As the United States began its campaign against numerous Japanese-held islands in the Pacific, Japanese tactics required them to develop new weapons and strategies. One of the most crucial to the island assaults was a new group of amphibious gunboats that could deliver heavy fire close in to shore as American forces landed. These gunboats were also to prove important in the interdiction of inter-island barge traffic and, late in the war, the kamikaze threat. Several variations of these gunboats were developed, based on the troop carrying LCI(L). They included three conversions of the LCI(L), with various combinations of guns, rockets and mortars, and a fourth gunboat, the LCS(L), based on the same hull but designed as a weapons platform from the beginning. By the end of the war the amphibious gunboats had proven their worth.

An original contribution to knowledge in the highly technical areas of Engineer problems, organization, supply, administration, and operations. This volume covers Engineer operations in support of the U.S. Army in the war against Japan. The story begins with the defense build-up in 1939 and ends with the Japanese surrender aboard the battleship Missouri on 2 Septebmer 1945. Geographically, Engineer operations extended from the Panama Canal to India and from Alazka to Australia, in actual or potential areas of conflict. Included are the discussions of the Engineer position in the command structure and a general account of both Engineer combat and service missions wtihin a given theater. In this primary source work, the author has attempted to indicate the many problems that had to be resolved -- problems stemming from terrain and climate, from the inadequacy of long-range planning, from insufficient preparations, and from organizational shortcomings, as well as from the Japanese foe-- before the Engineer mission could be successfully accomplished. Veterans and current employees of the United States Corps of Engineers may be most interested in this volume. Additionally, construction and civil engineers that build roads, highways, and airfields may also be interested in this historical account from WWII. Related products: World War II resources collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/us-military-history/battles-wars/world-war-ii