Chapter 34 90% are waiting

Fortunately, the expected worst-case scenario did not happen. Under the bombardment of the support ships, although the Japanese fortifications were only slightly damaged, the telephone lines were blown up. Major General Shibazaki lost contact with most of the fortifications and could only command a small number of troops under his jurisdiction. The group continued to conduct disruptive shooting throughout the night, which also forced the Japanese army to fail to implement large-scale mobilization. The most frightening night was finally over.Early the next morning, all the U.S. troops on the shore were tired, thirsty and hungry.Although the Japanese did not launch a night raid, none of the Marines could sleep well at night.Each of them carried two water jugs, but they drank them dry in the hot weather, and Betio Island had no natural water source to replenish.The ration was only for one day, and I had finished it.

Even in this case, the fighting cannot be stopped, because 90% of Betio Island is still in the hands of the Japanese army.Shibazaki has issued a strict order to his soldiers: "Stay in all important areas until the last soldier dies, and wipe out the enemy at the water's edge." Compared with the first day, the fire support situation on the second day has been greatly improved. Whether it is bombarded by naval guns or bombed by carrier-based aircraft, the hit rate is constantly improving.Around noon, the tide began to rise, and the landing craft climbed over the reef, sending follow-up troops and marine artillery to Xiaopu, which made the marines gain more convenience when advancing, but the actual combat was still far more difficult than imagined.

In the process of advancing, they will encounter invisible enemy soldiers unexpectedly at any time, so they cannot maintain the formation and organization stipulated in the drill.Squads, platoons, and companies disappear, and the basic combat unit becomes a fire team, which may be as few as two or three people, but may be as many as 200 people-a patchwork of leftovers from different units, the commander may sometimes be an officer, But it could also be a fresh recruit. Almost all fights are close quarters, requiring crawling, rolling, or jumping and diving.But in this special battle, protecting oneself is more important than killing the enemy.Every time they enter a new area, the Marines must try their best to find shelters, including trees, bomb craters, and even bombed Japanese fortifications.If you can't find it, you have to dig yourself a foxhole.

Looking for cover is to avoid being killed by the powerful and secretive firepower of the Japanese army.At this point, the marines could neither advance nor retreat, they could only lie down on the ground and let the machine gun bullets fly past their backs. This period of time can be as short as a few minutes, or as long as several hours, but no matter how long it is, you have to wait, otherwise you will die.Although the Marine Corps admires heroism, it does not advocate that everyone feeds bullets like the Japanese army. During the waiting time, naval guns, carrier-based aircraft, or coastal artillery may be called to blow up the fortifications, or other fire teams may use detours to destroy the enemy at close quarters with explosives or flamethrowers. So they can keep fighting.

Someone described that 90% of the fighting on Betio Island is waiting, and only 10% is fighting. Even at the climax of the fighting, it is inevitable to continue waiting: "Wait a minute, in this unfortunate war, just Just wait!" It took the Marines a day to advance 800 yards. By sunset, the battle line had advanced to the south coast, and the Japanese army was surrounded in the center of the airfield.In the telegram sent in the evening, Shope was already full of optimism about the prospects: "The troops suffered heavy casualties, and the number of casualties is unknown. Battle results: we are winning!"

On this day and night, even if the Japanese army could be organized, they were unable to counterattack. Some Japanese soldiers who felt desperate began to commit suicide.Some people used grenades to blow up their stomachs and performed "alternative seppuku"; some put the muzzle of a rifle under their chin and pulled the trigger with their toes. On November 22, the third day after the U.S. troops landed, division reserves and army reserves went ashore one after another, and many tanks and chariots also joined the battle, but the number of U.S. casualties was still rising.The reason is that although the Japanese army knew that victory was hopeless and that there was no reinforcements in the future, they still hid underground like mice and refused to surrender.

In the morning, Shibazaki sent the last telegram from the command bunker: "We have destroyed our weapons. From now on, everyone prepares for the final battle. Long live the Empire of Japan!" Afterwards, the bulldozers of the Marine Corps used sand The entrance to the bunker was blocked, the vents above the bunker were filled with gasoline, and the US military ignited it with a grenade, sending Shibasaki and his 300 soldiers into the Yasukuni Shrine. After a day of hard work, the U.S. military finally occupied the airport, and the remnants of the Japanese army were squeezed into a small area.But when the darkness came, the Japanese soldiers who had lost their unified command even brandished bayonets and launched a suicide charge.

Fighting against the Japanese is unpredictable. As long as you are not completely conquered, they will definitely fight you to the death.The first battalion to be impacted was the 1st Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment, and the Thomson-type submachine guns suitable for close-range killings began to show their prowess. During the Battle of Guadalcanal, the Marine Corps reluctantly adopted the Lessing submachine gun because the number of Thomson submachine guns was not allocated enough and was not suitable for jungle warfare.Reluctantly, this kind of submachine gun was not suitable for the tropical rainforest climate, and was finally thrown into the river by the marines.By the end of 1943, the production of the Thompson submachine gun had increased greatly, and it had become the mainstream standard submachine gun.The Thomson submachine gun is known as the "trench broom". Under the fierce sweep of the Thomson submachine gun, the Japanese army was beaten like piles of mud in front of the position.

The Sixth Marine Regiment is a reserve force directly under the army, and it is also the main force of the US military during the day. They have been fighting hard for a day under the scorching sun, and they are subjected to this kind of torture at night. Many people feel unbearable and even lose their minds.Moreover, no matter how dense the firepower network was in the dark, there was negligence. The Japanese soldiers came one after another, and one after another died, and finally some Japanese soldiers rushed into the American positions. Lieutenant Toms, the commander of Company B, also jumped into the position. Thomas' pistol had been emptied of bullets. In desperation, he raised his empty pistol and smashed the Japanese soldier's skull, only to escape.

Through hand-to-hand combat, the Japanese captured a small salient between Company A and Company B.After being called, the support ships bombarded the position violently, thus ending the last fierce battle on Betio Island.