The USN failure at Iwo Jima

[Biscuit]

I understand that this is definately what happened in this case. My question is "Is this a standard occurance between the Navy and Marines?"

[Panzermacher]

Originally Posted by Biscuit

I understand that this is definately what happened in this case. My question is "Is this a standard occurance between the Navy and Marines?"

I don't know what you mean by "standard occurance...etc" but a prep bombardment was usually standard, unless it was a stealthy raid. Most of the big PTO island invasions involved Airstrikes and Naval bombardment. Some cases it helped the Marines going ashore by keeping the enemy pinned or destroying his fortifications, and killing combat personnel, but as the War progressed and the US got into Islands the IJA/IJN held for many years, the Preparatory attacks were ineffective. The Enemy had just dug in too deep for shells and bombs to reach. Iwo JIma was a classic example of this as were areas of Okinawa. (Remember, these were probably the reasons we developed "Bunker Busters" and the deep delving bombs we have today)

I hope I helped some and not confused ya Heather...

[Biscuit]

That was a wonderful amount of extra info PM, but I am wondering how often the Marines ask for something and the Navy says 'No, this is what we can afford to give and it's really enough anyway.'

[MAGNA]

It's a pity they didn't have access to some of the RAF's 12,000 pound bombs. The tunnels on Iwo were the kind of thing they were made for.

[temujin77]

Originally Posted by Biscuit

That was a wonderful amount of extra info PM, but I am wondering how often the Marines ask for something and the Navy says 'No, this is what we can afford to give and it's really enough anyway.'

I imagine that happens regularly. And that was not an atypical thing, I'm sure, as inter-service rivalries happen in every country. Everyone's got their own interests to watch out for.

[Panzermacher]

I do recall one instance of were the Navy basically said to the Marines. you are getting "X" many days of shelling and thats it.....Correct me if I am wrong but I think it was Tarawa??

[Biscuit]

Thanks guys! That's the answer I was looking for! Gold stars to PM and temujin77!

[Panzermacher]

No Problem Heather...hope that cleared things up for you...

[Lambo]

My grandfather had been told before he landed that the battle would only take a few days, the Navy had shelled and bombed the Japanese sufficiently to make the battle a short and relatively easy one. He survived, but it was weeks and not days of hell for him. The experience haunted him all of his life.