United States Army in World War II
The War in the Pacific

Campaign In the Marianas

Philip A. Crowl

 


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

Chief Historian Stetson Conn
Chief, Histories Division Lt. Col. Joseph Rockis
Chief, Publication Division Lt. Col. E. E. Steck
Editor in Chief Joseph R. Friedman
Chief, Cartographic Branch Elliot Dunay
Chief, Photographic Branch Margaret E. Tackley


. . . to Those Who Served


Contents

  Foreword vii
  The Author viii
  Preface

ix
PART ONE
Introduction
Chapter     Page
I. Background of Strategy 1
    Prewar Origins of the Central Pacific Concept 2
    War in the Pacific: First Year 4
    Revival of the Central Pacific Concept 6
    General MacArthur's Strategy 9
    Enter the Army Air Forces 11
    Cairo Conference 12
    Scheduling Operations 13
    Acceleration of Operations 14
    Washington Planning Conferences: February-March 1944 15
II. The Marianas 21
    In History 21
    The Japanese Invasion of Guam 22
    Description of the Islands 24
PART TWO
Saipan
III. Planning the Invasion 33
    Organization and Composition of the Attack Force 33
    Tactical Planning 39
    Training and Rehearsals 45
    Loading and Embarkation 47
    The Prospects Ahead: Intelligence of the Enemy 50
IV. The Enemy 53
    Prewar Japanese Activities in the Marianas 53
    From Pearl Harbor to Invasion 55
    Japanese Doctrine for Island Defense 62
    Enemy Troop Strength and Dispositions on Saipan 64
    Japanese Expectations 69
V. Invasion 71
    Softening the Target: Pre-D-Day Bombardment 71
    D-Day Bombardment and Ship-to-Shore Movement 78
    Breakdown of the Landing Plan 85
    Expanding the Beachhead 87
    Summary of the Situation at Nightfall 93
VI. Capture of Aslito Airfield 95
    Counterattack: Night of 15-16 June 95
    Consolidating the Beachhead: 16 June 96
    Night of 16-17 June 98
    Change of Plans 98
    First Landings of the 27th Infantry Division 99
    D Plus 2: 17 June 101
    D Plus 3: 18 June 111
    The Japanese Situation 116
VII. Supporting Arms and Operations 119
    Battle of the Philippine Sea 119
    Logistics 123
    Postlanding Naval Gunfire Support 129
    Close Air Support 131
    Artillery 133
VIII. The Capture of Nafutan Point 137
    Action of 19 June 138
    Action of 20 June 141
    Action of 21 June 144
    Change of Plan: Relief of the 165th Infantry on Nafutan Point 148
    Action of 22 June 150
    Stalemate on Nafutan: 23-24 June 151
    Nafutan Secured: 25-28 June 155
IX. The Fight for Central Saipan--I 163
    Preparations for the Drive to the North 163
    22 June: The Jump-off 167
    23 June: Into Death Valley 170
    The First Night in Death Valley 179
    23 June: Marines on the Flanks 180
    24 June: Action of the 27th Division 181
    24 June: Action on the Flanks 187
X. Smith Versus Smith 191
    Relief of Major General Ralph C. Smith 191
    Interservice Controversy 192
    Conclusions 197
XI. The Fight for Central Saipan--II 203
    25 June 203
    The Plight of the Japanese 211
    26 June 213
    27 June 216
    Japanese Reactions 221
    28 June 221
    29 June 227
    30 June 230
    Central Saipan: Sum-up 232
XII. The Capture of Northern Saipan 235
    Drive to Tanapag 235
    Change of Direction 244
    5 July 244
    6 July 247
    7 July 256
    Final Victory 262
PART THREE
Tinian
XIII. American and Japanese Plans 269
    Plan for the Invasion 271
    The Enemy 278
XIV. Invasion and Capture 285
    Preliminary Bombardment 285
    The Landings 288
    Japanese Counterattack: 24-25 July 293
    Capture of Northern Tinian 294
    Drive to the South 296
    Tinian Secured 301
PART FOUR
Guam
XV. Plans and Preparations 307
    The Island 307
    Plans for the Invasion 309
    Change of Plans 314
    77th Infantry Division Training and Preparation 315
    Loading and Embarkation 318
    Preliminary Bombardment 320
    Intelligence of the Enemy 326
XVI. The Enemy 329
    Troops and Troop Dispositions 329
    Supporting Weapons 333
    Fortifications 334
    Japanese Situation on the Eve of Battle 335
XVII. The Fight for the Beachhead 339
    W-Day Preliminary Bombardment 339
    From Ship to Shore 342
    The Northern Beaches 343
    The Southern Beaches 344
    Landing the 305th Infantry 345
    Japanese Counterattack 347
    Consolidating the Southern Beachhead: 22-24 July 348
    Landing the Reserves 354
    Consolidating the Northern Beachhead: 22-24 July 356
    Initial Supply Over the Beaches 357
XVIII. The Assault Completed: 25-30 July 361
    Preparations for the Assault on Orote: 25 July 362
    The Fight in the North: 25 July 363
    Japanese Counterattack: 25-26 July 364
    The Capture of Orote 367
    The Capture of Fonte and the Force Beachhead Line 371
    Reconnaissance of Southern Guam 374
XIX. Pursuit to the North 377
    The Japanese Withdrawal 377
    Drive to the O-2 Line: 31 July-1 August 378
    Supply Problems 383
    To Barrigada and the O-3 Line: 2-4 August 386
    77th Division: 3 August 398
    77th Division: 4 August 402
    The Marines: 2-4 August 407
XX. Guam Secured 409
    77th Division: 5-6 August 409
    3d Marine Division: 5-6 August 417
    Capture of Mount Santa Rosa: 7-8 August 417
    The Marines: 7-8 August 434
    The End on Guam 436
PART FIVE
Conclusion
XXI. Fruits of Victory 441
 
APPENDICES
A. Tactical Units of Northern Troops and Landing Force on Saipan 449
B. Pacific Ocean Area Unit of Fire for Ground Weapons 452
C. Japanese Order of Battle on Saipan 453
D. Troop List of the 77th Infantry Division for the Guam Operation 455
E. Order of Battle of III Amphibious Corps (less 77th Infantry Division) for the Guam Operation 456
 
Bibliographical Note 459
List of Abbreviations  
Glossary of Code Names  
Basic Military Map Symbols  
Index 475
 
Tables
 
1. Estimated Strength of the Japanese Garrison on Tinian 279
2. Artillery on Guam 333
 
MAPS
 
1. Pacific Ocean Areas, 15 June 1944 5
2. Southern Marianas 25
3. Japanese Defense Sectors on Saipan 66
4. D Day on Saipan, 15 June 1944 82
5. Advance 16-18 June 107
6. Advance 19-22 June 162
7. Into Death Valley, 23-24 June 1944 171
8. 27th Division, 25 June 1944 202
9. 27th Division, 26-27 June 1944 219
10. 27th Division, 28-30 June 1944 223
11. Drive to Tanapag, 1-4 July 1944 236
12. 105th Infantry, Morning, 6 July 1944 249
13. 105th Infantry, Afternoon, 6 July 1944 255
14. Last Days of Battle on Saipan, 7-9 July 1944 262
15. Japanese Defense Sectors on Tinian 281
16. Capture of Tinian, 24 July-1 August 1944 290
17. Disposition of Japanese Troops on Guam, July 1944 330
18. Landings on Guam, 21 July 1944 338
19. Capture of Orote Peninsula, 25-29 July 1944 367
20. Securing the Force Beachhead Line, 26-29 July 1944 372
21. Reconnaissance of Southern Guam, 28 July-2 August 1944 375
22. Drive to O-2 Line, 31 July-1 August 1944 379
23. Approach to Barrigada, 2 August 1944 389
24. Advance to O-3 Line, 2-4 August 1944 399
25. Advance to O-4 Line, 5-6 August 1944 410
26. Advance 7-8 August and Capture of Mt. Santa Rosa 420
  Maps I-VII are in inverse order inside back cover  
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
 
  ILLUSTRATIONS  
Top Naval Commanders in the Marianas Campaign 36
Vice Adm. Richmond Kelly Turner 37
Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith 38
Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith 39
Destruction at Charan Kanoa 75
Dummy Searchlight Platform on East Coast of Saipan 77
Japanese Type 96 25-mm. Machine Cannon 78
Amphibian Tractors in Line Abreast Formation 81
Congestion on 2d Marine Division Beach 84
Early Wave on the Beach 88
Marines Digging Foxholes 90
D-Day Command Post 91
Narrow-Gauge Railroad Near Charan Kanoa 102
Soldiers Watch Destruction of a Pillbox 103
Reinforcements Moving Inland 104
105th Infantrymen Wading in From the Reef 108
Aslito Field Becomes Conroy Field 113
Examining an Enemy Gun 115
Shore Parties Unloading Supplies on BLUE Beach 1 125
Caterpillar Tractor Pulling Ammunition Pallets From an LCM 126
Pontoon Causeway and Barge in Charan Kanoa Harbor 127
North Central Saipan 134
Seaward Cliff Line, Nafutan Peninsula 138
27th Division Troops at Cliff Edge, Nafutan Peninsula 140
Infantryman at the Base of Cliff, Nafutan Peninsula 141
Infantryman Milking an Island Goat 145
Skirmish Line 156
Americans Rescuing Baby From Nafutan Cave 158
Hill 500 164
Marines on the Crest of Hill 500 165
Japanese Type 93 13.2-mm. Machine Gun 166
Japanese Field of Fire 167
Mt. Tapotchau Dominating Death Valley 174
Tree Line in Death Valley 175
Driven to Concealment 176
Marines Emerging From Purple Heart Ridge Complex 180
Tank-Infantry Co-operation 185
In Hell's Pocket Area 189
Inland of Garapan Harbor 190
Maj. Gen. Sanderford Jarman 193
Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith 194
Lt. Gen. Robert C. Richardson, Jr. 195
Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith 197
Lower End of Death Valley 208
Bazooka Team Preparing to Fire 214
Maj. Gen. George W. Griner 225
Truck-Mounted Rocket Launchers Firing 229
Marines Dash Through Blazing Garapan 239
Infantrymen Observe Hill 767 240
Troops Searching Out the Enemy 243
Harakiri Gulch 246
Waiting To Move Up 252
Marines Examining Destroyed Enemy Tank 260
Flame Thrower Blasting Paradise Valley Cave 263
Coastal Area, Northwest Tinian 270
Marianas Leaders Confer at Tinian 273
LVT With Ramp 276
155-mm. Gun Firing at Tinian From Saipan 287
Invasion Craft 292
4th Marines Wading Toward WHITE Beach 1 293
Ushi Point Airfield 296
Open Terrain of Central Tinian 297
155-mm. Howitzer Emplacement on Tinian 298
Cliff Line at Tip of Orote Peninsula 308
Orote Peninsula 309
Maj. Gen. Roy S. Geiger 311
Japanese Beach Obstacles at Guam 336
Japanese Open-Trench Beach Defenses at Agat 337
First Wave of Landing Craft Heads for Agat Beaches 340
Asan's GREEN and BLUE Beaches 341
3d Marine Division Beachhead 343
Circling Landing Craft 346
4th Marines Moves Inland Toward Mt. Alifan 350
Assembly Area of 305th Infantry on 22 July 351
Smouldering Japanese Tanks 353
Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce 354
Pontoon Barge With Crane 358
Troops in Bivouac 362
Japanese Airfield, the Prime Objective on Orote Peninsula 366
Marine Corps Officers 370
Antitank Crew 373
Men of Company B, 305th RCT 381
Forward Observers of the 77th Division 383
Artillery Column Moving Inland 385
Mt. Santa Rosa 418
Burning U.S. Medium Tanks 426
Lt. Gen. Alexander A. Vandegrift 435
LST's, LCI's, Small Boats 442
Harmon Field, Guam 444
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.



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