Iwo Jima
Assault Phase of the Iwo Jima Landings
The Landing Plan called for putting 9,000 men ashore in the first 45
minutes. The flag signal to "Land the Landing Force" was executed at
0615. At 0805 naval gunfire was lifted and 120 aircraft shot rockets
and machine guns and dropped bombs on the beach area and its flanks.
Napalm was used generously.
At 0825 the early landing waves were in position and at 0830 the
first wave was directed to proceed to the beach. The Pre-Landing
Gunfire Support Plan called for putting 8,000 shells on the beach
while the troops were moving in from the Line of Departure. Fire was
directed at the beach until 0857, when it shifted to the flanks and
immediate rear.
The first assault wave hit the beach along the 3,000-yard front at
almost exactly H-Hour, 0900, and moved ahead rapidly for the first
350 yards under the very real assistance of a rolling barrage of
naval gunfire. The second wave was the initial troop wave.
As the Marine Commander reported: No anti-boat gunfire was reported
by the initial waves. The Japanese gun, mortar, and small arms fire
against the later waves of amtracs, and against the troops which
landed from them was definitely light on the southern beaches until
about H plus 30 minutes, by which time many lead vehicles were well
off the beach.
Japanese gunfire picked up more quickly against the later waves
headed for the northern beaches and by 0920 reports of heavy
Japanese mortar fire against the right flank beaches were received.
Progress straight across the southern belt of the island was rapid
and by 1030 Marines had reached the cliffs overlooking the western
beaches of Iwo Jima and by 1130 these cliffs were in the possession
of the Fifth Marine Division. Progress on the right flank was
slower, much slower, as the Marines met gradually intensifying fire
from the quarry and plateau area, from undestroyed pillboxes, and
encountered land mines.
The tanks were called for, and by noon some reserve units were
called in. Since these were embarked in LCVP's and LCM's real
problems at the beach line soon developed. The amtracs had had their
difficulties with the steep beach and the steep slopes of volcanic
sand, but by and large they made it. When it came to the landing
craft, the LCVP and the LCM, the amphibians ran into trouble because
of the combination of steep beach gradients and the onshore swells.
The craft grounded fair and square but the swells broached, and then
swamped many, before they could be completely unloaded.
By nightfall, all assault elements of both divisions had been
landed, plus other supporting elements to bring to 30,000 the total
of troops landed in one day.
All the amphibians, whether on land or sea, and everyone else within
sight of Mount Suribachi, received a tremendous lift when the
spirited Marines of the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Marine Division
raised the American flag on the summit of Mount Suribachi about 1035
on 23 February 1945.
Despite this favorable turn (which facilitated the full force of the
Fifth Corps being used against the defensive positions to the
north), the Japanese "fight unto death" tactics were aided by the
rugged volcanic crags, steep defiles, and severe escarpments. The
Marine advance was slow, but inexorable.
At 1800 on 16 March, Iwo Jima was declared secure.
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Source: Photos from Naval
Historical Center/ National Archives & Records Administration