On July 26, 1942, theater commanders gathered to discuss the impending landing operation. However, attendees Vandergraft found Fletcher restless and indifferent to the upcoming action. When the central topic was raised, Fletcher suggested that the carrier had to be grounded in the area for no more than 48 hours because of concerns about the enormous threat from land-based enemy aircraft.
This proposal greatly displeased Vandergrift. He understood that the retreat of the aircraft carrier could make the situation of the Marine Division even more dangerous. However, between Lieutenant General Fletcher and Major General Vandergraft, there is a distinction between high and low ranks, both in rank and position. Vander Rift could only patiently explain: "The Marine Division has 18,000 men, and it is not realistic to land in two days, and we need at least five days of air cover." ”
Fletcher's insistence put a lot of psychological pressure on Van der Graft. He was eager to land in a shorter time, however, the Marine Division had not been a full-fledged combat unit and had not been trained for a systematic landing. It takes time and patience to raise the level, and Van der Rift is running out of time.
According to intelligence, the construction of the Kuah airfield by the Japanese army has been in full swing. By mid-July, the airport's airstrip was almost complete and is expected to be operational by mid-August. Faced with a tight schedule, the troops must depart at the end of July, regardless of whether the training is complete or not.
At the last staff meeting, Vandergreft did everything he could, even smashing the table with his fists, vowing to complete the organizational preparations for the offensive in the last 48 hours. However, he faced a formidable challenge during the landing exercise for the 1st Marine Division on 28 July, Xi.
After the Xi began, the scene was chaotic, and almost all the procedures and steps were not to the point. The landing craft swirled in the sea, and the officers eagerly conveyed orders, but in vain. Although the first attack wave was successfully organized, many ships were still stranded a few hundred meters from land, and it was difficult for soldiers to get ashore. The whole Xi ended in failure, which made Vandergraft feel heavy.
The soldiers also realized the failure of the Xi exercise, and gave the future landing battle a name called the "small capital management" campaign, which means that the small profit is thin and can no longer expect a big harvest.
Suddenly!On the eve of the decisive battle, the landing exercise Xi turned into a "small capital operation".
This unexpected situation had a profound impact on the upcoming decisive battle. The crisis between Fletcher and Van der Grift and the fiasco of the landing Xi cast a heavy shadow over the entire military program. It remains to be seen how this contingency will affect future military operations.
The difficulties and setbacks encountered by the U.S. Marine Corps in preparing for the Kuah landing in the early years of World War II are described above. At this critical juncture, the disagreements between Fletcher and Van der Graft came into focus, and the final landing Xi ended in a fiasco, casting a heavy shadow over the entire military plan.
First, the clash between Fletcher and Vandergravet highlighted disagreements and decision-making differences among senior leaders in the military. Fletcher was concerned about the carrier's stay in the danger zone for too long, while Vandergraft stressed the need for landing operations and the need for air cover. This discord between the top leadership poses a great threat to the smooth running of a military operation.
Secondly, the failure of the landing exercise Xi demonstrates the dangers of conducting a major military operation with insufficient planning and preparation. The success of a military operation depends not only on the decisions of the leadership, but also on the training and equipment of the soldiers, as well as the coordination of all aspects. During the Xi, almost all steps went out of control, causing the landing craft to spin around in the sea, ultimately frustrating the soldiers.
The defeat also underscores the enormous pressures faced by the military at a time of urgency. The urgency of time forced the army to set off without being fully prepared, which was a great challenge for a combat unit. In the last 48 hours, Vandergravet struggled to organize the landing Xi, but encountered various problems that ultimately prevented the preparation of the entire operation from proceeding smoothly.
Finally, the soldiers' nickname for the Xi, "Small Books", reveals their concerns about the entire landing plan and their dissatisfaction with the leadership. The nickname vividly expressed the soldiers' doubts about the quality of the operation and the fullness of the plan, and it was a satire of the execution of the army as a whole.
To sum up, the difficulties and failures experienced in the preparation for the Kuah Island landing operation are not only a setback in military operations, but also a huge test of the military organization and leadership decision-making. Such experiences will have far-reaching implications for future military planning and leadership decision-making, and serve as a reminder of the importance of adequate preparation and coordination in military operations to ensure the success of operations.
Disclaimer: The above content information is ** on the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or insinuate any real country, political system, organization, race, or individual. The above content does not mean that the author of this article agrees with the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any issues arising from the above or related issues, and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.
If the content of the article involves the content of the work, copyright**, infringement, rumors or other issues, please contact us to delete it. Finally, if you have any different thoughts about this event, please leave a message in the comment area to discuss!