OpNav 34-P-0700
AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS
Capture of Okinawa
(Ryukyus Operation)
27 March to 21 June 1945
CAUTION
This Bulletin and the Information Contained Herein Shall Be Safeguarded In Accordance With the Provisions of Article 76, U.S. Navy Regulations, 1920.
NAVY DEPARTMENT
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
NAVY DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
WASHINGTON 25, D.C.22 JANUARY 1946.
This publication "Amphibious Operations--Capture of Okinawa (Ryukyus Operation)--27 March to 21 June 1945" continues the series promulgating timely information drawn from action reports. It follows "Amphibious Operations--Capture of Iwo Jima, CominCh P-0012."
Material contained herein has not been subjected to exhaustive study and analysis, but is issued in this form to make comments, recommendations, and expressions of opinion concerning war experiences readily available to officers engaged or interested in amphibious operations. It should be widely circulated among commissioned personnel.
This publication is classified as confidential [declassified IAW DOD Dir 5200.9], nonregistered. It shall be handled as prescribed by Article 76, U.S. Navy Regulations, 1920. When no longer required it shall be destroyed by burning. No report of destruction need be submitted.
This publication is under the cognizance of, and is distributed by the Chief of Naval Operations.
R. L. CONNOLLY,
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations.
(Operations).
CONFIDENTIAL DISTRIBUTION LIST FOR AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS
CAPTURE OF OKINAWA (OPNAV 34-P-0700)
Standard Navy Distribution List No. 35 (1 December 1945)
List 1: a (1) each, except send CominChPacFlt (5), ComThirdFlt, ComFifthFlt (3) each; b (1); c (1); d (1); e (1); g, all PhibGrpCommands (2) each, Com5thPhibFor (1), ComPhibForPac, ComAdComdPhibForPac (5) each, ComTraComdPhibForPacFlt (Ad) (35); h (1); i (1); j (1); k (1); l, only to Chief of Staff to CominCh Army and navy White House (1).
List 2: a-3 (1), a-10 (1), a-18 only FltAircraftRecognition Unit NAS San Diego, Calif (1), a-19 only Utility Wing SerFor (1); f (1); g (1); n (1); o (1); v (1).
List 3: b (1); c (1); d (1); f (1); m (1); p (1); t (1); u (1); v (1); x (1); kk (1); rr (1); vv (1); zz (1); www (1); ffff (1); gggg (1);; jjj (1).
List 6: a (1); b, only ChNavAirOpTra NAS Jacksonville, Fla. (25), ChNavAirTra NAS Pensacola, Fla. (1) each.
List 7: a-1 (1);; d-1, only Commander Naval Air Bases First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thirteenth Naval Districts, ComUSNATB NAS Corpus Christi, Tex., ComUSNATB NAS Pensacola, Fla. (1) each; f (1); g (25); h (5); i-3, only CONavTraSta Newport, R.I. (2).
List 11: SecNav (1); UnderSecNav (1); AsstSecNav (1); AssSecNavAir (1); Chairman, General Board (2); BuAer (5); BuPers (Training Division) (12); CNO (1); BuOrd (5); BuShips (5); BuDocks (5); Comdt USMC Hdqtrs (G3 Publication Section ) (6); Comdt USMC Hdqtrs (294); Comdt USCG Hdqtrs (3).
List 14: q (2).
Plus special distribution list.
NOTE: Numbers in parentheses indicate number of copies sent to each addressee.
CONTENTS
Chapter I. Narrative: Page Synopsis of the Operation 1-1 Command and Organization 1-18 Training and Rehearsal 1-36 Movement to the Objective 1-40 General Account of Naval and Air Operations 1-44 Troop Operations 1-58 Chapter II. Naval Gunfire: Page Defense Against Enemy Attack 2-1 Suicide or AA attacks 2-1 Smoke 2-9 Night retirement 2-13 Suicide Boats 2-15 Bombardment 2-18 Preassault 2-18 Preliminary bombardment 2-18 Support of minesweeping 2-22 Assault 2-22 Close support of assault waves 2-22 After-assault 2-26 Army support fire--Close support 2-26 Army support fire--Deep support 2-28 Army support fire--Counter battery 2-29 Army support fire--NGLO's 2-29 Army support fire--Call fires 2-29 Army support fire--Harassing fires 2-30 Army support fire--Coordination of services 2-30 Ammunition 2-36 Rockets 2-36 Expenditure of ammunition 2-36 Replenishment and resupply of ammunition 2-39 Ammunition in general 2-40 Surface Actions 2-40 General 2-41 General effect of naval gunfire 2-41 General comments 2-46 Support Craft 2-48 Damage 2-53 Miscellaneous 2-54 Aircraft 2-54 Training 2-55 Maps 2-57 Personnel 2-57 Navigation 2-58 Illumination 2-58 Communications 2-59 Chapter III. Air Support: Page General 3-1 Enemy opposition 3-1 Enemy opposition--Enemy air tactics 3-1 Own losses 3-2 Enemy losses 3-2 British Pacific fleet (TF 57) 3-2 Operational summary 3-4 Performance 3-5 Ships 3-5 Planes and pilots 3-5 Pilots 3-6 Air-sea rescue 3-6 Search 3-7 Anti-boat operations 3-8 Briefing 3-8 Photography 3-9 Air traffic control 3-10 Composition of carrier forces 3-11 A.A. gunnery 3-11 Antisubmarine patrol 3-12 Seaplane operations 3-13 Tactical air force, Tenth Army 3-13 Training 3-14 Training of air groups 3-14 New carriers 3-14 Rehearsals and training--attack forces 3-14 Intelligence and Planning 3-15 Planning, charts and maps 3-15 Rubber terrain models 3-16 Comments and recommendations 3-16 Fighter Defense of the Area 3-16 Fighter defense of Task Force 58 3-16 Visual fighter direction 3-20 Fighter defense of amphibious forces 3-21 Target combat air patrol 3-22 Air defense control center 3-23 Radar pickets 3-24 Night operations 3-25 Direct Support of Ground Forces 3-27 Close support control 3-27 Observation and spotting 3-31 Close support targets 3-32 Close support coordination 3-35 Artillery and air coordination 3-35 Tactical bomb line 3-37 Results of close support 3-37 37 Ordnance 3-37 Bombs and fuzes 3-37 AP bombs 3-38 Napalm 3-38 Ordnance requirements for neutralizing Enemy airfields 3-38 Torpedoes on CVE's 3-39 Communications 3-39 Fighter direction 3-39 Air support communication nets 3-40 ASCU communication recommendations 3-42 Miscellaneous 3-43 Security 3-43 Message drops 3-43 Psychological warfare 3-43 Weather planes 3-43 Long range Fighter Sweeps against the empire 3-44 AAF Missions in Support of the Operation 3-44 DDT Spraying 3-44 Air Delivery of Supplies 3-46 Black-out Suits 3-46 Chapter IV. Intelligence: Page General Comments 4-1 Enemy Defenses 4-5 POW Reports and Captured Documents 4-8 Photographic Coverage and Maps 4-9 Weather 4-11 UDT Reconnaissance 4-15 Psychological Warfare 4-15 Chapter V. Communications: Page General Comments 5-1 Ship to Shore 5-1 Preliminary Planning and Training 5-2 Matériel 5-3 Radar 5-4 Visual 5-6 Landing and Beach Communications 5-7 Personnel 5-7 Errors and Difficulties 5-8 Chapter VI. Ship to Shore: Page General 6-1 UDT's 6-3 Minesweeping 6-8 Control, Beach and Shore Parties 6-8 Special Equipment 6-29 Miscellaneous 6-30 Chapter VII. Logistics: Page Supply 7-1 Sustained operations at sea 7-1 Fuel oil 7-4 Diesel oil 7-5 Lube oils 7-5 Fog oil 7-6 Gasoline 7-7 Ammunition 7-7 General stores 7-9 Provisions and food 7-9 Water 7-11 Boat pools 7-11 Miscellaneous 7-13 Loading 7-17 Organization and planning 7-17 Allocation of shipping 7-24 Details of loading 7-32 Recommendations 7-33 Unloading 7-35 General narrative 7-35 Causeways, pontoons, and special equipment 7-48 Unloading difficulties 7-55 Recommendations 7-59 Repairs, Salvage, Maintenance 7-64 General narrative 7-64 Damage to ships 7-67 Recommendations 7-68 Medical 7-70 Own casualties 7-70 Enemy casualties 7-71 Evacuation of casualties 7- 71 Sanitation 7- 73 Miscellaneous 7-75
List of Effective Pages
Page Letter of Promulgation I Distribution List II Table of Contents III-IV List of Effective Pages IV Frontispiece Follows IV Chapter I 1-1 to 1-22, 1-22a, 1-23 to 1-47, 1-47a, 1-47b, 1-48 to 1-72 Chapter II 2-1 to 2-60 Chapter III 3-1 to 3-46 Chapter IV 4-1 to 4-16 Chapter V 5-1 to 5-10 Chapter VI 6-1 to 6-32 Chapter VII 7-1 to 7-76
