MIGHTY NINETY
The Homepage of USS ASTORIA CL-90
DETACHMENT: The Invasion of Iwo Jima
H-Hour on D-Day. This photo was taken as the first waves of U.S. Marines and Navy personnel came ashore at Iwo Jima on 19 Feb 1945.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from www.history.navy.mil
19 Feb 1945: D-Day
Once the order was given at 0630, the first waves of U.S. Marines began to pour onto the designated landing beaches of Iwo Jima. Ten minutes later, at 0640, the U.S. Navy commenced their support bombardment.
Ships from Task Force 58 played a role from the start. Two battleships and three cruisers had detached from the carrier force off Japan and now provided fire support alongside Task Force 54 for the landings throughout the day.
Meanwhile, ASTORIA in company of the remainder of the Fast Carrier Task Force steamed toward Iwo Jima. The carriers launched air strikes against nearby Chichi Jima and Haha Jima as they passed. At midday the carrier force took position off Iwo Jima and launched their planes again--this time in support of the Marine landings.
It became clear as the day progressed that actual ground gained would fall far short of D-Day expectations. The Japanese were too well dug in and resistance was fierce. Additional naval gunfire would be required for shore bombardment in the days that followed, and ASTORIA was called upon to assume this role.
20 Feb 1945: D+1
As Task Group 58.3 refueled 75 miles west of Iwo Jima, Cruiser Division 17 was ordered to detach and move in toward the pitched battle. ASTORIA, PASADENA, and WILKES-BARRE joined Task Force 54 as temporary Task Unit 54.1.18 along with heavy cruisers SAN FRANCISCO CA-38, BOSTON CA-69, and the four destroyers of DesRon 106. Overnight they moved into their assigned fire support positions to the west of the island (approximated in yellow below).
Iwo Jima looking northeastward with Mount Suribachi in the foreground in this photo taken during the preparatory bombardment of 17-19 February 1945. The area outlined in yellow indicates where USS ASTORIA CL-90 and Task Unit 54.1.18 conducted their shore bombardment from 21-22 Feb.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from www.history.navy.mil
21 Feb 1945: D+2
In the early morning gunfire erupted from Mighty Ninety's 6-inch main and 5-inch secondary batteries. For the 26 hours that followed, ASTORIA and her task unit rained shells onto targets across Iwo from the western side of the island, while their Kingfisher floatplanes circled overhead directing fire. This bombardment continued throughout the day, the night, and into the following morning.
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Taken from aboard ASTORIA, the two photographs above appear to have been shot in quick succession as USS PASADENA CL-65 fires a salvo from her aft main battery. The shoreline of Iwo Jima is visible at right in both photos and gives an indication of the range involved. A BALTIMORE-class heavy cruiser (probably BOSTON CA-69) is visible at left in the second photo.
-photos taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
The above photo and the closeup section below were shot from ASTORIA during her shore bombardment, showing Mt. Suribachi under heavy shelling from Mighty Ninety and other U.S. Navy ships assigned to TF54. Iwo Jima opens up to the left. The FLETCHER-class destroyers are likely from DesRon 106.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Four U.S. Navy TBM Avengers bank over the central area of Iwo Jima between airfields 1 and 2 heading west (Mt. Suribachi is out of view at left). This photo was probably taken on D+2, 21 Feb. If so, it is likely that ASTORIA and TU54.1.18 are among the ships visible at the top of the photograph.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from Wright, The Battle for Iwo Jima
22 Feb 1945: D+3
After 26 hours of continuous fire support, Task Unit 54.1.18 was dissolved and Cruiser Division 17 retired from Iwo Jima for rest. The success of their bombardment is recounted in ASTORIA's cruise book:
For two days and one night we sent 6” and 5” shells into our assigned targets where they would do the most good. Our fire was accurate and when we shoved off we had accounted for several pillboxes, gun emplacements and had broken up a [Japanese] counter-attack. It was in this engagement that we destroyed our first plane. The main battery demolished it with a stray shell while firing on a [Japanese] emplacement.
ASTORIA expended almost 3000 rounds of main and secondary ammunition while providing shore bombardment in support of advancing U.S. Marines and Navy personnel at Iwo Jima. The Japanese plane mentioned in the cruise book entry was on the ground when a shell from CL-90 destroyed it.
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
The rotated photo above shows spent 6-inch casings from the forward main battery piled several feet high along the port side of the ship (note two sailors at right side of photo for reference.)
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Although the ships of Cruiser Division 17 pulled away from Iwo Jima unscathed, VCS-17 suffered a combat loss: One of WILKES-BARRE's OS2N-1 Kingfishers performed a forced landing due to engine failure and was a total loss.
23 Feb 1945 D+4
Returned to full strength, the Fast Carrier Task Force steamed back toward Japan in order to conduct a second set of air raids on Tokyo. Back on Mount Suribachi, the combined efforts of the invasion force were paying off. Two American flags went skyward that day and the most famous photo of World War II was taken. Although Suribachi had fallen, another month would pass and many more would lose their lives before Iwo Jima was finally secured.
Five U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman raise a replacement flag atop Mount Suribachi, 23 Feb 1945, in this uncropped version of the famous photo.
-photo taken by A.P. photographer Joe Rosenthal reproduced from http://www.archives.gov/
BACK TO SHIP HISTORY
Sources:
Unk. editor. MIGHTY NINETY: USS ASTORIA CL-90 cruise book. Unk. publisher, 1946.
H-Hour on D-Day. This photo was taken as the first waves of U.S. Marines and Navy personnel came ashore at Iwo Jima on 19 Feb 1945.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from www.history.navy.mil
19 Feb 1945: D-Day
Once the order was given at 0630, the first waves of U.S. Marines began to pour onto the designated landing beaches of Iwo Jima. Ten minutes later, at 0640, the U.S. Navy commenced their support bombardment.
Ships from Task Force 58 played a role from the start. Two battleships and three cruisers had detached from the carrier force off Japan and now provided fire support alongside Task Force 54 for the landings throughout the day.
Meanwhile, ASTORIA in company of the remainder of the Fast Carrier Task Force steamed toward Iwo Jima. The carriers launched air strikes against nearby Chichi Jima and Haha Jima as they passed. At midday the carrier force took position off Iwo Jima and launched their planes again--this time in support of the Marine landings.
It became clear as the day progressed that actual ground gained would fall far short of D-Day expectations. The Japanese were too well dug in and resistance was fierce. Additional naval gunfire would be required for shore bombardment in the days that followed, and ASTORIA was called upon to assume this role.
20 Feb 1945: D+1
As Task Group 58.3 refueled 75 miles west of Iwo Jima, Cruiser Division 17 was ordered to detach and move in toward the pitched battle. ASTORIA, PASADENA, and WILKES-BARRE joined Task Force 54 as temporary Task Unit 54.1.18 along with heavy cruisers SAN FRANCISCO CA-38, BOSTON CA-69, and the four destroyers of DesRon 106. Overnight they moved into their assigned fire support positions to the west of the island (approximated in yellow below).
Iwo Jima looking northeastward with Mount Suribachi in the foreground in this photo taken during the preparatory bombardment of 17-19 February 1945. The area outlined in yellow indicates where USS ASTORIA CL-90 and Task Unit 54.1.18 conducted their shore bombardment from 21-22 Feb.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from www.history.navy.mil
21 Feb 1945: D+2
In the early morning gunfire erupted from Mighty Ninety's 6-inch main and 5-inch secondary batteries. For the 26 hours that followed, ASTORIA and her task unit rained shells onto targets across Iwo from the western side of the island, while their Kingfisher floatplanes circled overhead directing fire. This bombardment continued throughout the day, the night, and into the following morning.
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Taken from aboard ASTORIA, the two photographs above appear to have been shot in quick succession as USS PASADENA CL-65 fires a salvo from her aft main battery. The shoreline of Iwo Jima is visible at right in both photos and gives an indication of the range involved. A BALTIMORE-class heavy cruiser (probably BOSTON CA-69) is visible at left in the second photo.
-photos taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
The above photo and the closeup section below were shot from ASTORIA during her shore bombardment, showing Mt. Suribachi under heavy shelling from Mighty Ninety and other U.S. Navy ships assigned to TF54. Iwo Jima opens up to the left. The FLETCHER-class destroyers are likely from DesRon 106.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
Four U.S. Navy TBM Avengers bank over the central area of Iwo Jima between airfields 1 and 2 heading west (Mt. Suribachi is out of view at left). This photo was probably taken on D+2, 21 Feb. If so, it is likely that ASTORIA and TU54.1.18 are among the ships visible at the top of the photograph.
-U.S. Navy photo reproduced from Wright, The Battle for Iwo Jima
22 Feb 1945: D+3
After 26 hours of continuous fire support, Task Unit 54.1.18 was dissolved and Cruiser Division 17 retired from Iwo Jima for rest. The success of their bombardment is recounted in ASTORIA's cruise book:
For two days and one night we sent 6” and 5” shells into our assigned targets where they would do the most good. Our fire was accurate and when we shoved off we had accounted for several pillboxes, gun emplacements and had broken up a [Japanese] counter-attack. It was in this engagement that we destroyed our first plane. The main battery demolished it with a stray shell while firing on a [Japanese] emplacement.
ASTORIA expended almost 3000 rounds of main and secondary ammunition while providing shore bombardment in support of advancing U.S. Marines and Navy personnel at Iwo Jima. The Japanese plane mentioned in the cruise book entry was on the ground when a shell from CL-90 destroyed it.
CLICK PHOTO TO ENLARGE
The rotated photo above shows spent 6-inch casings from the forward main battery piled several feet high along the port side of the ship (note two sailors at right side of photo for reference.)
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Although the ships of Cruiser Division 17 pulled away from Iwo Jima unscathed, VCS-17 suffered a combat loss: One of WILKES-BARRE's OS2N-1 Kingfishers performed a forced landing due to engine failure and was a total loss.
23 Feb 1945 D+4
Returned to full strength, the Fast Carrier Task Force steamed back toward Japan in order to conduct a second set of air raids on Tokyo. Back on Mount Suribachi, the combined efforts of the invasion force were paying off. Two American flags went skyward that day and the most famous photo of World War II was taken. Although Suribachi had fallen, another month would pass and many more would lose their lives before Iwo Jima was finally secured.
Five U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman raise a replacement flag atop Mount Suribachi, 23 Feb 1945, in this uncropped version of the famous photo.
-photo taken by A.P. photographer Joe Rosenthal reproduced from http://www.archives.gov/
BACK TO SHIP HISTORY
Sources:
Unk. editor. MIGHTY NINETY: USS ASTORIA CL-90 cruise book. Unk. publisher, 1946.
Wright, Derrick. The
http://www.archives.gov/ National Archives and Records Administration website
www.history.navy.mil U.S. Naval Historical Center website
