First Marine Division Destroyed on Okinawa

[MerryPrankster]

I'm reading "With The Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge about Peleliu and Okinawa in the Pacific Theater of WWII and he describes an attack on May 3-4 of 1945 that was intended to split off the First Marine Division from the rest of the U.S. force and destroy it.

The plan failed due to two Army divisions blocking the main assault and a night amphibious landing being discovered and destroyed.

What if the plan had succeeded?

 

[Snake Featherston]

I don't think any 1945 Japanese Army force has the ability to destroy any significantly-sized 1945 US ground force.

 

[Catspoke]

The best Japanese plan would be to not attack but do an Iwo Jima style defence, no big attacks, hold a portion of the island as long as possible.

But supposing the Japanese were able to cut off a regiment size unit or so, American air power and naval support would come in the next morning and that would be the end of it.

It would be interesting if the Japanese captured 2000 or so Americans at that stage of the war on that island what they would do with them there. An atrocity committed at that stage of the war could harden american attitudes and change the nature of the occupation (and perhaps the whole emperor stays conditional surrender deal)

 

[CalBear]

I'm reading "With The Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge about Peleliu and Okinawa in the Pacific Theater of WWII and he describes an attack on May 3-4 of 1945 that was intended to split off the First Marine Division from the rest of the U.S. force and destroy it.

The plan failed due to two Army divisions blocking the main assault and a night amphibious landing being discovered and destroyed.

What if the plan had succeeded?

It couldn't succeed. The U.S. had far too much firepower available, air ground, and naval gunfire to allow it to work.

However, assuming the plan had been activated and the Japanese actually managed to surrpound the Marines American losses might have even gone down, since the best thing for the U.S. was to get the Japanese out of their defenses where they could be wiped out. Think Khe Sahn, but with battleship guns to add to the slaughter.

 

[Genmotty]

It would be interesting if the Japanese captured 2000 or so Americans at that stage of the war on that island what they would do with them there?

Well I don't know how my generalship would go down, but for me they would be the best 'hostage situation' I could hope for. You make it clear to the Americans you've not got the supplies to keep them alive and so those captured soliders are going to be given back to the Americans at a rate that will match your remaining supplies deplition. Any Japanese casulities will be equaled by dead POWs in equal number. Then you make clear that the Japanese soldiers won't attack or advance past a particular boundary.

Thus if the Americans attack, they condemn their own soliders.
The Japanese can hold the island as long as their supplies last (and then you do the honourable thing and actually surrender with honour!), you will have bought far more time through a 'siege situation' then fighting and loosing life. Thus your 'fight' was still honourable because you actted in accordance with the aim of the Japanese High command. Although surrender in this context may be considered 'mass suicide' or a final last stand/charge.

 

[TyranicusMaximus]

I'm reading "With The Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge about Peleliu and Okinawa in the Pacific Theater of WWII and he describes an attack on May 3-4 of 1945 that was intended to split off the First Marine Division from the rest of the U.S. force and destroy it.

The plan failed due to two Army divisions blocking the main assault and a night amphibious landing being discovered and destroyed.

What if the plan had succeeded?

See, I see more of a Chosin reservoir happening, only I'd rate the IJA worse than the Chinese, and the WW2 Marines better than their Korean War counterparts.

Only in this case the Marines don't have to retreat anywhere near as far and can count on NGFS.