Combat· World War II
Minatoga Beaches Feint
While the main landings struck the west coast, a feint went in on the opposite shore to pin Japanese reserves away from the real beachhead.
The 2d Marine Division and a naval demonstration group ran an ersatz amphibious assault toward the southeast beaches, loading landing craft conspicuously and sending them toward shore in timed waves before turning back, repeating the division's successful diversion from Tinian. The deception worked: Ushijima held major front-line infantry and artillery in this sector against a secondary landing he continued to expect. The Marines were the deception force, carrying out the demonstration that fixed enemy reserves in place, a contribution invisible on the map but real in its effect. Kamikazes drawn to the feint, convinced it was the main effort, inflicted genuine losses on the supporting ships.
Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 854