FLAG RAISING” • FIGHTING: BATTLE DOESN’T HAVE SOME OF THE CHARACTERISTICS TYPICAL OF PACIFIC FIGHTING • EX. – FEW, IF ANY, ORGANIZED BANZAI CHARGES BY JAPANESE • JAPANESE OFTEN USE SMALL UNIT NIGHT ATTACKS • SMALL ARMS (rifles, etc.) INEFFECTIVE AGAINST JAPANESE BUNKERS/TUNNELS • USMC USES FLAMETHROWERS, EXPLOSIVES, GRENADES, ETC. EXTENSIVELY • AIRSTRIP(s) ARE USED BEFORE BATTLE IS OVER (unlike Tarawa) • FEW PRISONERS (ON EITHER SIDE) TAKEN

  18. USMC ARTILLERYFIRE ON MT. SURIBACHI

  19. USMC SHERMAN TANK W/FLAMETHROWER ATTACKING IJA POSITION

  20. USMC INFANTRY ATTACKING IJA BUNKER

  21. MARINES TAKE ORIGINAL FLAG UP MT. SURIBACHI

  22. THE ORIGINAL FLAG RAISING ON MT. SURIBACHI

  23. THE ORIGINAL FLAG RAISING ON MT. SURIBACHI

  24. ORIGINAL FLAG BEING REPLACED BY THE SECOND FLAG (right)MARINES POSE WITH THE SECOND FLAG (below)

  25. USMC “K-9” PATROL ON IWO JIMA

  26. MARINE “K-9” PATROL MEMBERS IN FOXHOLE, IWO JIMA

  27. MARINE KIA, IWO JIMA, 1945

  28. MARINE WITH FLAMETHROWER,IWO JIMA, 1945

  29. USMC INFANTRY, IWO JIMA, 1945

  30. FINAL RESULTS • CASUALTIES: • IJA / IJN: • KIA/MIA: 22, 500 (APPROX.) • POW: 216 (APPROX.) • USMC / USN: • KIA: 6,812 • WIA: 19, 217 • IWO AIRSTRIPS ARE NOW OPEN FOR AERIAL SUPPORT • AERIAL BOMBING CAMPAIGN vs. JAPAN IS ACCELERATED • IWO IS ALSO USED FOR SUPPLY BASE & EMERGENCY LANDINGS

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