New Guinea and the Marianas

by Morison, Samuel Eliot

• ISBN13: 9780252070389
• ISBN10: 0252070380
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr

Summary

Volume 8: New Guinea and the Marianas, March 1944-August 1944 covers five of the most eventful months of the Pacific war. Awash with spectacular rescues of downed airmen, bold beach landings, and brilliant though risky strategic gambles, this volume carries Morison's coverage of the war in the Pacific through the Allies' securing of Dutch New Guinea and the Marianas.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Abbreviations	xxi
PART I STRATEGY, SUBMARINES AND STRIKES
The Pacific Strategy for 1944	3	(12)
Two Roads or One?	3	(7)
Japanese Counter-strategy	10	(5)
Submarine Patrols, December 1943--July 1944	15	(12)
Fast Carrier Strikes on Palau, Hollandia and Truk, 22 March--30 April 1944	27	(18)
Strikes on Palau, Yap and Woleai	27	(7)
Strikes on Hollandia, Wakde-Sarmi, and Truk, 30 March--30 April	34	(11)
PART II THE CONQUEST OF NEW GUINEA
The Southwest Pacific Organization	45	(14)
The Supreme Commander and His Subordinates	45	(4)
Southwest Pacific Specialties	49	(10)
Seventh Fleet Air Power
Engineer Special Brigades
The Assault Pattern
Motor Torpedo Boats
Dutch New Guinea and the ``Reckless'' Plan	59	(9)
Terrain and Planning	59	(6)
The Enemy's Situation	65	(3)
The Hollandia Operation, 21 April--6 June 1944	68	(23)
Aitape, 22--27 April	68	(3)
Battle of the Driniumor River, I June--10 August	71	(3)
Tanahmerah Bay, 22 April--6 June	74	(5)
Humboldt Bay, 22 April--6 June	79	(9)
Japanese Reaction and Retreat, 22 April--17 May	88	(3)
Wakde-Sarmi, May 1944	91	(12)
Biak, 27 May--1 June 1944	103	(14)
Biak-Bosnik	103	(5)
Z-day at Bosnik, 27 May	108	(6)
The Drive for the Airfields	114	(3)
The Japanese Reaction to Biak (Operation ``KON''), 27 May--13 June 1944	117	(17)
Decisions and Air Strikes	117	(2)
First Reinforcement Attempt, 31 May--4 June	119	(6)
Battle off Biak, 8--9 June	125	(6)
A-Go Cancels KON, Biak Secured, 10--22 June	131	(3)
Noemfoor and Sansapor, 2 July--3 September 1944	134	(15)
Noemfoor Island, 2 July--31 August	134	(6)
Sansapor, 30 July--31 August	140	(4)
New Guinea Epilogue	144	(5)
PART III THE MARIANAS
Preliminary Poundings and Final Plans, February--April 1944	149	(21)
Ladrones-Marianas	149	(5)
First Call, 23 February	154	(3)
Plans, Problems and Procedures	157	(10)
Japanese Preparations to Defend Saipan	167	(3)
Approach and Bombardment, 10 May--14 June 1944	170	(16)
Rendezvous and Approach, 10 May--10 June	170	(4)
Fast Carrier Air Strikes, 11--13 June	174	(5)
Pre-landing Bombardments, 13--15 June	179	(4)
The Underwater Demolition Teams	183	(3)
Saipan, 15--21 June 1944	186	(27)
D-day Battle, 15 June	186	(13)
Beachhead Secured, 15--17 June	199	(7)
Shore Advances and Counterattacks, 17--21 June	206	(4)
Phelps's Adventures, 16--21 June	210	(3)
Battle of the Philippine Sea, Preliminaries, 3 May--18 June 1944	213	(44)
Operation A-Go, 3 May--13 June	213	(9)
The Japanese Submarine Offensive, 14 May--4 July	222	(9)
``Forward to Decisive Victory,'' 12--15 June	231	(6)
Strikes on Iwo and Chichi Jima, 15--17 June	237	(3)
Feeling Each Other Out, 15--18 June	240	(17)
Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Action, 19--20 June	257	(48)
``The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot,'' 19 June	257	(21)
Guam-Rota Phase, 0530--1000
Ozawa's Four Massive Raids, 1000--1450
Mop-up on Guam, 1449--1845
The Submarines' Contribution, 19 June	278	(4)
Moving Westward, 2000 June 19--0500 June 20	282	(6)
The Air Battle of 20 June	288	(17)
The Approach
Twilight Air Battle, 1840--1900
Night Recovery, 2045--2300
Battle of the Philippine Sea, Conclusion, 20--24 June	305	(17)
Stern Chase, 20--22 June	305	(6)
``Operation Jocko,'' 24 June	311	(2)
Victory	313	(6)
Plane Losses	319	(3)
Japanese
United States
Saipan Secured, 21 June--9 July 1944	322	(19)
The Pattern of Air and Naval Support	323	(7)
The Struggle for Mount Tapotchau, 21--26 June	330	(4)
The North End Cleared, 27 June--9 July	334	(3)
Conclusion	337	(4)
Logistics for the Marianas	341	(10)
Conceptions and Principles	341	(2)
Food and Fuel	343	(3)
Ammunition	346	(1)
Shipping and Stretchers	347	(4)
The Fight for Tinian, 24 July--1 August 1944	351	(20)
Plans and Preparations, 12--23 July	351	(9)
J-day, 24 July	360	(4)
Tinian Taken, 25 July--2 August	364	(7)
Guam Recovered, June--August 1944	371	(32)
A Deferred Operation	371	(11)
First Phase of the Assault, 21--28 July	382	(16)
Northern Sector -- the Asan Beaches;
Southern Sector -- Agat Beaches and Orote
Island Secured, 29 July--10 August	398	(5)
Appendix I Hollandia Task Organization	403	(4)
Appendix II Naval Forces Engaged in the Capture of Saipan and Tinian	407	(5)
Appendix III Forces Engaged in the Battle of the Philippine Sea	412	(6)
1. United States, 19--20 June 1944	412	(4)
2. Japanese Forces in Operation A-Go, 1--20 June	416	(2)
Appendix IV Naval Forces Engaged in the Capture of Guam, 21 July--10 August 1944	418	(3)
Index	421