Commanding the Pacific by Stephen R. Taaffe;

Author:Stephen R. Taaffe;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lightning Source Inc. (Tier 3)
Published: 2021-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

TINIAN

The occupation of Saipan did not end the V Amphibious Corps’ operations. Indeed, taking Saipan was in many respects a prerequisite for seizing a more precious objective just three miles off Saipan’s southern shore: Tinian. At thirty-nine square miles, Tinian is smaller than Saipan. Much of its prewar population of 18,000 grew sugarcane on tiny rectangular-shaped farms. Tinian derived its military value from its flat terrain, having none of Saipan’s forbidding mountains and cliffs. With Tinian in American hands, Army Air Force aviation engineers could construct as many airfields as necessary for the new B-29 Superfortress bombers to undertake the strategic bombing campaign designed to burn up the Japanese Home Islands. The only thing preventing the Americans from implementing this apocalyptic scenario was Tinian’s garrison of 8,900 Japanese troops.

In terms of terrain and Japanese defenses, Tinian certainly seemed like a weaker nut to crack than Saipan. Moreover, the Americans had their usual advantages of air and naval supremacy and all the firepower that came with it. In addition, much of Tinian was within range of artillery batteries emplaced on southern Saipan. On the other hand, Gen. Holland Smith had to conduct the invasion with the forces he had on Saipan. His three divisions had all suffered heavily from the fighting there, and some continued to mop up die-hard Japanese soldiers. His troops were tired and replacements few. Indeed, some battalions stood at half strength, which made Smith open to using every possible advantage to make Tinian’s occupation easier and quicker. There were only a few beaches on Tinian suitable for amphibious assault. The original plan called for landing at Sunharon Harbor, near Tinian Town. The problem was that it was the most obvious place to come ashore, so the Japanese had deployed their forces there in strength. The more Smith and his planning staff studied Tinian, the more convinced they became of coming ashore at two small beaches, collectively dubbed the White Beach, on Tinian’s northwest tip. Each beach was less than two hundred yards wide, well short of the five hundred yards a single battalion usually required for such an amphibious assault, let alone two regiments. Landing there, however, had the advantages of surprise and proximity. In fact, the Marines could motor over from Saipan, a less risky proposition than a ship-to-shore assault. Although tricky, it seemed doable.

Securing Turner’s support for the idea proved difficult. As far as Turner was concerned, White Beach was too small and the hydrography too uncertain for the suggested undertaking. At a meeting on Rocky Mount, Turner poured Smith a drink and came to the point. “Holland,” he said, “you are not going to land on the White Beaches. I won’t land you there.” Smith roared back, “Oh yes you will. You’ll land me any goddamned place I tell you to. I’m the one who makes the tactical plans around here. All you have to do is tell me whether or not you can put my troops ashore there.” After Turner explained his reasoning, Smith asked about the validity of his information.

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