Marching Across the Sea: Field Army Operations in Pacific Archipelagoes at Leyte and Okinawa

The US Army is updating its doctrine and operational concepts focusing on large scale combat operations (LSCO) in an era of great power competition. An essential element of this transition is regionally aligned, forward-deployed field armies to facilitate strategic and operational maneuver. The western Pacific's archipelagic operating environment represents a prime area for great power competition with an increasingly powerful People's Republic of China. This monograph examines the characteristics of successful field army operations in the Pacific. It examines two case studies: the invasion of Leyte by Sixth Army as a component of the larger Philippine campaign and the invasion of Okinawa by Tenth Army as a more standalone major operation. Examining the importance of experience, organization, joint fires, and sealift integration yield critical insights into field army operations in the archipelagic environment.