Battle of Guam

The Battle of Guam was a military confrontation between the American landing forces and the Japanese defense garrison on the island of Guam, the Marianas, western Pacific. It was fiercely fought from July 21 to August 10, 1944, during WW2. It was part of Operation Forager, which was the Allied military campaign to recover the three main islands of the Marianas group; Saipan had already been liberated and secured, as the battle for Tinian would begin on July 24.

Units employed for the battle

This Allied invasion of the island of Guam was carried out by the III Amphibious Corps, led by General Roy Geiger. It was composed of the US 3rd Marine Division, the US Army's 77th Infantry Division, and the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade. On the other hand, the defense garrison consisted of the Imperial Japanese Army's 29th Infantry Division, under the command of Hideyoshi Obata.

Summary

After heavy bombardment of the island by the US Navy warships to soften up the terrain, the men of the 3rd Marine Division, under Allen Turnage, went ashore on the northern beach of the western coastline, to the west of the town of Agana. Where they landed was quite near the Japanese command post, which was located in the sandstone cliffs that overlooked the beach; a sort of a cave dug deep in the shore bluff. After ferocious fighting, they were able to secured the beachhead under enemy mortar fire, with the command post being destroyed by heavy naval gun fire. By July 22, they were already on top of the cliff. Then they divided into two columns as they advanced in southwards and eastwards direction.

Meanwhile, the 77th Infantry Division landed on the Orote Peninsula shore, while the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade set foot on a wide beach south to the Orote Peninsula. Having secured their beachheads, they advanced inwards and southwards. The Japanese were equipped with light tanks and armored vehicles, which were destroyed by the M4 Sherman tanks. The fierce fighting would last for 19 days. Finally, by August 10, the last pockets of Japanese resistance had been wiped out.

Below, US Marines fighting on a beach of Guam.

 Below, map of Guam, with the landing sites being marked in red line.