# Cactus Ridge > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cactus_Ridge > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Cactus_Ridge.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus_Ridge > Source revision: 1319910031 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox military conflict |conflict=Cactus Ridge |partof=Battle of Okinawa, [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the [Pacific War](/source/Pacific_War) | image= Through the Outposts- XXIV Corps, 4-8 April 1945.jpg | image_size = 300 |caption = Advance of American [XXIV Corps](/source/XXIV_Corps_(United_States)) showing approximate Japanese positions north of [Shuri](/source/Shuri%2C_Okinawa), April 1945 |date=April 4, 1945 – April 7, 1945 |place=[Okinawa](/source/Okinawa_Island), [Japan](/source/Japan) |result=[Allied](/source/Allies_of_World_War_II) victory |combatant1={{flag|United States|1912}} |combatant2={{flag|Empire of Japan}} |commander1= |commander2= |strength1=[96th Infantry Division](/source/96th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)) |strength2= }} In the [Battle of Okinawa](/source/Battle_of_Okinawa), '''Cactus Ridge''' was the name U.S. forces gave to a rise of land approximately {{convert|600|yd}} southeast of Mashiki, [Okinawa](/source/Okinawa_Prefecture) which commanded much of the ground between Uchitomari and Oyama, both of which lie along Highway No. 1. The defense of Cactus Ridge to the west, and [The Pinnacle](/source/The_Pinnacle%2C_Battle_of_Okinawa) to the east, marked the start of resistance by Japanese land forces on Okinawa. ==Assault on Cactus Ridge== ===4 April 1945=== As the US [96th Infantry Division](/source/96th_Infantry_Division_(United_States)) advanced south along Okinawa's Highway 1 on 4 April, it came under increasing fire from the south and from the ridges on their left (east). Three [medium tanks](/source/Medium_tank) from the [763rd Tank Battalion](/source/763rd_Tank_Battalion_(United_States)) were destroyed by a carefully sited and well-concealed [47 mm anti-tank gun](/source/Type_1_47_mm_anti-tank_gun). Firing twenty [rounds](/source/High_explosive_anti-tank), Japanese gunners set the three tanks afire. Japanese Army commanders later described this feat as an illustration of the effectiveness of 47 mm guns. "Great results," Japanese combat instructions stated, "can be obtained by concealing the guns and opening surprise fire on the tanks at close range."7th Div G-2 Periodic Rpt No. 10, 11 Apr 45: 32d Army Combat Instructions, 5 Apr 45. ===5 April 1945=== By 5 April, the [383rd Infantry Regiment](/source/383rd_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)) indicated that its forward elements were receiving fire from 20 [machine guns](/source/Machine_Gun) and from 15 to 20 [mortar](/source/Mortar_(weapons))s, besides [artillery](/source/artillery) pieces.{{Cite book|author=Appleman, Roy E.|author2=James M. Burns|author3=Russell A. Gugeler|author4=John Stevens|year=2000|url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/okinawa/|title=Okinawa: The Last Battle|publisher=[United States Army Center of Military History](/source/United_States_Army_Center_of_Military_History)|orig-year=1948|isbn=9781616081775|access-date=2010-12-12|archive-date=2009-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926225835/http://www.history.army.mil/books/wwii/okinawa/|url-status=dead}}{{PD-notice}}{{rp|105}} As movement progressed, it encountered a series of [fortified](/source/Fortification) positions, the approaches to which were often covered by [minefield](/source/minefield)s. Dislodging the Japanese from these positions required coordinated [enveloping](/source/Envelopment) movements, and resulted in numerous American casualties. On the afternoon of 5 April, well-camouflaged Japanese troops, supported by tanks, attacked elements of the [382nd Infantry Regiment](/source/382nd_Infantry_Regiment_(United_States)), but were broken up by [combined](/source/Combined_Arms) machine gun, mortar and artillery fire. Ultimately, the 382nd gained approximately {{convert|1300|yd}} of east–west ground by the evening of 5 April. To the west, the 383rd was focusing its efforts on what came to be known as Cactus Ridge. The initial direct assault by a single infantry [company](/source/Company_(military_unit)), supported tanks, proved to be disastrous. Cactus Ridge was protected by a tank ditch, barbed wire, and a long mine field.{{rp|105}} When American tanks tried to pass through a gap in the minefield, they came under direct 47 mm fire. Two were hit and had to be abandoned. Heavy Japanese machine gun, rifle and mortar fire halted the assault and American forces were forced to withdraw. ===6–7 April 1945=== On the following day, 6 April, the fortified Japanese positions on Cactus Ridge continued to hold up the 383rd. Attempts were made to dislodge the defenders with an [airstrike](/source/airstrike) early on that morning, but subsequent troops assaulting the targeted positions found defensive enemy fire as intense as ever. American forces continued to make direct [frontal assault](/source/frontal_assault)s, through heavy Japanese mortar fire, against the ridge. Such assaults ultimately resulted in charging and reducing Japanese positions with hand grenades and small arms fire. By the end of 6 April, these ["Banzai" type](/source/Banzai_charge) charges by the 2nd Battalion enabled the 383rd to ultimately gain first the western half of Cactus Ridge. On 7 April, similar tactics by the 2nd Battalion allowed the 383rd to capture the rest of Cactus Ridge. As a result of the offensive actions of 4–7 April, the 383d Infantry found itself assembled against the formidable Japanese positions on [Kakazu Ridge](/source/Kakazu_Ridge). ==References== {{Reflist}} {{coord|26.2700|127.7408|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:JP|display=title}} Category:Geography of Okinawa Prefecture Category:Kyushu region Category:Ryukyu Islands Category:Former regions and territories of the United States Category:United States Armed Forces in Okinawa Prefecture Category:Battles of World War II involving the United States --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Cactus Ridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus_Ridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cactus_Ridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.