The hill on Iwo Jima.. - Aircraft of World War II

Haztoys · 07-16-2007, 01:26 AM

Why did the US land on the beach ..With the "hill" still intacked ..???

"I" would think the best way to take the island would of been to pound the hell out of the hill first ...?? And make sure the hill was nocked out first..?

Any input on this ... Something "Im" missing maybe...

David

syscom3 · 07-16-2007, 03:06 AM

You have to land on the beach in order to advance on the hill.

And no one suspected the Japanese would have built and manned an intricate tunnel system.

lastwarrior · 07-16-2007, 04:46 AM

It's part of the tactics...

evangilder · 07-16-2007, 06:37 AM

The whole island was bombed for weeks prior to the landings. That 7.5 square mile island had 15 miles of tunnels beneath it. Napalm was used in the pre-invasion bombings as well, but coral doesn't burn.

ToughOmbre · 07-16-2007, 08:46 AM

General Holland M. "Howlin' Mad" Smith wanted 10 days of naval gunfire to pound Iwo prior to his Marines going in. He got over-ruled and three days were all they got. With the Japanese so well dug in and concealed, it may not have made a difference. The Marines rarely saw their enemy, at least not alive. Uncommon valor.....

k9kiwi · 07-19-2007, 05:22 PM

Have you ever tried landing a boat on a hill that is still "intacked" ?

Very hard to do right, just ask Les.

Maharg · 07-19-2007, 10:04 PM

I think the US could have pounded Suribachi for months and they still would have suffered severe casualties.
The only way to take a 'Hill' like that is with Infantry. The Japs knew they were coming and had a lot of time to prepare.
The lower photo is a view of the landing beach from the top of the 'Hill'.

Njaco · 07-20-2007, 01:04 AM

72 days of aerial bombardment followed by 3 days of naval bombardment before an American foot even set ashore. The Japanese just sat in their bunkers "Stuck in there like an Alabama tick on a junkyard dog".

evangilder · 07-20-2007, 02:18 AM

And after all of that, there was still a long, hard slog to control that spit of land. The Japanese were too well entrenched on that island for bombing to be effective.

mosquitoman · 07-20-2007, 05:38 AM

Probably a stupid thought, but could airborne troops have been used to take the top of the hill to give the beach landing troops an easier time? Possibly use gliders to ensure that troops weren't spread out to much?

evangilder · 07-20-2007, 09:16 AM

Sounds good in theory, but remember that Iwo is a volcanic island. The top of Mt. Suribachi was not smooth enough for a glider landing and not really big enough for a large paratrooper force. If it had been a smaller force, they would have been led to a slaughter.

Njaco · 07-20-2007, 09:55 AM

Something similar.

07-16-2007, 01:26 AM	#1
Haztoys Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Prescott Arizona USA Posts: 507	The hill on Iwo Jima.. Why did the US land on the beach ..With the "hill" still intacked ..??? "I" would think the best way to take the island would of been to pound the hell out of the hill first ...?? And make sure the hill was nocked out first..? Any input on this ... Something "Im" missing maybe... David

07-16-2007, 03:06 AM	#2
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,281	You have to land on the beach in order to advance on the hill. And no one suspected the Japanese would have built and manned an intricate tunnel system. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?"

07-16-2007, 06:37 AM	#4
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	The whole island was bombed for weeks prior to the landings. That 7.5 square mile island had 15 miles of tunnels beneath it. Napalm was used in the pre-invasion bombings as well, but coral doesn't burn. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

07-16-2007, 08:46 AM	#5
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,233	General Holland M. "Howlin' Mad" Smith wanted 10 days of naval gunfire to pound Iwo prior to his Marines going in. He got over-ruled and three days were all they got. With the Japanese so well dug in and concealed, it may not have made a difference. The Marines rarely saw their enemy, at least not alive. Uncommon valor..... __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

07-19-2007, 05:22 PM	#6
k9kiwi Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kiwi Land Posts: 850	Have you ever tried landing a boat on a hill that is still "intacked" ? Very hard to do right, just ask Les. __________________ 4 out of 5 voices in my head say I am normal. Majority rules. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me.

07-16-2007, 04:46 AM	#3
lastwarrior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 88	It's part of the tactics...

07-20-2007, 01:04 AM	#8
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 10,236	72 days of aerial bombardment followed by 3 days of naval bombardment before an American foot even set ashore. The Japanese just sat in their bunkers "Stuck in there like an Alabama tick on a junkyard dog". __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

07-20-2007, 02:18 AM	#9
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	And after all of that, there was still a long, hard slog to control that spit of land. The Japanese were too well entrenched on that island for bombing to be effective. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

07-20-2007, 05:38 AM	#10
mosquitoman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield Posts: 2,991	Probably a stupid thought, but could airborne troops have been used to take the top of the hill to give the beach landing troops an easier time? Possibly use gliders to ensure that troops weren't spread out to much? __________________ When you realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train, you know it's time to run for your life

07-20-2007, 09:16 AM	#11
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	Sounds good in theory, but remember that Iwo is a volcanic island. The top of Mt. Suribachi was not smooth enough for a glider landing and not really big enough for a large paratrooper force. If it had been a smaller force, they would have been led to a slaughter. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

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