AD-A258 520I 111ff111 111 11111111 I 11 ll III{f~ll

ALEUTIAN CAMPAIGN, WORLD WAR II:HISTORICAL STUDY AND CURRENT PERSPECTIVE

A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. ArmyCommand and General Staff College in partial

fulfillment of the requirements for thedegree

MASTER OF MILITARY OF ART AND SCIENCE

by

ROBERT L. JOHNSON, JR., MAJ, USAB.S., McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1977

DTICS F LECTESEG3O01992 1

AFort Leavenworth, Kansas

1992

Approved for public release; distribution Is unlimited.

92 12 23 152 92..32794

1 Form Appfo~oedREPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE M NO. 07 ,o-18

p.b(.c ieporlg Oawden fof this c 6oltition of ,nfoetilM.o6 ,1 eft'. t4ed to &.*(Age I hou? Cet ,eS0QAle. fnluCd.ng the tme to( erC.ieng nstf.cliOni. sea ch.ng C.,t!Ag data vofieb.gthettn.j And ma.nta.nmi; the data nteded. and c4fflaItflsg an'd tesCwfg the CQIIfeton #. ."IA'Imot1(n4 ommen Is reIaraon th, b..rraen eltlma1e Oan, en t O the, oCI 0 th,,ohlertlOn Of ,nflfOr tofl. .l..dnr tsuggettiOn fot ed gmn this uO.den. to Wd,lnqton 4eaq.anlerst Servce%. Otaopue Of IAon~at,on Ope.rions a-d RepOr. Ili$ Jleito

0a,,% Ngh-ay. Suite 1204. Arhnqiofl. VA 222024 10). and to the Oftlce of hiauaqemenl and ..dget. Pdoenrwott l Reduction Prole" (0704-01&p). Washington. OC 2050Q

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I 7 June 1991. I Master's Thesis, 1 Aug 90-7 June 914. TITLE AND SUBTITLE S. FUNDING NUMBERS

The Aleutians Campaign, World War II:Historical Study and Current Perspective

6. AUTHOR(S)

Maj Robert L. Johnson, Jr., USA

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) S. PERFORMING ORGANIZATIONREPORT NUMBER

U.S. Army Command and General Staff CollegeAttn: ATZL-SWD-GDFt. Leavenworth, KS 66027-6900

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This work is a detailed historical study of the Aleutians Campaign conducted byU.S. Armed Forces from 3 June 1942 through 18 August 1943 to gain control of theNorth Pacific and eject the Japanese from Attu and Kiska Islands. The campaign,characterized by combined and joint operations, involved an extended air battle, abrutal fight for control of the waters of the western Aleutians, and two majorcombat amphibious operations. The Aleutians Campaign, of major significance at thetime, quickly became over-shadowed by later naval, air, and amphibious operationsconducted in the Pacific. Though studied extensively after August 1943 to applylessons learned to other operations, the Aleutians Campaign attracted littleattention by military scholars in the years after World War II. This study detailsthe conduct of the campaign and applies tactical, operational, and strategic aspectsto the current U.S. Army model for campaign planning. There is significant parallelwith current U.S. doctrine for conducting a regional campaign, especially in anaustere theater, with that used to conduct the Aleutians Campaign in the NorthPacific theater of operations.

14. SUBJECT TERMS IS. NUMBER OF PAGES

Alaska, Aleutian Islands, North Pacific, World War 1I, 206Campaign Planning, U.S. Army amphibious operations, Attu, Kiska 16. PRICE CODEIslands.

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ALEUTIAN CAMPAIGN, WORLD WAR II:HISTORICAL STUDY AND CURRENT PERSPECTIVE

A thesis presented to the Faculty of the U.S. ArmyCoummand and General Staff College In partial

fulfillment of the requirements for thedegree

MASTER OF MILITARY OF ART AND SCIENCE

by

ROBERT L. JOHNSON, JR., MAJ, USAB.S., McNeese State University, Lake Charles, Louisiana, 1977

Accesion For

NTIS CRZI&IOTIC iJ,13 ]

JUSt~tICCt~on

By .............................................Di-t ib,,tio,;, I

Fort Leavenworth, Kansas1992 A,aL,.:,'

Dist

Approved for public release; distribution Is unlimited.

DTrc QUALITy INSPECTEDa2

MASTER OF MILITARY ART AND SCIENCE

THESIS APPROVAL PAGE

Name of candidate: Major Robert L. Johnson, Jr.

Title of thesis: Aleutians Campaign, World War II: Historical Studyand Current Perspective.

Approved by:

Thesis Committee ChairmanI~od E.Bon'hD

f r f" 7tham, B-.A.

L.- . " -, , MemberMr. Charles W. Timmons, M.S.S.M.

Accepted this 5th day of June 1992 by:

#U49________________ ______ Director, Graduate DegreePhilip J. Brookes, Ph.D. Programs

The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the studentauthor and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. ArmyCommand and Staff College or any other governmental agency.(References to this study should include the foregoing statement.)

iI

ABSTRACT

THE ALEUTIANS CAMPAIGN, WORLD WAR II: HISTORICAL STUDY AND CURRENTPERSPECTIVE by MAJ Robert L. Johnson, Jr., USA, 206 pages.

This work Is a detailed historical study of the Aleutians Campaignconducted by U.S. Armed Forces from 3 June 1942 through 18 August 1943to gain control of the North Pacific and eject the Japanese from Attuand Kiska Islands. The campaign, characterized by combined and Jointoperations, involved an extended air battle, a brutal fight for controlof the waters of the western Aleutians, and two major combat amphibiousoperations.

The Aleutians Campaign, of major significance at the time, quicklybecame over-shadowed by later naval, air, and amphibious operationsconducted in the Pacific. Though studied extensively after August 1943to apply lessons learned to other operations, the Aleutians Campaignattracted little attention by military scholars In the years afterWorld War II. This study details the conduct of the campaign andapplies tactical, operational, and strategic aspects to the currentU.S. Army model for campaign planning.

There Is significant parallel with current U.S. doctrine for conductinga regional campaign, especially In an austere theater, with that usedto conduct the Aleutians Campaign In the North Pacific theater ofoperations.

ill

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am deeply appreciative of the assistance of a great number ofpeople who contributed to this effort. The time and advice freelygiven by the staff of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Library,especially Mrs. Betty Bohannon and Mr. Craig Mclean, were invaluable.Also, I am thankful for the support given by my fellow offices of StaffGroup 15, especially Major David Lewis. Their moral support and advicekept me going strong and will never be forgotten.

My most sincere acknowledgement of outstanding support must go tomy wife, Lawanna and son, Mark. The understanding and enthusiasm theyimparted to me sustained this effort at every step. Not only did sheassume most of the family responsibilities during this year, but shegave birth to our second son, Nicholas In February 1992. There islittle more one could ask of a spouse. Thank you so much.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTERS PAGE

Introduction--Aleutian Campaign, June 1942-August 1943 .............. 1

Chapter One--Japanese Offensive in the Aleutians..................... 8

Two--Stand-Off In the Aleutians..............48

Three--Prelude to an Amphibious Operation................... 82

Four--Assault on Attu and Kiska ........................... 126

Five--The Aleutians Campaign: A Current Perspective ........ 170

Bibliography..................................................... 197

FIGURES

Figure l--Map of North Pacific...................................... 6

2--Chain of Commnand, Joint Chiefs to North Pacific ............. 7

3--Japanese Eastern Defensive Perimeter...................... 12

4--Nap Depicting Battle of Midway ........................... 16

5--Map of Alaska and Aleutians .............................. 37

6--Organization of U.S. North Pacific Force (TF Eight) ........ 50

7--Organization of Japanese Fifth Fleet, 20 May-9 June ........ 68

8--Organization of Japanese Fifth Fleet, 9-13 June ............ 69

9--Organization of Japanese Fifth Fleet, 13 June-15 August .... 70

10--Organization of Task Force Fifty-one..................... 111

11--Organization of Task Force Sixteen................... 112-113

12--Attu Landing Plan....................................... 117

13--Dispostlon of Eneny Forces on Attu....................... 125

14--Capture of Attu......................................... 129

15--Plan for Klska Landing.................................. 164

v

INTRMDUCTON

On the 3rd of June 1942 aircraft of Japan's Northern Naval Force

attacked the United States' naval station on Unalaska Island In the

Aleutians. This aerial attack on Dutch Harbor Naval Base and Fort

Mears,the companion army base, and the follow-up attack conducted the

next day, were the opening shots of a battle for control of the North

Pacific and the Aleutian Islands that would continue until the early

fall of 1943 (Refer to Figure 1, Map of the North Pacific, page 6).

Action In the North Pacific and on the Aleutian Islands during

World War II were small operations in relation to the combat in Europe,

and It pales In comparison with the major amphibi