published on: 19/09/2020
Author:
Aris
BIA
will create a Campaign based on historical facts honoring the memory
of all the soldiers who died in one of the toughest battles of World
War II the Battle of Iwo Jima.
American
Pre Operations
Starting on 15 June 1944,
the US Navy and the US Army Air Forces began Naval bombardments and
Air raids against Iwo Jima, which would become the longest and most
intense in the Pacific theater.These would contain a combination of
Naval artillery shellings and aerila bombings that went on for nine
months. On 17 February, the Destroyer USS Blessman sent Underwater
Demolition Team 15 (UDT-15) toward Blue Beach for reconnaissance. The
Japanese fired on them, killing one American diver. On the evening of
18 February, the Blessman
was hit by a bomb from a Japanese aircraft, killing 40 sailors,
including 15 members of her UDT.
Unaware
of Kuribayashi's tunnel defense system, many of the Americans assumed
the majority of the Japanese garrison were killed by the constant
bombing raids.
1st
Event Saturday 3rd October 19.00 GMT.
Will
be a Commandos raid for recconaissance plus B-17 Bombers Mission for
reduce enemy strenth.
Slots 32.(Pilots plus PAB play as
Underwater Demolition Team 15)
Landing
at Iwo Jima
At
08:59, one minute ahead of schedule, the first wave of Marines landed
on the beaches of the southeastern coast of Iwo Jima. Major Howard
Connor, 5th
Marine Division signal officer, had six Navajo code talkers working
around the clock during the first two days of the battle. These six
sent and received over 800 messages, all without error. Connor later
stated, "Were it not for the Navajos, the Marines would never
have taken Iwo Jima.
The
lack of a vigorous response led the Navy to conclude that their
bombardment had suppressed the Japanese defenses and in good order
the Marines began deployment to the Iwo Jima beach.Gen. Kuribayashi
was far from beaten, however. In the deathly silence, landed US
Marines began to slowly inch their way forward inland, oblivious to
the danger. After allowing the Americans to pile up men and machinery
on the beach for just over an hour, Kuribayashi unleashed the
undiminished force of his countermeasures. Shortly after 10:00,
everything from machine guns and mortars to heavy artillery began to
rain down on the crowded beach, which was quickly transformed into a
nightmarish bloodbath.
2nd
Event Sunday 4th October 19.00 GMT.
Will
play as the 5th
Marine Division Landing in the beach and try to capture the south
part of the Island including Suribachi.
Slots
64.(8
Pilots,12 Tankers and 14
Enemy Human Players ).
Capture
Norther Island
The
rocky terrain vastly favored defense, even more so than Mount
Suribachi, which was much easier to hit with naval artillery fire.
Coupled with this, the fortifications constructed by Kuribayashi were
more impressive than at the southern end of the island.Remaining
under the command of Kuribayashi was the equivalent of eight infantry
battalions, a tank regiment, and two artillery and three heavy mortar
battalions. There were also about 5,000 gunners and naval infantry.
The most arduous task left to the Marines was the overtaking of the
Motoyama Plateau with its distinctive Hill 382 and Turkey knob and
the area in between referred to as the Amphitheater. This formed the
basis of what came to be known as the "meatgrinder". While
this was being achieved on the right flank, the left was clearing out
Hill 362 with just as much difficulty. The overall objective at this
point was to take control of Airfield No. 2 in the center of the
island. However, every "penetration seemed to become a disaster"
as "units were raked from the flanks, chewed up, and sometimes
wiped out.
Tanks were destroyed by interlocking fire or were hoisted
into the air on the spouting fireballs of buried mines". As a
result, the fighting bogged down, with American casualties piling up.
Even capturing these points was not a solution to the problem since a
previously secured position could be attacked from the rear by the
use of the tunnels and hidden pillboxes. As such, it was said that
"they could take these heights at will, and then regret it.
3rd
Event Sunday 11th October 19.00 GMT
Will
play as the 3rd Marine Division starting from Yellow and
Blue Beaches and try to Capture the two Airfields and Japanesse Lt
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi Headquarter.
Slots
64.(8 Pilots 12 Tankers and 14 Enemy Human Players).