Research Proposal By Sean Cowley

Research Paper Proposal Format-Due Week 3 Name: Sean Cowley Class: MILH360 Title: The Forgotten Battle of Peleliu Subject: Battle Analysis Thesis Statement: With the United States Fleet being on the offense and owning the Pacific Ocean, only the air space could be a Critical Vulnerability. This is why the Battle of Peleliu was imperative to knock out the enemy’s aircraft capabilities and increase the presence of Allied planes. Outline: Main points you will discuss in your paper. Delete any portions of the outline you do not plan to use. Paragraph 3 is the most important. Suggested Format for Modified Battle Analysis Paper 1. REVIEW THE SETTING (SET THE STAGE): a. Strategic/Operational Overview: The Japanese Operation was to be in the defensive posture across the Islands in hopes to deny the United States access to Mainland Japan. This would be utilized by using both aircraft and naval vessels. The United States found a new tactic they learned called Island Hopping. This Strategic plan not only ensured the safety of the naval Vessels, but also enabled the aircraft to be continuously on the offense enabling the initiative. This Operation conducted by the United States Marines would be known as “Operation Stalemate II”. b. Compare the principal antagonists (Operational/Tactical): “United States” (1) size and composition: - 1 st Marine Division. This Division is comprised of 1 st , 5 th , and 7 th Marine Regiment. They would also have artillery assets available since 11 th Marines were also attached for this operation. This comprised of a total of 26,000 U.S Marines in this Battle. (2) technology: - LST’s *Landing Ship Transport* were utilized to transport the Infantryman from the ship to the show line. These ships were equipped with Machine Guns that were able to suppress the island in order to give safety of landing. Naval Anti- Aircraft weaponry were utilized against the Japanese forces, Heavy artillery pieces and Naval Surface Fires were utilized to suppress the island and targets of opportunity. They also have demolition, flamethrowers, automatic rifles, and standard outfit of weaponry for an Infantry Company. (3) doctrine and training: - The 1 st Marines were one of the most combat ready units in the Pacific after just facing the Battle for Guadalcanal. They can be seen by being months into their operational tempo and have vast experience when it came to combat training. The Navy have been utilizing Naval surface fires on multiple islands and were extremely accurate in their fire in a timely manner. (4) leadership:

- The operation was broken down into 3 landing zones. The Ground Commander of the left known as * White* was none other than Colonel Lewis B. Puller also known as Chesty Puller. The Ground commander for the middle landing zone * Orange* was Colonel Harold D. Harris who went by callsign “Bucky”. The ground commander for the right landing zone *Orange 3* was the 7 th Marine Regiment commander Colonel Herman H. Hanneken whose callsign was “Hardheaded”. c. State the mission and describe initial disposition of the opposing forces. - The mission for 1 st mar was to seize Peleliu’s airfield in order to deny the enemies ability to utilize air assets. The Island looks more like a skinny finger that has been bent. The Japanese forces were mostly centralized in the middle in a strong point position. They utilized rock caves that were great for protection against indirect fire assets. - Compare the principal antagonist (Operational/ Tactical): Japanese 1.) Size and Composition: - The Japanese army was compromised of the 2 nd Infantry Regiment reinforced. This regiment had roughly around 10,000 soldiers outfitted with weaponry and in a defensive position. 2.) Technology: - They had indirect fire capabilities targeting mass concentration of troops, they had constructed rock caves that could protect themselves while having holes to be able to engage enemy personnel. They had aircraft capabilities and automatic weaponry. 3.) Doctrine and Training: - The Japanese soldier is a well spirited and disciplined troop. They are capable of being n a location with little logistics without any complaints. They would sacrifice their life knowing that it would be for their Country. The Japanese soldier has very little training due to their mission set of being sent directly off towards the islands in hopes to defeat the U.S 4.) Leadership - The Japanese tactics are different that the United States. Where we believe that a leader should be leading from the front of the troops to create the “fighter/leader concept”, the Japanese believed in tucking away their leader in hopes that he would be able to give orders without worry of being a casualty. The Peleliu Sector Unit Commander was Lt. Col Kunio Nakagawa. Above him in charge is Lt. General Sadao 2. DESCRIBE THE ACTION: a. Describe the opening moves of the battle. - The U.S conducted an amphibious assault on multiple key parts of the Island. 1 st Marines landed to the North on the landing point called white 1 and 2. 5 th and 7 th Marines focused their landing points to the center and south. These landing points would be on the Western portion of the Island. The initially bombardment of the Battle was from the Battleships utilizing their naval