Iwo Jima

[OpanaPointer]

To discuss but not to argue and certainly not to lecture. Bud Abbot/ Lou Costello is a better analogy than the Three Stooges when no one knew who's on second and who's on first. The point of my analogy was that the various top commanders in the Pacific campaign seemed fragmented. BTW just curious, were any of you in any of the military service? any combat experience? WWII. Korea, Vietnam?

Please visit the sites in my sig.

Yes, please visit his site. Otherwise, he'll keep posting.

Pardon?

[donsor]

Don't worry. You've seen my last post.

[OpanaPointer]

*sound of door slamming*

[rcocean]

Don't worry. You've seen my last post.

I doubt it.

[rcocean]

*sound of door slamming*

I'll welcome you back when you decide to type more than two sentences a post.

[OpanaPointer]

*sound of door slamming*

I'll welcome you back when you decide to type more than two sentences a post.

I'm vague as to whom you are referencing here.

[rcocean]

Iwo Jima did have excellent medical planning. Saved a lot of lives.

[bronk7]

I've never read where the US had the big blockbuster bombs/modified aircraft like the British did....the Brits did knock down a viaduct with these...would they have been useful at Iwo?

[OpanaPointer]

I've never read where the US had the big blockbuster bombs/modified aircraft like the British did....the Brits did knock down a viaduct with these...would they have been useful at Iwo?

Few targets worth the lift, I think.

[bronk7]

if I'm correct the grand slam knocked down the Bielefeld viaduct, not from a direct hit, but by earthquake effect...if they dropped a few just on Surabachi, I would think major portions of some tunnels would've caved in...the Japanese were underground..and,obviously, standard bombing/naval fire could not hurt the underground fortifications that much..but, I don't think the US had a bomber that could carry the GS..all replies much appreciated and very interesting to me...ty.

[Kingfish]

Was the extent of the cave/tunnel fortifications even known before the Marines went ashore?

In any event, defense-wise a tunnel network is only as good as the exits, and during the campaign the USN had battlewagons firing over open sights directly at targets on Surabachi. You can't get much more direct than that.

[Takao]

The US didn't begin testing the Tallboy bomb on a specially modified B-29 until March, 1945, and the Grand Slam some time later. Tests with the Tallboy were not completed until June, 1945. IIRC, the B-32 Dominator could carry the Tall Boy and possibly Grand Slams.

[OpanaPointer]

Was the extent of the cave/tunnel fortifications even known before the Marines went ashore?

Not very well known as the commander required camouflage as part of the work.

In any event, defense-wise a tunnel network is only as good as the exits, and during the campaign the USN had battlewagons firing over open sights directly at targets on Surabachi. You can't get much more direct than that.

And you'll note that Suribachi was cleared before the "porkchop". The BBs didn't have the angle on the targets to provide plunging fire on level ground,

[bronk7]

The US didn't begin testing the Tallboy bomb on a specially modified B-29 until March, 1945, and the Grand Slam some time later. Tests with the Tallboy were not completed until June, 1945. IIRC, the B-32 Dominator could carry the Tall Boy and possibly Grand Slams.

roger that

[bronk7]

Was the extent of the cave/tunnel fortifications even known before the Marines went ashore?

In any event, defense-wise a tunnel network is only as good as the exits, and during the campaign the USN had battlewagons firing over open sights directly at targets on Surabachi. You can't get much more direct than that.

wouldn't you have to have a direct hit on the opening[even if they knew where they were] to do any damage?? how many direct hits on tunnel openings were there? I'm guessing not many--ty for all replies