Answer:
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Explanation:
Why was Okinawa the last step in the Allies’ island-hopping campaign?
After the Battle of Midway, the United States launched a counter-offensive strike known as "island-hopping," establishing a line of overlapping island bases, as well as air control. The idea was to capture certain key islands, one after another, until Japan came within range of American bombers. Led by General Douglas MacArthur, Commander of the Allied forces in the Southwest Pacific, and Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, the first stage of the offensive began with the Navy under Nimitz, and Marine landings on Guadalcanal and nearby islands in the Solomons.
From that point on, Nimitz and MacArthur engaged in "island-hopping" amphibious drives that bypassed strongly-held islands to strike at the enemy's weak points. In an effort to liberate the people of the Philippine Islands, MacArthur pushed along the New Guinea coast with Australian allies, while Nimitz crossed the central Pacific by way of the Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas, Carolines, and Palaus. Both campaigns would entail seemingly endless, bloody battles — ultimately leading to the unconditional surrender of the Japanese.
Code-named Operation ICEBURG, the invasion of Okinawa began on April 1st, 1945, when 60,000 troops (two marine and two army divisions) landed with little opposition.
The day began and ended with the heaviest concentration of naval gunfire ever used to support an amphibious landing. Strategically, positions off the invasion beaches were occupied by 10 older American battleships, including several Pearl Harbor survivors — the USS Tennessee, Maryland, and West Virginia; as well as nine cruisers, 23 destroyers, and 117 rocket gunboats. Together they fired 3,800 tons of shells at Okinawa during the first 24 hours.
The initial charge by U.S. troops was met by little opposition. However, the 100,000-plus Japanese who were dug into caves and tunnels on the high ground away from the beaches in an attempt to withstand the Allies' superior sea and air power.
The battle proceeded in four phases: One, the advance to the eastern coast — Two, the clearing of the northern part of the island — Three, the occupation of the outlying islands —and Four, the main battle against the dug-in elements of the 32nd Army .
Although the first three phases encountered only mild opposition, the final phase proved extremely difficult because the Japanese were deep underground and naval gunfire support was ineffective.
The battle of Okinawa proved to be the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War. Thirty-four allied ships and other ships of all kinds were shipwrecked, mainly by the attack of Kamikazes, and 368 ships and ships were damaged.
