Battle of Angaur

The Battle of Angaur was a September 1944 battle in which U.S. forces captured Angaur, an island in Palau, from Japanese defenders.

Angaur: Angaur is an island in the Palau archipelago, southwest of Babeldaob. The island’s terrain and airfield made it the objective of the September 1944 landing.
Palau campaign: The Palau campaign was a series of U.S. operations to capture islands in the Palau archipelago in 1944. Angaur was one of the islands targeted in the campaign.
William H. Rupertus: William H. Rupertus was a U.S. Marine Corps general who commanded the 1st Marine Division during World War II. Rupertus commanded the division that landed on Angaur.
Angaur Airfield: Angaur Airfield is an airstrip built by Japanese forces on Angaur and later used by U.S. forces. Capturing the island gave the United States access to its airfield.
Amphibious warfare: Amphibious warfare uses coordinated forces to project military power from the sea onto land. U.S. forces landed directly on Angaur’s coast before advancing inland.
Operation Stalemate II: Operation Stalemate II was the U.S. military operation to invade and capture the Palau Islands in 1944. The Angaur landing was one component of this broader operation.
1st Marine Division: The 1st Marine Division is a U.S. Marine Corps infantry division established in 1941. Its troops led the U.S. ground assault on Angaur.
Palau: Palau is an island country in the western Pacific, comprising an archipelago east of the Philippines. Angaur’s capture was part of the struggle for control of the Palau archipelago.
Naval gunfire support: Naval gunfire support uses ship-based weapons to assist forces operating ashore. U.S. warships bombarded Angaur before and during the landings.
South Pacific Area: The South Pacific Area was a major Allied command in the Pacific War, led by the U.S. Navy. Its campaigns formed part of the wider advance toward the Japanese-held western Pacific.

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