Operation Detachment

Abstract

This chapter is a narrative of D-day on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands and a description and analysis of the planning for and the execution of naval gunfire missions in support of the assault. This is followed by an analysis of the effectiveness of that support and of the application of the lessons that had been learned at Tarawa. The Japanese defenses on Iwo Jima rendered the lessons learned at Tarawa practically irrelevant.