link. an island strong point guarding the japanese mainland. april 1, 1945, it is the mission of the amphibious force of the tenth army, backed by naval support ships, assault troops head for the beach. [explosions] [explosions] [explosions] tanks embarking make headway under their own power. in addition, special flotation gear gives tanks the necessary buoyancy. this increases the facility with with which armored units can be brought ashore. the pontoons are secured so they may be jettisoned immediately after the vehicles have attained the beach. the landings made on adjacent beaches are relatively unopposed. the three divisions of the corp have pushed south and east towards the main city, and airfield. here is the first and sixth divisions comprising the assault force of the third amphibious court, driving east and northward. they are committed to securing the whole northern section of the island. encountering light and sporadic rearguard opposition, that by 11:00,
narrator: okinawa, strategic link in the ryukyu chain. april 1, 1945 it is the assigned mission of the amphibious forces of the 10th army. backed by heavy fire, from ships, thesupport first marine of severe core the first marine amphibious corps head for the beach. [explosion] tanks embarking in the assault waves make headway under their own power. in addition to overall waterproofing, special auxiliary flotation gear gives the tanks the necessary buoyancy. this increases the facility with which armored units can be brought ashore. the 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 shore of okinawa. and they are relatively unopposed. corps, consisting of three divisions, has pushed south and east towards the main city and airfield. sixth marinest and divisions comprising the assault force of the third amphibious corps drive inland to the east and north. they ar
narrator: the upper 4/5 of okinawa are already in our hands. the principal remaining japanese strength of more than 50,000 troops has managed to stalemate both the 24th army corps and the marine third amphibious corps, which has arrived from the north to support them. from the capital city of naha, the enemy defense line runs unbroken for four miles like a stone wall to the east coast. along this line, marine troops faced the concentrated fire of japanese artillery, which has been the most effective yet encountered in any pacific operation. [airplanes roaring] [explosion] [incessant gunfire] [explosions] here are armored units that operate over terrain that is tactically advantageous to the japanese. volcanic outcroppings and coral knobs enable the enemy to go withdraw from one fortified ridge to another. the cliffside emplacements and observation points go over most command most of the negotiable terrain comprising a , stubborn rathole defense system which must be overco
pointan island strong guarding the japanese mainland. is the missionit of the amphibious force, backed by naval support ships, assault troops head for the beach. [explosions] [explosions] [explosions] tanks embarking make headway under their own power. special flotation gear gives the necessary buoyancy. this increases the facility with with which armored units can be brought ashore. the pontoons are secured so they may be jettisoned immediately after the vehicles have attained the beach. the landings made on adjacent beaches are relatively unopposed. divisions has pushed south and east towards the main city, and airfield. here is the first of divisions comprising the assault force of the third amphibious court, driving east and northward. securingcommitted to the whole northern section of the island. and sporadict rearguard opposition, that by 11:00, the objective line has already been reached. [explosions] [tank tracks] [explosions] [explosions] [gunfire} featured by
troops has managed to stalemate the marine corps and the marine third amphibious corps, which has arrived from the north to support them. on the capital city of naha, the enemy defense line runs unbroken for four miles like a stone wall to the east coast. along this line, marine troops faced the concentrated fire of japanese artillery, the most effective yet encountered in any pacific operation. [gunfire] here are armored units that operate over terrain that is tactically advantageous to the japanese. volcanic outcroppings and choral knobs enabled the enemy to go from one fortified ridge to another. points go over most of the terrain, comprising a stubborn rathole defense system which must be overcome point by point. our artillery delivers heavy fire on the central strong point of the enemy defense line, the garrison village of shuri, which is two heavily fortified for frontal assault which is too heavily fortified for frontal assault. [gunfire] [explosions] seasonal rain