vstars Chapter 499
Chapter 499
No need to watch it, I will make up for it tonight! ! ! ! ! !
strategic location
Iwo Jima is strategically important. It is located in the Ogasawara Islands, about 1200 kilometers from Tokyo, and is located halfway between the Mariana Islands and Tokyo. If the US B-29 bombers want to bomb Tokyo, they can take off from Iwo Jima, which can reduce the bomber's range by half, double the bomb load, and increase fighter escort, thus improving the effectiveness of air strikes on the Japanese mainland. [10] In order to launch a general offensive against Japan, the US military must capture Iwo Jima. And for the safety of Tokyo, the Japanese army must also defend Iwo Jima. [8]
Panoramic view of Iwo Jima taken from the northeast in 1940
After the US recapture of the Marshall Islands in February 1944 and the devastating air strikes on Truk in the Caroline Islands in January 1944, the Japanese Imperial Headquarters began to reassess the situation. To counter the US offensive, the Japanese established a circular defensive perimeter, the "Absolute Defense Periphery." The perimeter stretched from the Caroline Islands to the Mariana Islands in a north-south direction. Further north of the two islands lay Iwo Jima, followed by the Japanese mainland. In March 1944, the Japanese 31st Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Obata Hideyoshi, moved into this perimeter. In August 1944, the US recaptured Guam and, on December 20 of the same year, landed on Leyte Island in the Philippines. In the ensuing Battle of Leyte Gulf, the US forces essentially destroyed the main force of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Consequently, the US military canceled its original plan to land on Luzon or Taiwan in late February or early March 1945, instead planning to seize Iwo Jima and then directly attack Okinawa and the Japanese mainland.
After the fall of the Marshall Islands, the Japanese reinforced their forces on Iwo Jima, bringing the total to 5000 men, 13 artillery pieces, 200 light and heavy machine guns, 4552 rifles, 12 anti-aircraft guns, 30 25mm twin-mounted anti-aircraft machine guns, and 120mm artillery pieces. Iwo Jima and the Ogasawara Islands became the last line of defense against US air raids on the Japanese mainland, as Japan had already lost control of both the sea and the air.
In June 1944, there were 80 fighter planes stationed on Iwo Jima, but by July 1944, only four remained. The US Navy came within visual range of Iwo Jima and launched a comprehensive bombing raid, destroying all buildings and the only four remaining aircraft. However, the US military did not launch an attack on Iwo Jima, which had lost its naval and air support, and Japan was left with only ground forces. [1-2]
The US lost 6821 soldiers killed in action. The Japanese lost 23,786 soldiers, 1,083 captured, and 22,703 killed in action.
After the US victory, the island was built into an airport for fighter planes and bombers to take off and land.
US military victory
The US military originally planned to capture Iwo Jima in five days, but it ended up taking a full month of hard fighting. On March 26, the US military announced the capture of Iwo Jima, but the day before, on the 25th, the Japanese troops who had been hiding came out of their caves to launch a final attack. As a result, except for 200 people who were captured, all the Japanese troops on the island were killed. In this battle, the casualties of the attacking forces exceeded those of the defending forces: 19000 US Army and Navy soldiers were wounded and about 7000 were killed. In addition, the giant aircraft carrier USS Saratoga was seriously damaged, and the escort aircraft carrier USS Bismarck Sea was sunk. [5]
On March 16, 1945, the U.S. military announced the capture of Iwo Jima. On March 21, 1945, the Imperial Japanese Army issued a report on the utter annihilation of the Japanese forces on Iwo Jima: "The battle had reached its final moment. At midnight on the 17th, the Supreme Commander, with the conviction of victory and the blessing of the Imperial Nation's safety, led the entire army to charge the enemy. Afterwards, there was no further news. The heroic act of the Iwo Jima garrison's utter annihilation will surely serve as a model for 100 million people." (戦局ツヒニ) On March 24, 1945, the U.S. military officially declared the Battle of Iwo Jima over. This marked the final victory for the U.S. military.
Inspired by the flag raised by the 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division, all the American soldiers on Iwo Jima were greatly encouraged and fought bravely, winning the Battle of Iwo Jima. This photo was a huge success and became a symbol of the American nation. Joe Rosenthal became famous overnight. In Washington Square, the capital of the United States, there is a giant statue of six Marines struggling to raise an American flag. This statue was also created based on this famous photo. [6]
Casualties on both sides
In the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Japanese garrison suffered 22,703 casualties and 1,083 captured, for a total of 23,786. Other losses included over 90 aircraft and three submarines.
美军从1945年2月19日至1945年3月26日，阵亡6821人（其中陆战队阵亡5324人），伤21865人，伤亡共计28686人。
The casualty ratio between the US and Japan was 1.23:1
Casualty Assessment
The US landing force suffered 30% casualties, with the 3rd Marine Division suffering 60% casualties, and the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions suffering a whopping 75% casualties. The 5th Amphibious Corps was virtually depleted of its combat effectiveness. The Marine Corps suffered unprecedented casualties in this battle. After the war, Nimitz highly praised the Marines who participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima: "Extraordinary bravery was a common characteristic of the Americans who fought on Iwo Jima."
Another US escort aircraft carrier was sunk, and one aircraft carrier, landing troop transport ship, fast transport ship, medium landing ship, minesweeper, transport ship and two tank landing ships were damaged.
The US military suffered more casualties than the Japanese in capturing Iwo Jima, a rare occurrence in the Pacific War. Deprived of naval and air support and without reinforcements and supplies, the Japanese, relying on their strong and well-concealed ground fortifications and employing sound tactics, put up a tenacious resistance. The US originally planned to capture the tiny island in five days but ended up taking a full thirty-six days, resulting in heavy casualties. The US military's shining point in this operation was its effective naval artillery support, which fired over 30 rounds of various calibers, totaling 1.4 tons, achieving significant results and effectively supporting the landing forces.
But the US military's enormous sacrifice quickly paid off. After the US landings, engineering troops rushed to the island to repair and expand the airfield. By April 20, 1945, 7600 engineers had arrived. They had expanded runway No. 1 to 3000 meters and runway No. 2 to 2100 meters. Not only did they accommodate fighter units, but the island also served as an emergency landing area for US B-29 bombers. With the arrival of US fighter units on Iwo Jima, their combat radius extended to the Japanese mainland, effectively providing cover for strategic bombing raids against the Japanese mainland. This intensified the frequency and intensity of the bombing campaign, more than doubling its effectiveness and significantly accelerating Japan's collapse. By the end of the war, 24,000 damaged or fuel-depleted B-29s had made emergency landings at the emergency landing area on Iwo Jima, saving the lives of 27,000 aircrew members.