Operation Stalemate II: The Invasion of Peleliu

First Division Marines head for the beach as their LVTs churn past the offshore line of LCI gunboats on September 15, 1944. USS LCIG-452 can be seen in the center and USS Mississippi (BB 41) is likely bombarding in the left distance. (80-G-59498, Naval History and Heritage Command)

 

By Zachary Smyers

HRNM Educator 

“As more than one Marine historian has said, it's unfortunate to the memory of the men who fought and died on Peleliu that it remains one of the lesser-known and poorly understood battles of World War II.” -Eugene B. Sledge, With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa 

Map of Peleliu with invasion beaches

This year marks the 76th anniversary of Operation Stalemate II, the invasion of Peleliu. Part of the Palau Islands in the Pacific Ocean, the island Peleliu is only 6 miles long, 2 miles wide. Military strategists deemed it a target in hopes that it could be used to support a future invasion of the Philippines. Located approximately 600 miles east of the Philippine Islands, the island has an extremely hot climate as well as high humidity, creating less than ideal conditions for the invading Marines. 

USS Maryland (BB 46) provided gunfire support with its 16-inch/45-caliber guns (80-G-455340, Naval History and Heritage Command)

The 1st Marine Division had the task of taking Peleliu, and would later be supported by soldiers from the Army’s 81st Infantry Division. Naval gunfire support centered around five battleships, including three built at Newport News Shipbuilding: USS Pennsylvania (BB 38), USS Maryland (BB 46), and USS Mississippi (BB 41). Prior to the Marines' landing on Peleliu, these battleships fired 519 rounds of 16-inch ammunition and 1,845 rounds of 14-inch ammunition, as well as shells from smaller caliber guns. Seven cruisers also lent their firepower to the three days of pre-invasion bombardment, and Navy aircraft from 19 aircraft carriers hit targets around the island, dropping 1,793 500-pound bombs.

 5-inch gun mounts aboard USS Pennsylvania (BB 38) fire at targets on Peleliu (Navsource)

Smoke billows from the pre-invasion bombardment (80-G-59497, Naval History and Heritage Command)

Despite the tremendous amount of firepower poured onto the island, the Japanese defenders remained safe in the various caves on Peleliu, having spent months preparing their defenses. The 10,000 Japanese troops under Lt. Col. Kunio Nakagawa had adjusted their tactics based on previous battles. Instead of immediately opposing the landing force, they developed a series of defenses inland, utilizing the terrain to their advantage.

Major General William Rupertus was in command of the invasion force. The 1st Marine Division would land at beaches divided into three landing areas with the three regiments (1st, 5th, and 7th Marines) of the division assigned different objectives. The invasion force had various support units, including three platoons of Marine War Dogs.

A Marine war dog and handler take a break (US Marine Corps Archives)

The initial landings took place at 8:32am on September 15, 1944. As the Marines made their way toward the beach, the Japanese held their fire and waited until the amphibious vehicles were in range. Then, the Japanese opened up with deadly accuracy, firing from concealed positions. The first wave suffered heavy casualties. The Marines managed to make it to their assigned beach sectors, and from there, attempted to carry out their objectives while facing heavy resistance.

Marines move forward slowly under heavy fire (US Marine Corps Archives)

On day 2 of the invasion, the 5th Marines captured the airfield despite heavy casualties. On day 3, Navy Seabees had the airfield ready for flight operations and F-4 Corsair fighter bombers from VMF-114 started to arrive at the airfield on the 11th day of the operation. They would provide much-needed close air support for the rest of the campaign. 

The island’s high ground, referred to as “The Point,” the Umurbrogol Pocket, would eventually earn a new name, “Bloody Nose Ridge.” The fight for the ridge was extremely costly for the 1st Marines. The Japanese not only held the high ground, but they also had well-concealed machine gun and mortar positions. The enemy maintained fire discipline, firing only when the Marines were in the kill zone. The 1st Marines suffered 70 percent casualties trying to capture the fortified position. The 81st Infantry Division was sent in after the Marines were bloodied from repeated attempts to take the ridge. With the Army's assistance, and using siege tactics, the high ground was taken. The island was declared secured on November 27, 1944.

Marines move through the rough terrain on the island toward the front lines (US Marine Corps Archives)

This operation was expected to take 3 to 5 days, but ended up taking 2 months, 1 week, and 5 days. The price to capture the island and the airfield was extremely costly. The 1st Marine Division suffered over 6,000 casualties, making them unable to fight again until the invasion of Okinawa in April 1945. The Army’s 81st Infantry Division took over 3,000 casualties. Ultimately, Peleliu would never be used as a staging area for future operations in the Pacific theater. 

A Navy corpsman gives water to a wounded Marine on Peleliu (US Marine Corps Archives)

Despite the heavy losses, the military learned valuable lessons about how to assault heavily-fortified positions. These lessons proved to be extremely helpful during the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. The lessons learned from “Bloody Nose Ridge” and how to assault a fortified position have been incorporated into Marine officer training at Quantico. The tactics used by the 5th Marines incorporating combined arms, concentrated fire, and movement during their assault on the airfield are taught at the Marine Corps’ School of Infantry.

Dedicated to Dot O. Headrick, who landed on Peleliu with the 5th Marines.

USS Maryland (Armored Cruiser 8) Ship Model

By Elijah Palmer
Hampton Roads Naval Museum Educator

(Photo by HRNM Educator Diana Gordon)

Shown here is a model of USS Maryland (ACR-8). Although not currently displayed in the main museum gallery, visitors can view it as part of the museum's 1907 exhibit on the third floor of Nauticus. The Maryland model was built by master ship model maker Greg McKay. For nearly forty years, McKay was a celebrated name among model shipwrights. His handiwork was not only appreciated by the Navy, but also by commercial shipyards and museums. The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is fortunate to have several of his models in the collection, including USS Roanoke and CSS Florida. 

The original USS Maryland was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and was commissioned in 1905. After serving with the Atlantic Fleet, she was sent to the Pacific where she stayed until the American entry into World War I. By that time, Maryland had been renamed Frederick so that a new battleship being built at Newport News (BB-46) could take the name USS Maryland. All the cruisers in this class were similarly renamed, including the famous USS San Diego,which was lost to a German mine. During the war, the cruiser patrolled and escorted convoys. After the Armistice, Frederick made several trips to bring doughboys back to the United States from Europe. Her postwar career was brief, however, as she was decommissioned in 1922, likely due to both her obsolescence and postwar budget cuts.

(Photo by HRNM Educator Diana Gordon)

 While the Maryland/Frederick might have been obsolete by the time she was retired, she was also a casualty of the times. During this era, naval technology was rapidly developing and changing. The US Navy experimented with many different designs, and naval building only increased after the Spanish-American War popularized the Navy. Some aspects of the armored cruiser's armament, such as the 6-inch broadside casemate guns, were a carryover from some of the earlier Steel Navy ships such as USS Chicago or USS Nashville. Yet her 8-inch turrets and streamlined appearance also evoke later designs, showcasing the cruiser's place in early 20th century naval evolution.

(Photo by HRNM Educator Diana Gordon)

Representing the Navy through a medium like photography can be a difficult task, as most images show either the whole ship from afar, or closer views of her embarked Sailors. Models like this one help us to visualize ships in a sort of happy medium, giving a sense of their scale and an appreciation of design features and details. Our museum is very grateful that our collection includes a great number of ship models to share with visitors, enriching their knowledge of the Navy's history.

Battleship Gunnery at the Battle of Surigao Strait

This gunnery trophy plaque off USS West Virginia (BB-48) hangs in our World War II gallery. As can be seen on the plaque, West Virginia won it five times in the first ten years after it was commissioned in December 1923. Although the plaque dates from the interwar period, the sailors of West Virginia lived up to their ship’s tradition during WWII. Built at Newport News right after WWI, it was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941. Rebuilt and brought back into service, the ship was part of the invasion fleet at Leyte Gulf in October 1944. Sailing alongside it were several other survivors of Pearl Harbor, including other Newport News-built battleships USS Maryland (BB-46) and USS Pennsylvania (BB-38).

In October 1944, the Japanese launched an all-out naval assault on the invasion fleet in Leyte Gulf. Their plan had multiple moving parts which led to problems. The Japanese divided their fleet into three sections. First a diversion force in the north would draw the main American force (under Halsey) away from the invasion fleet. Then two fleets would deploy in a pincer formation to attack the vulnerable landing and supply ships. The southern force (divided into two parts) was to head through the Surigao Strait.

Navy planes spotted and attacked the first part of the southern force under Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura on the morning of October 24 as it cruised south of the Philippine island of Negros. The detection of this force allowed Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf, in charge of bombardment/fire support for the invasion fleet, to set a trap for when the enemy force entered Surigao Strait that night. First the Japanese fleet had to make it through PT (patrol torpedo) boat attacks, then a crossfire of more torpedoes launched from destroyers, before having to deal with both a line of cruisers and a line of battleships, which would be maneuvering in the classic naval tactic of “crossing the T.” This tactic would allow for the greatest number of guns to bear on the Japanese while their return fire was largely limited to the lead ship. Besides West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, the American battleship force included two other Pearl Harbor survivors: USS Tennessee (BB-43) and USS California (BB-44). The sixth battleship included in the force was the Newport News-built battleship USS Mississippi (BB-41), which was doing escort duty near Iceland when the war started.

As the Japanese fleet headed into Surigao Strait, the torpedoes from the PT boats missed, but the destroyers had much better success. The U.S. destroyers were deadly with their torpedo attack, as they sank the battleship Fuso (one of two in the first striking force) and a destroyer, crippled another destroyer, and damaged another destroyer enough that it limped back the way it came. The flagship Yamashiro was also damaged but continued on toward the strait, along with the cruiser Mogami and a remaining destroyer. The second half of the Japanese force (under Adm. Shima) was nearly 30 miles behind, as strict radio silence had prevented close coordination. 

As opposed to their predecessors who earned the gunnery plaque, the sailors onboard West Virginia were aided by a new fire control radar system (Mk 8) which enabled them to detect the enemy at a great distance. In the early morning hours of October 25, the ship’s radar picked up the Japanese force at 42,000 yards (nearly 24 miles, or the length of 140 football fields). By the time they had approached to 30,000 yards, the gunnery crews had a firing solution, and when the Japanese ships approached to about 26,000 yards (nearly 15 miles) away, the 16-inch guns opened fire shortly before 0400 on October 25.

Mogami was badly damaged at the Battle of Midway, so the two aft turrets were removed and it was converted to an “aircraft cruiser.”

Yamashiro was the focus of most of the fire emanating from the American battleships and cruisers. It was hit numerous times and quickly caught on fire. In addition to the gunfire pouring in, the Japanese battleship was struck by more torpedoes, and it sank less than 30 minutes after West Virginia opened fire. Mogami was also badly damaged and on fire. In roughly 15 minutes of engagement, the U.S. battleships alone fired 285 (16 or 14-inch) armor piercing shells. West Virginia expended near half of the armor piercing ammunition, firing 93 rounds from its eight 16-inch guns. The old battle wagons resurrected from Pearl Harbor had exacted their revenge on the Japanese navy.

Shima’s force arrived too late to assist Nishimura’s ships and quickly fled the scene. Some U.S. cruisers and destroyers pursued them, sinking another destroyer and causing fatal damage to Mogami. The Japanese thrust from the south had utterly failed, but the northern part of the pincer was still a major threat, although Adm. Halsey inexplicably ignored it. The consequences of this decision would be readily apparent when the sun came up east of Samar on October 25, 1944. 

Pearl Harbor Battleships, Part I



New York Times announces
contract awards to Newport News
for West Virgina and Maryland.

Despite its physical distance from Pearl Harbor, the Hampton Roads area has long been known for its strong ties to many ships stationed in the Pacific.  When Japan launched its surprise attack against the U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the enemy targeted the eight battleships moored near one another.  Many of those battleships were either stationed, built, or overhauled in Hampton Roads before being sent out to the Pacific Fleet in the late 1930s.  Today and tommorow, we will be featuring photographs of those ships in remembrance of their sacrifice.

First are USS Maryland (BB-46) and West Virginia (BB-48).  Newport News Shipbuilding constructed and launched the 33,000-ton Maryland on March 20, 1920, and West Virginia on November 19, 1921. Observers considered them technological wonders of the age.  Not only did they come equipped with the most powerful guns in the Navy's inventory (Mk 6 16-inch/45), but they also came equipped with an all-electric drive that more efficiently linked the ships' fire rooms and boilers with the shaft and propellers.  This resulted in a savings in space and additional control over the speed of the ship. 

Maryland on Newport News'
building ways.

However, like all state-of-the-art technology, the ships were expensive.  Each vessel cost the American taxpayers about $40,000,000 (the Navy's total budget between 1920 and 1922 averaged about $700,000,000 a year, with major reductions on the horizon).  Because of the naval arms limitations talks taking place in Washington, many people feared that both ships would never actually make it to the fleet.  One reporter wrote, "West Virginia (BB-48), the newest addition to Uncle Sam's navy and the seventh of the electric battleships, launched at Newport News last Saturday and destined to grace the scrap pile within a few months under the naval reduction program. If the American plan is agreed to, the new $40,000,000 dreadnought, now 60 percent complete, will never be finished."

But the Navy spared both ships from the Washington Naval Treaty axe and commissioned them into the fleet.  After spending the 1920s in Hampton Roads, the Navy redeployed both vessels to the Pacific Fleet in the 1930s. 

West Virginia (at left) at Newport News Shipbuilding, 1923.  The larger ship at right is
 the giant 54,000-ton SS Leviathan. 



USS Nevada in Hampton Roads, 1927, during a Naval Review

The third ship to mention is USS Nevada (BB-36).  Built in 1914, Nevada was based in Hampton Roads for much of World War I. Under the terms of the Washington Naval Treaty, the U.S. Navy needed to decide whether to build new battleships and scrap the old ones, or upgrade the old ones and scrap battleships under construction.  It chose the second option.

Nevada arrived at Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) in 1929 and received a major technological upgrade.  Workers added two inches of deck armor; ten new five-inch guns for anti-aircraft (this was found to be seriously inadequate in the days after Pearl Harbor); retrofitted 14-inch guns to allow them to increase their elevation to 30 degrees; and received new geared turbines that had been originally slated for North Dakota (BB-29).  NNSY workers completed the job by the spring of 1930 and the ship immediately headed for the Pacific.

USS Nevada (far side of picture) at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, 1930.  
The ship on the near side is USS Arizona (BB-39).