Typhoon of Steel

“The Japanese fought to win - it was a savage, brutal, inhumane, exhausting and dirty business. Our commanders knew that if we were to win and survive, we must be trained realistically for it whether we liked it or not. In the post-war years, the U.S. Marine Corps came in for a great deal of undeserved criticism in my opinion, from well-meaning persons who did not comprehend the magnitude of stress and horror that combat can be. The technology that developed the rifle barrel, the machine gun, and high explosive shells have turned war into prolonged, subhuman slaughter. Men must be trained realistically if they are to survive it without breaking, mentally and physically.”

- Eugene B. Sledge

Launched on April 1, 1945, the U.S. assault on Okinawa’s main island codenamed Operation Iceberg was one of the largest operations ever undertaken by the U.S. military. Involved almost 541,000 troops of The US Tenth Army, a cross-branch force consisting of the 7th, 27th, 77th, and 96th infantry divisions of the US Army with the 1st and 6th divisions of the Marine Corps, to fight on the island. Supported by combined naval and amphibious forces against 130,000 soldiers of the Japanese Thirty-second Army. , it also dispatched an unprecedented humanitarian task force to deal with Okinawa’s population of 450,000 civilians after operations...

By the end of the 82-day-long battle lasted from April 1 until June 22, 1945. Japan had lost roughly more than 77,000-110,000 soldiers and the Allies had suffered more than 65,000 casualties—including an estimated of 13,000 killed in actions.

Japanese forces changed their typical tactics of resisting at the water’s edge to a defense in depth, designed to gain time. In conjunction with this, the Japanese navy and army mounted mass air attacks by planes on one-way “suicide” missions; the Japanese also sent their last big battleship, the Yamato, on a similar mission with a few escorts. The “special attack” kamikaze tactics the Japanese used on these missions, although not especially sophisticated, were so determined that Allied forces perhaps faced their most difficult Pacific campaign. The net result made Okinawa a mass bloodletting both on land and at sea, and among both the island’s civilian population and the military.

A series of defense lines across the island, both north and south of the American landing beaches, enabled the Japanese to conduct a fierce defense of Okinawa over many weeks. Using pillboxes and strongpoints, caves, and even some ancient castles, the Japanese defense positions supported one another and often resisted even the most determined artillery fire or air strikes. Mounting few attacks themselves, the Japanese conserved their strength for this defense. Caves or pillboxes often had to be destroyed individually with dynamite charges. This battle took place in an environment much more heavily populated than most Pacific islands, with civilian casualties of almost 100,000 and equally heavy losses for the Japanese army. It was a scene straight out of hell. There is no other way to describe it.

The U.S. losses in this bloodiest final phase of Pacific war included 7,374 killed, 31,807 wounded, and 239 missing in action. The Navy suffered 4,907 killed or missing at sea and in the air.
The Japanese losses expended roughly every aircraft, a battleship, a light cruiser, and four destroyers, with casualties that can be estimated at upwards of 110,000 killed. And roughly 40,000 to 150,000 civilians killed.

"They fought together as brothers in arms; they died together and now they sleep side by side. To them, we have a solemn obligation, the obligation to ensure that their sacrifice will help make this a better and safer world in which to live."

-Chester W. Nimitz

This art took me about 4 days to create. I use CLIP Studio Paint EX for all of my artwork. All but 3 fursonas in this artwork are in fact an actual U.S. Marines who are currently in service, in training or retired veteran.

Special thanks to Rex Colt, Breach, Nightwatcher, Ruggles/Razor and SimonSeville1500  for allowing me to use their characters.

I have no upcoming plans for next month so... comment on what you want to see down below, I do read everyone's comment.