Narrator okinawa, strategic chain in the ryukyu chain. Assigned1945 it is the mission of the amphibious forces of the 10th army. Backed i heavy armor, assault troops of the 25th army corps and the First Marine Amphibious corps had for the beach. Head for the beach. Embarking in the assault waves make headway under their own power. In addition to overall waterproofing, specialty auxiliary flotation gear gives the tanks flotation. This increases facility with which armored units can be brought to shore. Pontoons are secured so they may be jettisoned immediately after the vehicles have attained the beach. Landings made on adjacent beaches hit the east central sure of okinawa shore of okinawa. The army corps has pushed south and east towards the main city and airfield. Here the first and sixth marine divisions drive inland to the east and north. They are committed to serving severing the island and taking the northern section. The guard opposition, rearguard opposition. A 300 on l day, the l plua objective line has already been reached. Featured by broken contours, the island of volcanic origin is rolling to mountainous and a great portion of its or hundred 85 square miles is under its 485 square miles is under cultivation. There is good observation for delaying actions. Soon after landing, the Assault Forces and their Civil Affairs sanctions sections are collecting, screening and detaining a large disorganized civilian population. The okinawans, an ethnically vague race of japanese nationals are by no means antagonistic, but as they number close to 300,000, the security and health of our forces make them a definite military problem in the operation. The progress inland is impeded by the tactical destruction of bridges by the retreating japanese. However when the conditions permit, Forward Motion is not delayed by reconstruction. Boarding is accomplished without much difficulty. Roads and trails impeded by mine craters and roadblocks are quickly repaired by the advancing units. Okinawa is laced with a good Tactical Network of roads, which facilitate the movement of foot troops as well as armored and vehicular units. Recurrent opposition is encountered, particularly in the hilly regions, from snipers and small isolated units and placed in well concealed caves and underground installations. These are reduced individually by explosives and small arms fire. This particular snipers nest has already accounted for seven marine casualties during one day alone. In the hill country, a small patrol seeks contact with the enemy in advance of the main body. [gunfire] [gunfire] this dummy tank was successful long enough to draw our fire. Captured airfields are bound to be supplied with dummy and obsolete planes, which served as decoy targets. One type of suicide plane is discovered intact. Jetpropelled and humancontrolled, this craft is actually a piloted bomb. Comparatively early in the operation, airfields north of the invasion beach area are captured and put into quick repair. These fields, as soon as they are operational make it possible , to augment carrier based planes and those from other islands in support of the ground action. Aside from the tactical consideration is the Strategic Value of these runways in future operations located as they are only 350 miles from japan proper, 750 from tokyo. By now, it is apparent the enemys main Numerical Strength had been withdrawn to the southern part of the island prior to our landing. But this is no certainty and those japanese still in the north are formidably in place and tactically adept. As the advance continues, artillery is brought up in support of the infantry assault troops. The fire of an lvta is brought upon an empty settlement. Almost completely undamaged, a flotilla of socalled suicide boats is discovered. 17 feet overall, 2. 4 feet deep, and with a fiveandahalf foot beam, they are armed with five and a half pound drums of acid. Stowed overlooking an isolated cove, they were to be launched down these runways. Waterborne, they would have been powered on ignition by six cylinder motors. Unique to most previous marine corps operations, okinawa with its heavy population supported a large number of village communities. This necessitates much streetfighting and house to house clean outs. Planes were used to advantage in flushing out villages. [explosions] the enemy has, up to this phase of the operation, shown no indication to surrender himself or his position except to the most tenacious opposition, and with an effectiveness out of proportion to his numbers. Although the progress is study each resistance point has to be , overcome with a concentration of effort. With the enemy in command of much of the Tactical High ground, the advance is carried by the infantry without heavy support weapons. [gunfire] to supply troops in isolated positions food, water, and , ammunition are delivered by parachute air drops. [airplane engines] this is especially valuable here in hill country where advance units have outstripped their communications and have progressed into terrain difficult to negotiate for the crosscountry carriers. Here, too, they would be exposed to enemy fire from the heights, and the airdrop is the quickest, most expedient means of supply. Japanese aircraft come in constantly from carriers and other islands in the ryukyus. The enemy still sticks stubbornly to its position, determined to make the cleanup as costly as possible for the advancing marines. Caves and other hillside emplacements receive direct fire from our tanks. [gunfire] under the cover of a hastily built up firing line, a wounded marine is evacuated to safety. [explosions] with concealment provided by a heavy smoke barrage, marines prepare to advance across a n open slope. [gun fire] [machine gunfire] periodic heavy rainfall on okinawa has mired the roads and trails, making transport difficult. Advance, support, and supply are slowed, particularly in the low lands. But the consolidation of the northern half of the island continues. Tank and infantry units cooperate effectively in the slow, steady reduction of enemy strong points. A mopup team using phosphorus, flame, and small arms fire reduces a camouflaged japanese position. Japanese artillery is constant, heavy, and accurate throughout the entire operation. Here, a marine tank is hit and put out of action. As a rescue tank stands by under direct fire to pick up the crew men, both vehicles are screened by smoke grenades. Returning safely, the rescue tank evades fire but also forces a tank salvage vehicle to withdraw. While the enemy has used the small strength in the north to good advantage, his main effort against the marines has been a in the nature of a delaying action. The first and sixth marine divisions are committed to careful mopping up action behind their own steamroller drive. A drive which after little more than three weeks of hard fighting successfully secures more than two thirds of okinawa. To the south, the army has run up against a stone wall outside of naha. Some elements of the 24th corps are relieved for a rest and replaced by marine corps units. The first and sixth marine divisions, having completed their mission in the northern effort, are brought in opposite naha and shuri, another japanese strong point. With the bulk of the enemy forces compressed into the lower third of the island, army and marine units will concentrate on breaking the defense line into pockets. Japanese resistance is stubborn and cohesive. The shuri and naha sectors both make heavy demands on individual skill and concerted firepower. [gunifre] e] [gunfir the enemys defense is resilient, and many positions, such as sugar loaf hill, must be taken and retaken many times before they can finally be secured. [explosions] [explosions] the mobile 105 millimeter gun gives direct support to assault infantry troops in frontal attacks. Crossing an exposed area, an infantry unit is covered by chemical smoke grenades. The battle for naha develops into a siege with zones of fire plotted to encompass the entire area. Artillery batteries stand off to subject the city to intensive, heavy bombardment. A barrage that persists day and night. [explosions] divebombing and strafing aircraft assist in the preparation. Outside the city, assault units make ready to jump off to the attack. [explosions] the opening of the most physical and decisive phase, the battle for okinawa continues into the contest foraha, a what may well be the doorstep to tokyo. [machine gun fire] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] announcer 1 okinawa bulletin number two, final phases, is a report on the 82day long battle of okinawa filmed by u. S. Marine corps combat photographers. Reports,econd of two the story of the savage battle is told from about midmay until the conclusion of fighting on june 22, 1945. About 45,000 americans were killed or wounded during the invasion. Narrator the upper 4 5 of okinawa are already in our hands. The principal remaining japa