Roosevelt betet
„Herr, segne unsere Profite! Die braven Boys dürfen nicht umsonst gefallen sein…“ (Zeichnung: Mjölnir)
Landungsschiffe zum Überfall auf Europa
Mit der Notwendigkeit, Landungsunternehmungen schnell und einigermaßen sicher durchführen zu können, hat sich bei den Amerikanern und Engländern ein neuer Schiffbauzweig entwickelt, der sich mit dem Bau von Landungsfahrzeugen verschiedener Art befasst. Die Engländer haben sogar schon vor Ausbruch dieses Krieges besondere Angriffsboote zur Landung von Sturmtruppen hergestellt und auch praktisch erprobt. In großem Maßstab aber haben die Konstruktion und der Bau von Landungsschiffen und Booten erst im Laufe des jetzigen Krieges eingesetzt. Welchen Umfang er angenommen hat, geht unter anderem aus einer Aussprache im amerikanischen Kongress hervor, in der davon gesprochen wurde, zu einer wirklich den großen Erfolg versprechenden Invasion müßten 60.000 (!) Landungsfahrzeuge bereitgestellt werden. Das ist sicher eine der üblichen amerikanischen Übertreibungen, aber weit in die Tausende hinein reicht, wie die Invasion an der französischen Kanalküste zeigt, die Zahl der großen und kleinen Einheiten dieser Schiffstypen mit Sicherheit.
Bei den in Frage kommenden Fahrzeugen unterscheidet man 1. Landungsboote (Landing Craft, Abkürzung LC), 2. Landungsschiffe (Landing Ships, Abkürzung LS) und 3. Transporter mit zusätzlicher Landungsbootausrüstung.
Im Allgemeinen werden die Fahrzeuge so konstruiert, daß das Vorschiff aufklappbar ist. Damit wird erreicht, daß der Inhalt – Mensch, Fahrzeuge und sonstiges Material – nachdem das Fahrzeug auf den Strand aufgelaufen ist, unmittelbar über eine Klappbrücke an Land gelangen kann. Voraussetzung dafür ist sandiger Strand, der das Auflaufen der Fahrzeuge ermöglicht. Die aufklappbare Bugkonstruktion hat den Nachteil, daß sie die Seefähigkeit der Fahrzeuge ziemlich stark beeinträchtigt. Bei den großen Landungsbooten wird unterschieden zwischen Infanterie-Landungsbooten und Kampfwagen-Landungsbooten.
Am stärksten ist bisher das seefähige Infanterie-Landungsboot von etwa 250 Tonnen Wasserverdrängung in die Erscheinung getreten. Es läuft 18 Seemeilen (34 Stundenkilometer) und nimmt bis 250 Mann auf. Der Fahrbereich ist groß, 1500 Seemeilen (2500 Kilometer). Da die Boote über See gehen, hat man – um die Seefähigkeit zu erhalten – auf die Bugklappe verzichtet. Das Ausschiffen der Mannschaft erfolgt über zwei ausfahrbare Fallreepe. Zahlreiche dieser Boote sind bereits bei den Landungen in Italien benutzt worden. Die Überfahrt von den Bauwerften in den USA über den Atlantik haben sie mit eigener Kraft durchgeführt, wobei sie sich anscheinend gut bewährt haben.
Die Kampfwagen-Landungsboote verdanken ihr Entstehen der zwingenden Notwendigkeit, Panzerwagen bei Landungen möglichst schnell ansetzen zu können. Ihr Fassungsvermögen beträgt je nach ihrer Größe von 120 bis 350 Tonnen 3 bis 6 Panzerwagen. Sie laufen 14 Seemeilen (25 Stundenkilometer).
Alle diese Boote sind mit einer Anzahl von 2- und 4-Zentimeter-Flak bewaffnet.
Die kleinen Landungsboote, deren Seefähigkeit naturgemäß sehr beschränkt ist, bewegen sich in den Grenzen von 4½ bis 18 Tonnen. Von ihnen sei das schnelle Mannschafts-Landungsboot (4,5 Tonnen) und das Landungs-Sturmboot (7,5 Tonnen) hervorgehoben. Diese kleineren Boote werden im Allgemeinen auf den Landungsboottransportschiffen herangebracht. Das schnelle Mannschafts-Transportboot wird vornehmlich bei überfallartigen Unternehmungen, in erster Linie bei Nacht verwendet. Ein derartiges Boot kann bei einer Besatzung von 4 Seeleuten 20 Mann Landungstruppen befördern. Das 7¾ Tonnen große Landungs-Sturmboot soll bei Landungen an verteidigten Küsten eingesetzt werden. Es ist mit 5-Millimeter-Panzerung versehen, hat eine Bugklappe und ist je nach Bedarf mit Granat- und Nebelwerfern oder auch mit zwei Maschinengewehren bewaffnet. Bei einer seemännischen Besatzung von 5 bis 6 Mann kann es 35 Soldaten oder 4 Tonnen Material aufnehmen.
Eine besondere Abart der kleinen Landungsboote sind die amerikanischen Amphibienboote. Sie können, obgleich nur 2,5 Tonnen groß, 25 Mann aufnehmen. Ihre Geschwindigkeit an Land beträgt 60 Stundenkilometer, im Wasser jedoch nur den fünften Teil. Diese Fahrzeuge werden auf Kampfwagen-Transportschiffen verladen und über die Bugklappe zu Wasser gebracht. Sie wurden zum erstenmal in Sizilien benutzt. Neben den vorgenannten Landungsbooten, die sich wie das Infanterie-Landungsboot schon zu kleinen seegehenden Fahrzeugen ausgewachsen haben, ist eine große Anzahl von Landungsschiffen für den Transport starker Truppenverbände vorgesehen.
Es lag nahe, in erster Linie die Fährschiffe, die den Verkehr auf den Kanälen und auf engen Meeresarmen betreiben, für die Landungen nutzbar zu machen. Das ist auch in weitgehendem Maße geschehen. Bei bisherigen Landungen sind derartige, für ihre besonderen Zwecke noch verbesserte Fähren eingesetzt worden, daneben aber auch vollkommen neu konstruierte Schiffe, deren Laderaum bis zu 30 Panzern oder eine entsprechende Anzahl von Kraftfahrzeugen aufnehmen kann.
Die Landungsschiffe sollen die Landungsboote in die Nähe der geplanten Ausschiffung bringen. Zu solchen Landungsboottransportschiffen wurden unter anderem auch holländische und belgische Kanalschiffe umgebaut. Das holländische Kanalfährschiff Queen Emma kann sechs bis acht Landungssturmboote, zwei Motorlandungsboote zu je 18 Tonnen und 450 Mann Landungstruppen an Bord nehmen. Zum Teil entwickeln diese umgebauten Fährschiffe Geschwindigkeiten bis zu 25 Seemeilen (47 Stundenkilometer), so daß sie auch schnelle Kriegsschiffverbände begleiten können.
Die Kampfwagen-Landungsschiffe sind neue Konstruktionen, die sowohl in England als auch in Amerika gebaut werden. Man kann damit rechnen, daß sie mindestens 20 Panzer mit sich führen. Der amerikanische Typ kann sogar ein kleines Kampfwagenlandungsboot von 120 Tonnen an Bord nehmen. Die Landung der Panzer erfolgt über die Bugklappe. Die Amerikaner haben gerade von diesem Typ eine stattliche Anzahl gebaut. Sie sind 3.000 Tonnen groß und laufen 16 Seemeilen (30 Stundenkilometer).
Unter den amerikanischen Amphibienfahrzeugen sei noch der in der Presse oft genannte „Alligator“ hervorgehoben. Seine Abmessungen sind: Länge 6,3 Meter, Nutzlast 2.300 Kilogramm, Zuladung 10 Mann. Die sehr wendigen Wagen erreichen im Wasser eine Geschwindigkeit von 10 Seemeilen (18 Stundenkilometer), an Land das Doppelte. Sie wurden zuerst bei den Landungen des amerikanischen Marinekorps in Guadalcanal benutzt.
Vorstehend sind lediglich die am häufigsten genannten und hervorstechendsten Vertreter der Landungstransportmittel behandelt. Darüber hinaus haben unsere Gegner noch viele Abarten der einzelnen Typen entwickelt. Da die deutsche Wehrmacht die Absichten der Gegner kennt und durch die bereits vorliegenden Erfahrungen des jetzigen Krieges auch über die zur Anwendung kommenden Mittel unterrichtet ist, kann man in Deutschland der nun begonnenen Invasion unter Einsatz der modernen Landungsmittel mit aller Ruhe entgegensehen.
Br.
Innsbrucker Nachrichten (June 21, 1944)
Schwere Abwehrschlacht in Italien
Die großen Verluste der Invasionsflotte – Das Störungsfeuer auf London hält an – 58 Terrorflugzeuge abgeschossen
Aus dem Führer-Hauptquartier, 21. Juni –
Das Oberkommando der Wehrmacht gibt bekannt:
In der Normandie wurde der feindliche Brückenkopf östlich der Orne weiter eingeengt. Feindliche Angriffe südwestlich Tilly wurden zerschlagen, 15 Panzer dabei abgeschossen. Angriffe des Gegners nördlich Valognes scheiterten. Gegen die Südfront der Festung Cherbourg fühlte der Feind mit schwächeren Kräften vor, die abgewiesen wurden. Mehrere gepanzerte Spähwagen wurden in Brand geschossen.
Bei den Kämpfen im Landekopf hat sich die Besatzung eines Stützpunktes der Luftnachrichtentruppen unter ihrem Kommandanten Oberleutnant Egle durch besondere Tapferkeit ausgezeichnet.
Das Störungsfeuer gegen London wird fortgesetzt.
Kampfflugzeuge erzielten in der Nacht Bombentreffer auf feindliche Schiffsansammlungen vor der normannischen Küste.
Seit dem 6. Juni versenkten Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine sowie Heeres- und Marineküstenbatterien vor der normannischen Küste und im Kanal, nicht eingerechnet die feindlichen Verluste durch Minentreffer, 2 Kreuzer, 4 Schnellboote, 27 Fracht- und Transportschiffe mit 167.400 BRT und 12 Panzerwagenlandungsschiffe mit 18.300 BRT. Durch Bomben-, Torpedo- und Artillerietreffer wurden 3 schwere Kreuzer, 3 weitere Kreuzer, 21 Zerstörer, 9 Schnellboote, 68 Handels- und Transportschiffe mit 287.000 BRT, 2 Landungsfahrzeuge mit 4.000 BRT und ein Dampfer mittlerer Größe beschädigt.
Auf einer Frontbreite von über 140 Kilometer tobte auch am vergangenen Tage in Mittelitalien die große Abwehrschlacht in unverminderter Stärke. Immer wieder versuchte der Gegner unter scharfer Zusammenfassung seiner Kräfte diese Front aufzureißen. Am harten Widerstand unserer Truppen scheiterten alle Durchbruchsversuche des Feindes. Nach Bereinigung örtlicher Einbrüche war die Hauptkampflinie am Abend voll in unserer Hand. Lediglich im Raum nordwestlich Perugia kamen die Kämpfe noch nicht zur Ruhe. Die blutigen Verluste des Feindes waren besonders hoch.
Während der gestern gemeldeten Rückführung unserer Truppen von der Insel Elba wurden bei der Abwehr von See und Luftangriffen zwei feindliche Schnellboote versenkt, zwei weitere schwer beschädigt und zwei Jagdbomber abgeschossen. Dabei haben sich die unter Führung des Korvettenkapitäns Wehrmann stehenden Kampffähren und die Marineküstenbatterie Piompino besonders ausgezeichnet.
An der südlichen Ostfront, südlich der Smolensker Rollbahn und südöstlich Witebsk scheiterten örtliche Vorstöße der Bolschewisten.
Sicherungsstreitkräfte der Kriegsmarine versenkten am 19. und 20. Juni im Finnischen Meerbusen in harten See- und Luftgefechten fünf sowjetische Schnellboote, beschädigten weitere sechs, von denen ein Teil in Brand geriet, und schossen neun feindliche Flugzeuge ab. Ein eigenes Fahrzeug ging verloren.
Starke nordamerikanische Bomberverbände führten am gestrigen Vormittag Terrorangriffe gegen die Städte Hamburg, Hannover, Magdeburg und Stettin. Es entstanden Schäden und Personenverluste. Luftverteidigungskräfte vernichteten 58 feindliche Flugzeuge, darunter 49 viermotorige Bomber. Weitere 23 viermotorige Bomber mußten nach Angriffen unserer Jäger und Zerstörer auf schwedischem Gebiet notlanden.
Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (June 21, 1944)
Communiqué No. 31
Allied troops advancing on CHERBOURG have reached prepared positions defending the deep-water port.
VALOGNES, LES PIEUX, COUVILLE and RAUVILLE-LA-BIGOT have been liberated.
In the TILLY area, three German attacks have been held.
There has been active patrolling on all other sectors of the front.
Flying-bomb sites in the PAS-DE-CALAIS, a coastal battery at HOULGATE and gun positions in the CHERBOURG PENINSULA were targets for medium and fighter-bombers yesterday afternoon and evening.
Other fighter-bombers struck at locomotives, troop trains and railway installations in widespread areas of northern FRANCE. Preliminary reports show that 11 enemy aircraft were destroyed, while four of ours are missing.
Last night, light bombers attacked railway centers at MÉZIDON and CHARTRES and other enemy communications. Night fighters destroyed two enemy aircraft.
Communiqué No. 32
Allied forces have made further progress in the battle for CHERBOURG and the area held by the enemy is steadily diminishing.
Our advance up the entire peninsula has been rapid. On the east, we have driven forward astride the main road north from VALOGNES. To the west a broad thrust has taken us to within five miles of the sea, liberating the villages of TEURTHÉVILLE-HAGUE and ACQUEVILLE.
Heavy fighting continues in the TILLY-CAEN area, where attacks and counterattacks have left the front generally unchanged.
In other sectors, there has been patrol activity.
Dense cloud over the battle area limited air operations this morning. Five flying-bomb sites between CALAIS and AMIENS were attacked by medium and light bombers.
U.S. Navy Department (June 21, 1944)
CINCPAC Communiqué No. 58
In the afternoon of June 19 (West Longitude Date), carrier-based reconnaissance planes of the Fifth Fleet sighted a Japanese fleet, which included carriers and battleships, approximately midway between the Mariana Islands and Luzon. Aircraft of our fast carrier task force were immediately ordered to attack and made contact with the enemy fleet before dusk. Enemy losses and our own losses have not yet been assessed. Additional details will be made known as they become available.
In the ground fighting on Saipan Island, our assault troops made advances in a northly direction along the western shore of Magicienne Bay and made progress against an enemy strongpoint at Nafutan Point. Severe fighting continues.
CINCPAC Press Release No. 452
For Immediate Release
June 21, 1944
Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four bombed Shumushu in the Kurils before dawn on June 17 (West Longitude Date). Fires were started near the airfield. No opposition was encountered. Paramushiru Island was bombed by Ventura search planes of Fleet Air Wing Four and Liberators of the 11th Army Air Force before dawn on June 19. Anti-aircraft fire was meager and no attempt was made, to intercept our force.
Truk Atoll was attacked by 7th Army Air Force Liberators during daylight on June 19. Intense anti-aircraft fire was encountered but there was no fighter opposition. Ponape Island was bombed by 7th Army Air Force Liberators and Mitchells on June 19.
Mille, Maloelap and Wotje Atolls were bombed on June 19 by Corsair fighters and Dauntless dive bombers of the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Ventura and Catalina search planes of Fleet Air Wing Two, Group One, and Navy Hellcat fighters.
The Free Lance-Star (June 21, 1944)
U.S. AND JAP FLEETS LOCKED IN BATTLE
Full-scale naval engagement believed in progress off Philippine Islands
U.S. commanders eager to bring enemy to action
USPACFLT HQ, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (AP) –
Giant battle fleets of the United States and Japan faced each other today in the 1,500 miles between the Philippines and Marianas amid indications that preliminary blows may have already opened a history-shaking naval engagement.
“Possibly the entire Japanese fleet” has entered the area, Adm. Chester W. Nimitz disclosed. It was the first report on the whereabouts of the long-sought Navy of Nippon since its crushing defeat at Midway in June 1942.
Eager and ready for battle is the Fifth Fleet with “enough muscle… to take care of everything” in the words of the confident Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet.
A Japanese naval spokesman was quoted in a Berlin broadcast today as saying Nippon’s air and naval forces “have successfully engaged an American fleet,” but Tokyo radio, in another broadcast to the homeland, quoted an Imperial Headquarters communiqué as acknowledging “we have suffered considerable losses of ships and planes.”
Hard land battle
On the embattled Saipan, in the Marianas 1,500 miles southeast of Tokyo, the going is still tough. The Yanks called on planes, artillery and guns of warships to help crack bitter resistance of an estimated 20,000 Japanese, a Nimitz communiqué last night reported.
The communiqué said:
Our troops now hold the entire southern portion of the island from the southern outskirts of Garapan [principal city of 10,000 six miles up the southwest shore] across to the center of the western shore of Magicienne Bay [three and a half miles up the island’s southeast side].
To the south of Saipan, enemy airfield on Tinian were shelled by warships and bombed by planes. Saipan was invaded June 14.
What may prove to have been the first preliminary blow of a showdown naval fight was struck Sunday from enemy aircraft carriers. Their planes, flying from the direction of the Philippines by way of Guam and Rota in the Marianas, paid a frightful cost of 300 aircraft in trying unsuccessfully to sunk U.S. carriers and battleships of the invasion fleet. Last night, Nimitz told a press conference that not one combat ship was sunk.
Then the admiral issued an electrifying hint that the enemy blow was paid back with success Monday. He said cryptically it was possible that damage was inflicted on elements of the enemy fleet that day.
Has abundant power
Nimitz assured a press conference the Fifth Fleet packs sufficient “power to be favorable to us in a decisive engagement,” even if it is massed more than 1,000 miles beyond the U.S. advance naval base in the Marshalls and 3,800 miles from Pearl Harbor.
He said:
We hope the Jap fleet will stay in that [Philippines] area. As long as they stay, we have a chance to get at them.
Ready to figure in a decisive naval engagement is an “unsinkable carrier,” the 3,600-foot Aslito Airdrome captured by Marines and soldiers.
Also ready to send land-based bombers into action is the air arm of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. His planes are poised within bombing range of the Philippines and adjacent ocean area at captured Mokmer Airfield on Biak in the Schouten Islands off North Dutch New Guinea. Today, he announced the capture of two more airfields on Biak.
600 planes destroyed
The destruction of the enemy’s 300 carrier planes, extremely costly because of the long training required for carrier pilots, raised to nearly 600 the total Japanese air losses in the Marianas since the U.S. carrier task force moved against that segment of Nippon’s inner defense perimeter.
Nimitz said:
If we lost 600 naval planes in two or three days, we’d be very unhappy, even with our plane production.
Nimitz emphasized that he had expected Japan’s violent reaction at Saipan because it is in the last island defense line before China and the Philippines.
The 72-square-mile island was invaded “on the assumption the Japanese would bring out everything they possible could.”
He expressed conviction Japan no longer possesses the naval strength to use the Marianas for an offensive, but “the Japs need to hold them to keep us from penetrating west of their island defense line.”
“And north, too,” interposed RAdm. C. H. McMorris, chief of staff, with an eye on the Japanese homeland.
Nimitz said the Aslito Airdrome will promote “control of the air in the immediate Marianas area.” But, considering all the angles, he noted the Japanese hold the advantage of land-based air reconnaissance west of the Marianas and that the first concern of the U.S. Fleet must be to safeguard the Saipan invaders. Even so, he was supremely confident.
He said:
I can’t control Japanese fleet movements. If I did, there definitely would be a naval engagement.
YANKS FIGHTING INSIDE CHERBOURG
Powerful assault overcomes Nazi defenses in suburbs – full of city due hourly
Possibly 50,000 Germans face surrender or death
Allies press toward Cherbourg
Enlarging the wedge driven across the Normandy Peninsula to cut off the port of Cherbourg from the rest of France, Allied forces were reported within a few miles of the city in the vicinity of Saint-Martin. Arrows on map indicate direction of Allied drives.
SHAEF, London, England (AP) –
U.S. troops smashed within 1,500 yards – less than a mile – of Cherbourg’s waterfront today, driving between two fortress bastions under cover of air and artillery bombardment.
The fall of the great supply port seemed only a matter of hours tonight.
The piledriver offensive crashed through the suburbs along the inland road between Fort du Roule and Fort Octeville, Nazi strongpoints shuddering under bombs as well as leaflets calling on the trapped Nazis to surrender.
Nazi demolition squads worked feverishly to cripple the port – through which the Allies could pour a flood of men and supplies into Normandy.
Other advances
Another force rolling the trapped Germans back on the left flank seized Acqueville, at the base of Cap de la Hague, the land finger jutting northwest of Cherbourg and possible offering a chance of escape by sea.
Troops on the right flank advanced beyond Valognes, and Supreme Headquarters declared “good progress” was made toward the prize harbor today.
Supported by powerful artillery and air bombardment, veteran U.S. troops assaulted Fort du Roule, within a mile of Cherbourg’s docks, and Fort Octeville, bastion two miles in front of the military harbor area, blasted by Nazi demolitions.
Last-ditch stand
The Germans staged a last-ditch defense in these strongpoints, and fighting was reported in the built-up suburban section of France’s third largest port.
Eighty Nazi tanks have been destroyed by the Allied liberating armies to date, Supreme Headquarters said.
Heavy fighting was reported in the Tilly-sur-Seulles area near the center of the front, and a U.S. spearhead to the west had pushed within two miles of Saint-Lô, communications hub of Normandy.
The assault upon the two forts at Cherbourg sprang forward from Saint-Martin-le-Gréard, four miles south of the port.
Fort de Roule, a major key to control of the besieged German stronghold, stands atop a 450-foot hill.
The French worked for more than a century building up Cherbourg’s forts and defenses and the Germans are now making a last stand in the inner ring – which embraces part of the city itself.
Smoke hung over the city as the trapped German defenders carried out hurried demolitions in the strategic harbor, now in plain view of the attacking U.S. troops.
Escape cut off
German defenses have stiffened and there are indications the Nazi High command has ordered a house-to-house fight by some 25,000 to 50,000 Germans now left with virtually no chance to escape. Allied broadcasts last night urged the trapped garrison to surrender.
Although the three main roads to Cherbourg from the south run into one main highway bottleneck just outside the city, U.S. troops were apparently closing in from three sides – south, west, and east.
Communiqué No. 31 from Supreme Headquarters this morning announced that the towns of Valognes, Les Pieux, Couville and Rauville-la-Bigot were in Allied hands, but the advance U.S. line runs some distance beyond these points.
The suburban and city area which now has become a battlefield has an estimated population of 60,000. The population of the city proper, according to latest reports, is approximately 33,400 and an additional 27,000 live in the suburbs.
Doubt sea shelling
Despite German reports, the Supreme Command said it has no knowledge that Allied warships were shelling Cherbourg from the sea and declared such an attack was unlikely.
The port is protected by seven heavy coastal forts which should be much simpler to take by land assault than from the sea.
Only patrol activity was reported elsewhere on the Normandy beachhead except in the Tilly-sur-Seulles area.
The British announced the capture of Onchy, three and a half miles southwest of Tilly. At the same time, the Germans launched three heavy counterattacks on the newly-taken British strongpoint of Hottot, two miles south of Tilly. The attacks were reported held, but the situation in the village itself was obscure.
The Caen area even farther to the east was quiet.
A gale continued to blow in the Channel. Six-foot waves whipped over the invasion beaches, making unloading of supplies impossible for the time being.
Bad weather hampered aircraft over the battle area, but fighter-bombers blasted Cherbourg guns and forts. Many of the missions took to the air from landing grounds in Normandy.
German infantry shortage glaring
Gen. Eisenhower’s advanced post, England (AP) –
A glaring shortage of infantry in Normandy has compelled Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt to commit his prized panzer units to the actual line of battle instead of holding them in the rear as a striking weapon, and information reaching Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower’s headquarters today is that at least 78 Nazi tanks have been destroyed.
Reporters at advanced headquarters have been told that von Rundstedt is now in a position where he cannot bolster his crumbling Normandy defenses without weakening other areas, including Pas-de-Calais and Southwest France.
Sending the panzers into frontline battle, von Rundstedt sacrificed 18 Panthers and 27 Tigers, as well as other types. In addition, it was said here, many more German armored units have been crippled.
Heavy attack made on Berlin
Bombers fly eastward to possible bases in Russia
…
Correspondent ‘reeling’ in heavy Berlin raid
…
Americans seize Saipan airfield
300 enemy planes lost as Japanese are pushed back
Aboard joint expeditionary force flagship off Saipan, Mariana Islands (AP) –
Rolling back remnants of two Japanese divisions, U.S. forces have swept across Saipan Island to seize strong control of the southern part of the island and Aslito Airfield, its greatest prize.
This 3,600-foot field is necessary for protection against developing Japanese air attacks. U.S. land-based planes will soon operate from here, replacing carrier aircraft which so far have done a lone-handed job in keeping the skies clear.
The enemy lost 300 planes in a vain attempt to cripple the amphibious force which stormed ashore six days ago. They did not succeed in sinking a single ship.
The Americans expanded an 8,000-foot beachhead into nearly a third of the island, smashing across it clear to Magicienne Bay and to a short distance south of Garapan. The line from near Garapan skirts the strongly defended Mount Tapochau, the extinct volcano towering over the center of the island. Then the line extends toward Magicienne Bay, thence southwards along the coast, where a small body of Japanese are trapped on rocky Nafutan Point, Saipan’s southeastern extremity.
The landing of Army reinforcements and heavy artillery on the southern beaches in support of hard-pressed Marines, who have borne the brunt of the fighting, paved way for a general attack along the entire line. Supported by coordinated artillery and naval gunfire and powerful aerial strength, the Americans struck the Japs at many points.
The attack around Charan Kanoa, where the Americans were once compelled to withdraw almost to the beach, started in a heavy tropical downpour which drew a rain curtain over the opposing troops.
Japanese report big naval battle
Enemy makes fabulous claims of U.S. ships sunk
New York (AP) –
A Japanese broadcast said today that a “fierce naval battle” is raging in the Central Pacific off the Marianas.
The British radio said “a Japanese spokesman was quoted as saying that this battle would have far-reaching effects on the Pacific war situation.” CBS recorded the London report of the Japanese broadcast.
There was no confirmation from Pearl Harbor and no indication when Adm. Chester W. Nimitz might have more to say about the operations.
The Tokyo radio, meanwhile, asserted today than a U.S. battleship listed in a Japanese communiqué yesterday as sunk by planes off the Marianas June 16 was of the 45,000-ton Iowa class.
The enemy broadcast, entirely without confirmation, said another battleship claimed to have been heavily damaged was of the 35,000-ton North Carolina class “and went down to a watery grave the night of June 15 off the Marianas.”
The broadcast went on:
Two out of four United States aircraft carriers which were heavily damaged and set ablaze or left heavily listing the night of June 17 were of the 24,000-ton Essex type while another of the 10,000-ton Independence type which had been converted from a cruiser. A fourth appeared to be also of the Essex type.
Thanks Jap Navy for ‘cooperation’
Navy chief confident U.S. forces can deal with situation
Washington (AP) –
Adm. Ernest J. King, Navy commander-in-chief, declaring appreciation for the “long expected cooperation” of the Japanese Navy in apparently moving into battle position, expressed confidence today in the outcome of a prospective naval engagement in the Western Pacific.
King said:
The sooner the Japanese fleet fights, the better we’ll be satisfied.
He made his statement after Navy Secretary Forrestal had reported that despite strict radio silence from the Pacific there have been some indications that U.S. forces “may have succeeded in catching up with all or a part of the Japanese fleet yesterday.”
Forrestal added that there is, however, “no definite information” as to the prospective engagement.
Forrestal reported that the Japanese fleet has been sighted at “various times during the last few days, milling around from 500 to 800 miles to the westward of Saipan Island” in the Marianas east of the Philippines.
A Japanese broadcast recorded in London said today that a “fierce naval battle” is raging off the Marianas.
Attack from carriers
Forrestal said Japanese planes attacked U.S. naval units near Saipan Sunday and indicated that the planes apparently came from carriers which at that time were some 500 miles to the westward.
The Japanese plan, he continued, seems to have been to launch thew aircraft, with the idea that after attacking they would be able to land for refueling on Guam and Rota, Japanese-held bases in the Marianas.
He continued:
We have no other details of the resulting air battle other than the fact that our forces were ready for the attack.
Our carrier aircraft and ships’ anti-aircraft guns wiped out most of the Japanese planes.
At Pearl Harbor, Adm. Nimitz has reported that the Japanese have lost at least 600 planes since action began in the Marianas.
King, asked about the prospective engagement there, said that the communiqué from Nimitz speaks for itself and, combined with Forrestal’s report, covers the situation “as accurately as we know it.”
Shows no worry
“You are not worried about the outcome?” he was asked. “No,” he replied, shaking his head.
He added that in any major operation, losses must be expected, in fact, are allowed for in preparation and plans for the action. But, King continued, the losses to date in the Marianas “have been less than allowed for.” He said he referred to all types of action in the air, on the sea and among troops fighting on land.
King also disclosed that plans long under consideration had been reviewed again for close cooperation of the British with U.S. forces in the war against Japan when it is possible to swing strength to the Pacific and away from Europe.
Editorial: Superior ordnance
While the major credit for the success of the invasion of France and the campaign in Italy obviously should go to the men who face the bullets, the enterprise could not have been so successful were it not for the superb equipment in the hands of the troops, equipment which enabled them to blast down strong German defenses.
It is not generally realized how many new weapons have been designed during this war. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, commanding general of the U.S. Army Service Forces, recently said that “with the exception of the Garand rifle, there is hardly a piece of equipment un use today that existed at the beginning of the war.”
It is a bit difficult to think of Uncle Sam as an outstanding designer of implements of war, because he has been interested almost solely in the peacetime arts. In World War I, this country did not distinguish itself through the designing of brand-new weapons. But in this conflict, the inventive genius of America really got into stride.
Gen. Somervell points out that the best test of the value of American equipment is the fact that:
Our field commanders, instead of calling for equipment patterned after foreign models, as they did in the last war, are completely satisfied with the Made-in-USA weapons. They’re not asking for any British or German equipment.
The achievement of the ordnance division is more remarkable when it is remembered that the Germans had the advantage in this field as, being the aggressors, they laid their plans far ahead. They framed the pattern for the new type of warfare and they knew what type of equipment they wanted to prosecute such a war. It is to the credit of America that it surpassed the war’s creators in inventiveness and ingenuity.
Editorial: Nazi air strength
Unleashing of Germany’s “secret weapon,” the rocket bomb, against England – a device which has demonstrated only nuisance value – has stirred discussion of Germany’s air strength.
In all the thousands of words describing progress of the fighting on the Normandy front to the most minute detail, there has been little mention of German resistance by air. Undoubtedly, Allied commanders have a general idea of the size of Hitler’s once-boasted Luftwaffe. It has become plain that the German Air Force can offer nothing more than token resistance to the thousands of Allied planes now roaming almost at will over Europe.
When it was disclosed the Allied invasion forces were assembled on the English coast for six days before start of the Channel crossing, Hitler’s failure to send at least a few bombers against them points to only one conclusion. Here was the prize target of all time. Thousands of ships, side by side for miles, fully loaded with men and equipment, were sitting like ducks on a pond. Bombs dropped in their midst would certainly have taken terrible toll. Invasion might have been delayed for days.
But no planes came over, not a single bomber, in spite of the fact Berlin said it knew what was in the air. Even if the Germans had viewed it as just another bit of practice, it would have been worth shooting at.
Either Hitler had no planes to spare or he blundered again, missing an opportunity as he did following Dunkerque, when he hesitated to invade England. The conclusion must be that German air strength is on the wane, if it is not already at the vanishing point.