In the Pacific War, the U.S. and Japanese fought an extremely rare battle. Although the U.S. military had air and sea supremacy, it had more casualties than the Japanese in the war. In order to win the victory, the U.S. military sent the elite 51st, 53rd, 54th, and 58th contingents, totaling 110,000 troops, while the Japanese mobilized the 109th Division and five independent infantry brigades, totaling 23,800 troops, to defend Iwo Jima. The battle was fought on an area of only 20 square kilometers and became a bloody battle to seize the island. Although the battle lasted only 37 days, it was the most tragic and difficult landing operation of the Pacific War. Countless soldiers died heroically in this battle, and the dense network of crossfire caused a large number of casualties among the combatants on both sides. The Battle of Iwo Jima is therefore known as the Battle of the Pacific Meat Grinder.
After the naval battles of the Mariana Islands and Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, the main forces of the Japanese Navy suffered heavy losses. Why was the commander of the 109th Division on Iwo Jima still able to cause great trouble to the US contingent when he had almost lost air and sea supremacy? What tactics did he use? After withstanding a total of 24,000 tons of US artillery shells, the 109 th Division was still able to inflict casualties of more than 30 percent on the US landing force, which had absolute air and sea supremacy. Nimitz originally planned to take Iwo Jima in five days, but why did the U.S. forces fight for 37 days? It was only after the U.S. military paid nearly 30,000 casualties before declaring the occupation of the island. Why do the two sides have to fight for this small island adjacent to the Japanese mainland at all costs?
Since 1944, with the loss of the Mariana Islands, Iwo Jima's strategic position has gradually become apparent. In June of that year, after the Battle of the Marianas, the U.S. military seized important military bases such as Saipan and Guam, and gradually approached the Japanese mainland. Military supplies and airfields on Iwo Jima became important targets for U.S. forces, as they could provide the superior endurance and bomb load needed by superfortresses such as the B29 bomber to bomb the Japanese mainland. These military objectives forced Japan to accelerate the pace of surrender. To complete the bombing mission, the B29 bomber had to carry more space fuel, which meant that its bomb load had to be reduced. Moreover, the route of the B29's bombing mission had to pass through the airspace near Iwo Jima. The Japanese troops stationed on Iwo Jima were able to learn about the U.S. military in advance and report it to Tokyo from Chidori and Motoyama airfields.
In addition, Japanese fighters frequently intercepted bomber groups here. The value of Iwo Jima to the war has raised eyebrows. Major General Chris Lime, commander of the 21st Marine Air Force, who carried out strategic bombing of the Japanese mainland, said that an effective all-out bombing of Japan could not be carried out without Iwo Jima. Therefore, the decision to capture Iwo Jima was adopted, albeit at great cost. The Japanese top brass regarded Iwo Jima as the last barrier on the mainland and sent elite divisions to defend it. Nimitz, commander-in-chief of the Pacific Theater, ordered the reserves of the 4th, 5th, and 3rd Marine Divisions under the command of Vice Admiral Holland Smith totaling more than 60,000 troops, and Vice Admiral Mark Michel's 58th Special Formation to cover and support, dispatching more than 500 warships, more than 400 aircraft, and more than 2,000 aircraft, totaling 110,000 troops.
The Japanese sent Lieutenant General Tadamichi Awabayashi to lead more than 23,000 men to take charge of the defense of Iwo Jima. Due to the losses of the main forces of the Navy and Air Force in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, effective naval assistance could not be provided. In the early morning of February 16, 1945, there was a fire support fleet consisting of six battleships, five cruisers, and 16 destroyers to cooperate with the landing operation. Before the landing of American troops on Iwo Jima, three days of heavy bombardment were carried out. The U.S. military dropped a large number of large and small caliber shells, totaling about 24,000 tons. The small island of 20 square kilometers withstood more than 1,000 tons of shells per square kilometer. However, despite the heavy artillery fire, the Japanese losses on the island were minimal.
The Japanese commander Lilin Nakamichi adopted a unique tactic of defending the island. In the face of the US forces, which had absolute superiority in the sea, land, and air, he understood that if the traditional tactics of beach-grabbing and landing were followed, the Japanese army would not be able to resist the attack of the US forces at all if they were inferior in troops, weapons, and firepower. Therefore, he took advantage of the complex topography and landforms of Iwo Jima and adopted the tactics of defense in depth. He ordered his soldiers to build a large number of underground fortifications using a mixture of volcanic ash and cement to make concrete. These fortifications not only strengthened the defenses and allowed the Japanese to survive heavy artillery fire, but some of the fortifications could even accommodate more than 400 people.
The observation post at the top of the hill overlooked the entire sea and provided important strategic information to the Japanese army. There are about 700 artillery, mortars, anti-aircraft guns and rocket artillery on the island, and more than 200 light and heavy machine guns of various types. These weapons and equipment provided strong fire support for the Japanese army. But surprisingly, there are almost no decent fortifications above the ground of Iwo Jima. In the early morning of February 19, 1945, the U.S. landing formation arrived in the waters off Iwo Jima. The first batch of 68 landing vehicles rushed to the beachhead, but they encountered the biggest problem - the volcanic ash left the vehicles deep in it and unable to move. Naval artillery fire began to cover the beachhead and extended fire. At 9 o'clock in the morning, more than 30,000 troops of the US Fourth and Fifth Marine Divisions landed one after another. At 09:30 a.m., the tank landing of the American army began to cover the advance of the landing force. However, when the U.S. troops landed on Iwo Jima, they were not met with a massive blockade. Nevertheless, the US military did not take it lightly. They know that wars are often won or lost down to the tiniest details. Under such a fierce combined sea, land and air bombardment, the Japanese troops on the island may have nowhere to hide.
However, they don't realize that an even more terrifying nightmare awaits them. When the U.S. squad landed on Iwo Jima, they advanced only 200 meters before they stepped into the optimal range of Japanese artillery fire. Hundreds of artillery and machine guns had already been aimed at them, waiting for more American troops to enter the trap. With the order, the Japanese artillery fire on Iwo Jima poured down frantically, and before the American troops who had just landed could react, the landing area had already turned into a miserable battlefield. Fragments and stumps of artillery shells were scattered everywhere, and volcanic ash turned the tank into a flammable target. Support ships were also gradually sunk by Japanese artillery fire and suicide attacks. Until 12 noon, the U.S. military had only advanced more than 400 meters, and every step was full of hardships. At 2:30 a.m., the casualties rate of the vanguard of the American army was as high as 35%, and some units were even completely wiped out.
Before sunset, more than 30,000 people from six infantry regiments, six artillery battalions, and two tank battalions of the US army finally occupied the landing area at a depth of 1,000 meters, but paid the price of 2,400 casualties. The next day, under the cover of naval guns, the US troops launched an attack on Chaber Mountain and Yuan Mountain at the same time. These forts cost the US military dearly. In order to change the tide of the war, the US military top brass reformulated its strategy and used various explosive weapons to strike at the Japanese army, gradually expanding the area of control. On this day, the US military paid the price of 5,000 men. After four days of bloody fighting, a team of 44 people finally stormed the top of Mount Zhebo and raised the Star-Spangled Banner. This scene made the US Secretary of the Navy Forrester and the US soldiers who came to inspect extremely excited.
They know that the raising of this national flag not only represents victory, but also symbolizes the future glory and glory of the Marine Corps. They faced an even more severe battle that followed. This duel between the two sides has evolved into a war of attrition, and sometimes after a day of fierce fighting, the battle line can only advance a few meters. The high casualty rate made the officers miserable, and they were reluctant to send their soldiers to the front again. In the Battle of Harayama on March 1, the Japanese Second Mixed Brigade caused the casualty rate of the American troops involved in the battle to reach an astonishing 75%. Several companies were wiped out in the battle. However, the great sacrifice of the Marines was not for nothing. On March 3, a smoke-emitting C47 transport plane landed at Iwo Jima Airport.
The next day, a B29 damaged during the bombing of Tokyo also made an emergency landing on Iwo Jima. On March 6, a P51 Mustang fighter jet also chose to land there. At this time, the strategic value of Iwo Jima was fully affirmed, which also accelerated the demise of the last fascist state. On the evening of March 16, U.S. forces announced that they had captured the last position on Iwo Jima. On the same day, as the commander-in-chief, he sent a final telegram to Tokyo, preparing for a final counterattack. The Japanese side called back to commend him and promoted him to the rank of general. On the evening of March 25, he came to Nakamichi to gather the remaining 350 soldiers. In the early morning of the 26th, he launched a final general offensive against the American army. However, the victory or defeat of an unjust war has long been doomed, and no one can reverse it. Three hours later, most of the remnants of the Japanese army were annihilated, Awabayashi Tadamichi committed suicide by seppuku, and the entire battle of Iwo Jima ended. The Japanese had 1,083 prisoners, 22,703 killed, and 28,686 American casualties. At nine o'clock in the morning on March 26, 1945, the U.S. military announced the end of the Battle of Iwo Jima.
In this Battle of Iwo Jima, the loss of the American forces was not due to tactical mistakes or miscommand, but to the unique defensive strategy adopted by Lieutenant General Nakamichi of the Japanese army. He made full use of Iwo Jima's unique topography and built a network of fortifications deep underground, which greatly reduced the effectiveness of American artillery strikes. In addition, Japanese artillery and machine guns were deployed beneath the surface, allowing for a quick counterattack after the American landing, creating an impenetrable network of crossfire. Although the U.S. military had a clear advantage in numbers and equipment, the Japanese defensive tactics played a huge role in the narrow area of Iwo Jima.
U.S. tanks and armored vehicles were helpless in the face of Iwo Jima's characteristic volcanic ash fields, and instead became ideal targets for Japanese artillery fire. American soldiers had to engage in difficult street battles in the face of Japanese underground fortifications and hidden fire points without the support of heavy equipment. U.S. commanders had to adjust their tactics and adopt more refined urban and tunnel warfare tactics, using flamethrowers, explosives, and air support to gradually clear the Japanese resistance. Eventually, after 37 days of brutal fighting, the U.S. military struggled to gain control of Iwo Jima. Looking back at the entire Battle of Iwo Jima, its tragedy and strategic significance made it a landmark event in the Pacific War.
Although the U.S. military paid a heavy price, the successful capture of the strategic objective of Iwo Jima enabled the B-29 bombers to carry out a more lethal strategic bombing of the Japanese mainland, thus laying a solid foundation for the final victory in World War II. At the same time, this battle also demonstrated the cruelty and ruthlessness of war and the tenacity and perseverance of human nature, leaving a profound lesson and warning for future generations.