Table of Contents
I Operation Iceberg 1
The Strategic Decision 1
Nature of the Target 7
The Plan of Attack 17
Mounting the Attack 36
II Invasion of the Ryukyus 44
Preliminary Neutralization of Enemy Strength 44
Seizure of the Kerama Islands 51
Softening Up the Target 63
III Winning the Okinawa Beachhead 68
The Landing 69
Moving Inland 74
Organizing the Beachhead 79
IV Where is the Enemy? 84
The Japanese Forces 84
The Japanese Plan of Defense 92
Enemy Counterattacks by Air and Sea 96
V Coming to Grips with the Enemy 103
Through the Outposts, 4-8 April 104
Assaulting the Shuri Defenses, 9-12 April 113
The Enemy Takes the Offensive 130
VI The Conquest of Northern Okinawa 138
Drive up the Ishikawa Isthmus, 4-7 April 138
Probing the Motobu Defenses, 7-13 April 141
Closing In on Yae-Take, 14-15 April 144
Conquest of Motobu Peninsula, 16-18 April 146
VII The Capture of Ie Shima 149
Plans and Preparations of the Enemy 150
American Plans and Preparations 153
Invasion of Ie Shima, 16-17 April 156
Stalemate at Bloody Ridge, 18-19 April 163
Capture of Iegusugu, 20-21 April 173
Last Phase 181
VIII The Attack of 19 April on the Shuri Defenses 184
Plans and Preparations 184
Preliminary Attack of the 27th Division, 18 April 190
The General Attack 194
IX Fall of the First Shuri Defense Ring 208
Item Pocket 208
Assaulting the Outer Shuri Defense Ring 219
X Tactics and Tactical Decisions 249
Tactics and Weapons on Okinawa 249
Tactical Decisions 258
XI Assaulting the Second Shuri Defense Ring 265
Stalemate on the West Coast 267
The 7th Division at Kochi Ridge 269
The Maeda Escarpment Barrier 274
XII The Japanese Counteroffensive and Its Aftermath 283
Planning the Offensive 283
The Offensive Under Way 286
Japanese Penetration to Tanabaru, 5 May 294
The Americans Resume the Offensive 302
XIII The May Attack on the Shuri Defenses 311
The Attack in the West 313
The Attack in the Center 332
Opening the East Coast Corridor 351
XIV Battle in the Rain 360
Enemy Air Attacks 360
Stalemate in the Center 364
The 6th Marine Division Occupies Naha 372
The 7th Division Bids for Envelopment 377
XV The Fall of Shuri 383
Exodus From Shuri 387
American Occupation of Shuri 394
XVI Behind the Front 403
Supply Operations 405
Hospitalization and Evacuation 412
Military Government 415
Base Development 419
XVII The Enemy's Last Stand 422
The Push South to the Yaeju-Dake-Yuza-Dake Barrier 422
The Capture of Oroku Peninsula 427
Assaulting the Last Defense Line 434
XVIII The Battle Ends 455
End of Organized Resistance 455
Surrender and Suicide 462
Final Mop-up 471
Victory: Cost and Value 473
Appendix A Major Tactical Units of Tenth Army in the Ryukyus Campaign 475
Appendix B Japanese 32d Army Units in the Ryukyus Campaign 483
Appendix C Statistics of the Ryukyus Campaign 487
Bibliographical Note 503
Index 513
Tables
1 Strength of Army, Marine, and Naval Forces of Tenth Army in the Ryukyus Campaign, 30 April-30 June 1945 488
2 Comparative American and Enemy Major Losses in the Ryukyus Campaign, 1 April-30 June 1945 489
3 Casualties Sustained by Tenth Army, 1 April-30 June 1945 490
4 Troops and Supplies Loaded for the Initial Assault on the Ryukyus 492
5 Personnel and Supplies Loaded for Assault and for First Echelon Garrison in the Ryukyus Campaign, by Point of Embarkation 493
6 Comparison of Estimated Capacities for Unloading at Okinawa Beaches and Quantities Actually Unloaded, 1 April-30 June 1945 494
7 Cargo Unloaded at Okinawa Beaches, 1 April-30 June 1945 496
8 Ammunition Expended by Tenth Army Field Artillery, 1 April-30 June 1945 498
9 Ammunition Expended by the U. S. Navy in the Ryukyus Campaign, March-June 1945 500
10 Ammunition Expended by XXIV Corps, by Type of Weapon, 4 April-21 June 1945 501
