[dragoon500ly]

June of 1945 saw the Allies advancing to within striking range of the Japanese home islands. The Philippines were mostly recaptured. The Imperial Navy had been devasted in the battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf. The Japanese merchant marine was a shell of its former self, gutted by U.S. submarines, air power and mines. The fall of the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa gave the U.S. bases for reinforcing the strategic air campaign against Japan. Germany had finally surrendered and Japan faced the wraith of the United Nations, alone.

The Japanese plan for their final battle was KETSU-GO (Decisive Struggle), it had the twin objectives of defeating the Allies militarily, as well as psychologically. Its goal was to inflict so many losses upon the Allies, that they would be forced to abdanon their unconditional surrender policy and enter negotations with Japan.

The Japanese had several advantages that might have lead to their success. First, being islands, Japan would have to be attacked via amphibious assault. Second, even groaning under the weight of the American bombing campaign, Japan could still produce some 1,200 aircraft a month and had sufficient weapons and supplies to equip its land forces. SInce the Japanese would be fighting on their home islands, their gorces would not be isolated as they had been for much of the war. The Imperial General Headquarters was optimistic that they would be able to force the Allies to the peace table and that they would be able to keep the majority of their possessions.

IGHQ anticipated that the Americans would first attack Kyushu and seize harbors and air fields to support later landings and they built up their fortifications not only on the beaches, but inland as well. Their goal was to engage the Americans and either defeat them or inflict unacceptable losses. The kamikazes would be used during the initial phase of the American assault landings to strike their assault transports, massive losses to the assault troops would firther delay and disrupt the American invasion.

The Japanese would also enjoy the advantage of the terrain, much of Kyushu was mountainous. The Japanese would be able to defend in depth and make the Allies pay for every yard that they gained. IGHQ intended to reinforce Kyushu during the battle. Even if the US eventually conquered the island, the assault on Honshu would be delayed, making Wasington that much more willing to negotate.

The 16th Area Army was charged with the initial defense of Kyushu. US Intelligence placed its strength at two armored and no less than fifteen infantry divisions. To dispute American airpower, the Japanese had 4,000 army and 5,000 naval aircraft available (roughly half of these were of these were obselete aircraft to be used as kamikazes). The IJN was responisble for mainting control of the communications between the home islands and with Manchuria. By August, 1945, the IJN had six aircraft carriers, four battleships, eleven cruisers, forty-two destroyers and fifty-eight submarines as well as thousands of special attack craft (kamikazes), ranging from midget submarines, motor boats loaded with explosives, to human guided torpedoes as well as divers carrying satchel charges.