First published in Great Britain in 2002 by Osprey Publishing,
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© 2002 Osprey Publishing Ltd.
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A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library
Print ISBN: 978 1 84176 512 9
PDF e-book ISBN: 978 1 84603 565 4
ePub e-book ISBN: 978 1 47280 007 7
Series Editor: Lee Johnson
Design by The Black Spot
Index by Alan Rutter
Maps by The Map Studio
Battlescene artwork by Howard Gerrard
3D bird’s-eye views by John Plumer
Originated by The Electronic Page Company, Cwmbran, UK
Typeset in Helvetica Neue and ITC New Baskerville
Artist’s note
Readers may care to note the original paintings from which the color plates in this book were prepared are available for private sale. All reproduction copyright whatsoever is retained by the publisher. Enquiries should be addressed to:
Howard Gerrard
11 Oaks Road
Tenterden
Kent
TN30 6RD
UK
The publishers regret that they can enter into no correspondence upon this matter.
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| Abbreviations | |
| AA | antiaircraft |
| amtrac | amphibian tractor (see LVT) |
| AT | antitank |
| BAR | Browning automatic rifle |
| CINCPOA | Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Ocean Area |
| CO | Commanding Officer |
| CT | [Regimental] Combat Team (USMC) |
| DUKW | 21/2-ton amphibious truck |
| FMF | Fleet Marine Force |
| HQ | Headquarters |
| H&S | Headquarters and Service |
| IIIAC | III Amphibious Corps |
| IMB | Independent Mixed Brigade (IJA) |
| Inf. Div. | Infantry Division (US Army) |
| IJA | Imperial Japanese Army |
| IJN | Imperial Japanese Navy |
| LCI | Landing Craft, Infantry |
| LCVPs | Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel |
| LVT | Landing Vehicle, Tracked (“amtrac”) |
| LVT(A) | Landing Vehicle, Tracked (Armored) |
| Mar. Div. | Marine Division |
| MP | Military Police |
| NCO | non-commissioned officer |
| RCT | Regimental Combat Team (US Army) |
| RDF | radio direction finder |
| TF | Task Force |
| TG | Task Group |
| UDT | Underwater Demolition Team |
| US | United States |
| USA | United States Army |
| USMC | United States Marine Corps |
| (–) | Reduced – elements detached from parent unit |
| US Marine and Army Officer Ranks | |
| 2dLt | 2nd Lieutenant |
| 1stLt | 1st Lieutenant |
| Capt | Captain |
| Maj | Major |
| LtCol | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Col | Colonel |
| BrigGen | Brigadier General (“one-star”) |
| MajGen | Major General (“two-star”) |
| LtGen | Lieutenant General (“three-star”) |
| Gen | General |
| Japanese Army Officer Ranks | |
| SubLt | Sub-Lieutenant |
| Lt | Lieutenant |
| Capt | Captain |
| Maj | Major |
| LtCol | Lieutenant-Colonel |
| Col | Colonel |
| MajGen | Major-General |
| LtGen | Lieutenant-General |
| — | |
| Gen | General |
Battalions organic to US Marine and Army regiments are designated with the battalion and regimental number, for example: 1/5 or 2/321. Companies and batteries are designated, for example D/1/5 – Company D, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines.
The Japanese place the surname first and the personal name second. Contemporary and post-war writings usually reverse the two. This book follows the Japanese practice.
KEY TO MILITARY SYMBOLS