The Assault on Peleliu
byMajor F. O. Hough, USMC
Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1950
Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1950
THE COVER OF THIS NARRATIVE shows the assault waves approaching Peleliu's smoke-covered beaches.
| Chapter | Page | ||
| 1. | Background | 1 | |
| Strategic Situation, 1944 | 1 | ||
| Concept at Top Level | 3 | ||
| Some Geography and History | 4 | ||
| 2. | Planning and Preparation | 10 | |
| Higher Level Plans | 10 | ||
| Planning on Division Level | 13 | ||
| Intelligence Phase | 14 | ||
| Operational Planning | 18 | ||
| Logistics | 20 | ||
| Preliminary Bombardment | 24 | ||
| Troop Training Program | 25 | ||
| Shortage of Equipment | 29 | ||
| Loading and Mounting Out | 34 | ||
| 3. | D-Day on Peleliu | 36 | |
| The Fight on the Left | 38 | ||
| In the Center | 41 | ||
| The Southern Zone | 45 | ||
| The Japanese Strike Back | 49 | ||
| The Command Situation | 54 | ||
| 4. | Second Operational Phase: D-plus 1--D-plus 7 (16-22 September) | 59 | |
| Clean-up in the South | 62 | ||
| Advance of the 5th Marines | 67 | ||
| Difficulties of 1st Marines | 74 | ||
| Irresistable Force Versus Immovable Object | 83 | ||
| 5. | "A Horrible Place" | 94 | |
| Supporting Arms and Auxiliary Elements | 98 | ||
| Summary | 103 | ||
| 6. | Third Operational Phase: D-plus 8--D-plus 15 (23-30 September) | 104 | |
| The 81st Division on Angaur | 106 | ||
| Isolation of the Umurbrogol | 109 | ||
| Drive to the Northward | 116 | ||
| Ngesebus to Radar Hill | 123 | ||
| Further Operations of RCT 321 | 129 | ||
| Other Developments and First Reliefs | 133 | ||
| 7. | The Umurbrogol Pocket: D-plus 14--D-plus 30 (29 September-15 October) | 136 | |
| Operations of the 7th Marines | 143 | ||
| Final Drive of the 5th Marines | 154 | ||
| Relief and Departure of 1st Marine Division | 167 | ||
| 8. | The Wildcats Take Over (15 October-27 November) | 171 | |
| 9. | Conclusion | 179 | |
| Appendices | |||
| A. | Bibliography | 184 | |
| B. | STALEMATE II and the Philippines Campaign | 190 | |
| C. | Japanese Defensive Concept | 192 | |
| D. | Japanese Caves | 194 | |
| E. | Aviation at Peleliu | 198 | |
| F. | The Mysterious Mission of Murai | 200 | |
| G. | Marine Order of Battle for Peleliu | 203 | |
| H. | Command and Staff | 205 | |
