This study describes the air-sea offensive supporting the ground-force invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa in February and April 1945, which led to the sinking of the Yamato and the onslaught of the Japanese kamikaze.
The island invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa were the last two major ground campaigns to be initiated during the Pacific War. This superbly illustrated volume explores the air-sea aspects of these pivotal battles. Among the events covered are the 'death ride' of the Japanese battleship Yamato (the largest ever built), and the mass kamikaze attacks off Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as the amphibious invasions themselves, including the air-sea bombardment of the two islands. By early 1945, the US Navy had reached an exceptional level of coordination in its amphibious operations and was able to overrun and subdue Japanese territories efficiently. Faced with the increasing might of these forces and to prevent further defeat, Japan deployed its squadron of kamikaze and attacked many US heavy aircraft carriers and destroyers; several were sunk, while others were knocked out of the war. The book explores the devastating impact they had and considers the contribution of the USAAF and the British Pacific Fleet to the eventual victory of US air and ground forces.

INTRODUCTION
The strategic setting
Origins of the campaign
CHRONOLOGY
OPPOSING COMMANDERS
Japanese
Allied
OPPOSING FORCES
Japanese
Allied
Operation Iceberg orders of battle, April 1, 1945
OPPOSING PLANS
Japanese
Allied
THE CAMPAIGN
Commencing Detachment, February 16-20, 1945
Kamikaze attacks against Fifth Fleet, February 21
Winning Iwo Jima, February 24-March 26
Iceberg preliminaries, March 1945
L-Day at Okinawa, April 1
The Great Onslaught: Kikisui No. 1, April 6-7
Ten-Ichi-Go: Yamato's death ride, April 6-7
Kikisui No. 2, April 12-13
Kikisui No. 3, April 16
Kikisui No. 4, April 27-28
Kikisui No. 5, May 3-4
Kikisui No. 6, May 10-11
Kyushu diversion, May 13-14
Air and naval gunfire support of Tenth Army
Kikisui No. 7, May 23-25
Kikisui No. 8, May 27-29
Okinawa secured, June-July 1945
AFTERMATH
THE WARSHIPS TODAY
FURTHER READING
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
INDEX