From "Last Battle" to the Next War: Using Operation ICEBERG to Inform Multi-Domain Battle in the Indo-Asia Pacific

Abstract

This monograph examines Operation ICEBERG, the 1945 campaign to invade the Japanese-held Ryukyu Islands, most notably Okinawa, to inform how the US Army could employ its land combat forces in Multi-Domain Battle in the Indo-Asia Pacific region. The monograph reviews the Multi-Domain Battle Concept, then employs historical case study to describe the campaign, focusing on elements reflected in both. The investigation reveals examples of cross-domain maneuver in support of operations in the maritime domain, land forces enabling long-range fires, and strategic, operational, and tactical convergence creating a "window of advantage" for ground maneuver. It also identifies a situation where the failure to employ cross-domain maneuver likely prolonged the campaign. It then offers informed recommendations for the development of Multi-Domain Battle in the Indo-Asian Pacific and posits questions for further study.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 24, 2018
Accession Number
AD1071119

Entities

People

  • Jonathan C. Leiter

Organizations

  • School of Advanced Military Studies

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Cyber
  • Engineered Resilient Systems
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Amphibious Operations
  • Artillery
  • Boats
  • Case Studies
  • Combat Areas
  • Combat Forces
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Land Warfare
  • Landing Craft
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Navy
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • United States Pacific Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.