Explain why iwo jima was invaded

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Air power dictated the American decision to assault the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima early in The new B bomber, developed at great cost to replace the standard B used for bombing in Europe, possessed immense potential for altering the strategic balance of the war in the Pacific.

The B had a longer range and payload than its predecessor and was more heavily armed. It could soar to 30, feet to drop bombs, higher than enemy anti-aircraft weapons and fighters could reach — although the bombers would have trouble hitting their targets from that height.

Still, to reach Japan from the American-held Mariana Islands, aircraft had to detour around the Bonin Island chain, which included Iwo Jima, because of Japanese aircraft stationed there. However, capturing Iwo Jima instead of avoiding it would allow the Americans to use its airfields for refueling bombers on the way to Japan and back. It could also become a base for American fighter aircraft that could escort the bombers and allow them to drop bombs from a lower altitude — within range of enemy fighters, but far more accurately.

Planners believed heavy and well-targeted bombing of Japan was a necessary prelude to invading the home islands. Sometimes U. They decided to fight on Iwo Jima. The map shows areas occupied by Japan in the Pacific and the advance of U.

The Japanese recognized the importance of the tiny volcanic island of Iwo Jima a mere two-and-a-half by five miles in size — and intended to defend it to the utmost of their power.

Instead of fighting the Americans on the beaches, however, Japanese troops intended to hold out in deep fortifications built far inland, killing thousands of Americans while their kamikaze suicide bombers inflicted terrible losses on the American fleet. Their introduction in October had been a mark of desperation by the Japanese, but they also shocked the Americans and were initially effective in sinking numerous vessels.

Three U. Marine divisions landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, , and gradually worked their way inland. They faced heavy resistance that an air and naval bombardment failed to subdue because the Japanese were underground in their fortifications.

This photograph shows the Marines of the 5th Division advancing up a slope during the battle of Iwo Jima. Marines planted and raised a flag to mark their capture of the peak, to the delight of American witnesses, but a Japanese grenade attack interrupted them when the enemy heard the Americans cheer for the flag.

A short while later, another detachment returned to the peak to replace the flag with a second, larger one. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment on film. After a largely unopposed initial advance, US forces soon encountered a network of Japanese inland defenses. Heavy rains and rugged terrain impeded easy movement, and natural defense positions covered the island. A vicious land, sea, and air battle raged for nearly three months. While US Marines overcame Japanese defenses in northern Okinawa by April 18, opposition in the south proved formidable.

The Japanese anchored their defenses at historic Shuri Castle, supported by a series of well-defended high ridges. These defenses, and sporadic Japanese counterattacks, held up the American advance.

The US aircraft carrier Bunker Hill burns after being hit by two kamikaze planes within 30 seconds during the Battle of Okinawa, May 11, Suicide plane attacks began during preliminary operations on March Five days after the initial landing on April 1, a wave of Japanese army and navy kamikaze aircraft struck the armada of Allied ships supporting the invasion, and further attacks continued into June.

By the end of the campaign, Japan would launch almost 2, suicide attacks against the invasion fleet, including manned rocket-powered Ohka flying bombs. The attacks tested the nerves of even veteran sailors as 26 ships were sunk and another damaged. But once the fighting was over, the strategic value of Iwo Jima was called into question. This line of defenses included islands like Iwo Jima.

Given this information, American military leaders planned an attack on the island that they believed would last no more than a few days. Although Allied forces led by the Americans bombarded Iwo Jima with bombs dropped from the sky and heavy gunfire from ships positioned off the coast of the island, the strategy developed by Japanese General Tadamichi Kuribayashi meant that the forces controlling it suffered little damage and were thus ready to repel the initial attack by the U.

Marines, under the command of Holland M. On February 19, , U. Marines made an amphibious landing on Iwo Jima, and were met immediately with unforeseen challenges.

First and foremost, the beaches of the island were made up steep dunes of soft, gray volcanic ash, which made getting sturdy footing and passage for vehicles difficult.

As the Marines struggled forward, the Japanese lied in wait. Within days, some 70, U. Marines landed on Iwo Jima.

Although they significantly outnumbered their Japanese enemies on the island by a more than three-to-one margin , many Americans were wounded or killed over the five weeks of fighting, with some estimates suggesting more than 25, casualties, including nearly 7, deaths. The Japanese, meanwhile, were also suffering major losses, and were running low on supplies—namely, weapons and food. Just four days into the fighting, U. That image was captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, who won a Pulitzer Prize for the iconic photograph.

Battles raged on in the northern part of Iwo Jima for four weeks, with Kuribayashi essentially setting up a garrison in the mountains in that part of the island. The American forces sustained a number of casualties, but ultimately quelled the attack. Dozens of Americans were killed during this process.