As April turned to May, the fighting on Okinawa intensified. With Soviet submarines turning the waters around the island into a deathtrap for any large ship, the American carriers in the Western Pacific were forced to seek shelter in their Naha base.
As a result, the American carriers in the Western Pacific were docked at Naha harbour in order to best avoid Soviet sub attacks. On land, the fighting reached a whole new phase. The Soviet troops had developed new tactics around mixed groups of tanks and infantry to clear out the American defenders, backed up by the rocket support units in the rear.
A bombardment firing on American positions. Attacks such as these made advances possible, and caused high casualties to the American units.
At sea, the USN was, in desperation, trying to rush supplies and reinforcements to the battle regardless of losses. As all large concentrations of ships were easily detected and attacked, the Americans attempted to slip through using groups of destroyers and transports small enough to avoid detection. The Soviet Navy could not determine if any slipped through, but a careful tally of sunk American ships was kept.
This American ship was crippled by a Soviet sub. Photograph taken from a Tu-14 of Soviet Naval Aviation before finishing the crippled ship.
The USN endured these losses despite the apparent futility of any attempts to break through the Russian blockade and the strain it was having on the American assets in the Pacific.
By the start of June, the situation had turned critical. The American troops on Okinawa were so low on supplies, that if they were not resupplied, the lack of ammo and food would result in a complete collapse in resistance.
The USN was quick to respond, and a large convoy, well armed and with plenty of escort ships, to smash through the blockade and reach Okinawa to restock the American units with enough ammo and supplies to resist for that little bit longer.
The convoy, code named Reforger, ran into Russian submarines on the 8th of June around mid-day. Over the rest of the day and well into the next morning, Russian wolf packs surrounded the convoy and began systematically targeting the ships.
Few ships escaped unscathed. The main body of the transport ships were sank, and the escorting ships themselves were badly hurt by Soviet torpedo strikes from both submarines, and later in the day, Russian naval aircraft.
A Tu-14 loading a torpedo to attack the Reforger convoy. Torpedos, both from the air and from submarines, were instrumental to the Soviet Navy gaining the upper hand.
By morning on the 9th of June, the convoy had no choice. It had to turn back. Few ships were not damaged in some form, and numerous American ships limped away with torpedo damage.
On Okinawa itself, the 9th of June was a important day. Soviet advance units had made a breakthrough at a the heavily defended village of Ginowan, the last real line of resistance on Okinawa. Now, Soviet units had a direct line of sight to Naha itself, and within the hour, a observed bombardment was falling on the city, destorying what little supplies were left.
That knowledge, combined with the news of Reforger turning back, was the last straw for the American commander, Major General Davis. He ordered a general surrender at 2pm.
American losses had been very heavy. Of the 188,000 troops deployed on Okinawa before the Russian landing, at least a quarter were killed by the Soviet troops, a unknown number having fallen to attrition and lack of supplies, leaving more than half marched into captivity.
For the first time, the Pacific was open to the Soviet Navy.