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== Palau during World War 2 ==

== Palau during World War 2 ==

By 1944 Palau had lost all strategic significance both to the U.S. and to the Japanese. Admiral Chester Nimitz made the decision not to bypass the scheduled invasion of Palau over senior staff recommendations. Denying the Japanese the use of Palau's tiny airfield so that they could not threaten General [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s Phillipine invasion was offered as a reason not to cancel the invasion. The codename for the battle was Operation Stalemate.<ref>Peleliu: Tragic Triumph: The Untold Story of the Pacific War’s Forgotten Battle,  Bill D. Ross</ref>  

By 1944 Palau had lost all strategic significance both to the U.S. and to the Japanese. Admiral Chester Nimitz made the decision not to bypass the scheduled invasion of Palau over senior staff recommendations. Denying the Japanese the use of Palau's tiny airfield so that they could not threaten General [[Douglas MacArthur]]'s upcoming Phillipine campaign was offered as a reason not to cancel the invasion. The codename for the battle was Operation Stalemate.<ref>Peleliu: Tragic Triumph: The Untold Story of the Pacific War’s Forgotten Battle,  Bill D. Ross</ref>  

Three days prior to the ground invasion, beginning on September 12th, 1944 United States  battleships Pennsylvania, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Idaho; heavy cruisers Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis, and Portland; light cruisers Cleveland, Denver and Honolulu bombard the island of Peleliu with several thousand pounds of naval ordinace. This lasts for two days until Admiral Oldendorph declares that he has run out of targets and ceases the bombing of the island a day earlier then planned.  Most of the naval fleet was then reassigned to the Philippine invasion and departed the area.  As a result, several targets were missed and only a handful of the 11,000 Japanese soldiers defending the island were killed during the initial bombing.  

Three days prior to the ground invasion, beginning on September 12th, 1944 United States  battleships Pennsylvania, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Idaho; heavy cruisers Columbus, Indianapolis, Louisville, Minneapolis, and Portland; light cruisers Cleveland, Denver and Honolulu bombard the island of Peleliu with several thousand pounds of naval ordinace. This lasts for two days until Admiral Oldendorph declares that he has run out of targets and ceases the bombing of the island a day earlier then planned.  Most of the naval fleet was then reassigned to the Philippine invasion and departed the area.  As a result, several targets were missed and only a handful of the 11,000 Japanese soldiers defending the island were killed during the initial bombing.  

To this day, many of the remnants of [[World War 2]] in the form of destroyed tanks, hidden bunkers and sunken ships still remain in and around the islands of Palau. The sunken Japanese shipwrecks which are now home to marine life, are protected by the government of Palau and are a part of the natural underwater ecosystem.  The wreckage is also a hotspot for diving enthusiasts so they can view it up close and personal.<ref>http://palaudive.com/Wrecks.htm Dive Palau</ref>

To this day, many of the remnants of [[World War 2]] in the form of destroyed tanks, hidden bunkers and sunken ships still remain in and around the islands of Palau. The sunken Japanese shipwrecks which are now home to marine life, are protected by the government of Palau and are a part of the natural underwater ecosystem.  The wreckage is also a hotspot for diving enthusiasts so they can view it up close and personal.<ref>http://palaudive.com/Wrecks.htm Dive Palau</ref>

 

== See also ==

== See also ==