Operation Blackpool

Operation Blackpool, codenamed for the Third Battle of Okinawa, was a major battle that launched the successful invasion and renounce of claim of Chinese-occupied Okinawa Island during World War III. It was fought between the armies of Japan, which held substantial command during the conflict, the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, backed by Australian and New Zealander naval support, and the People's Republic of China, backed by North Korean volunteers and artillery support. The offensive was intended to liberate Okinawa from the Chinese, while also intending to force a significant stronghold from command that was in the capital city of Naha.The Chinese, backed by North Korea, achieved a total surprise attack on the Japanese in 2024, due to superior numbers when it came to total soldiers present due to having no other fronts to fight on at the time. The Second Battle of Okinawa is thought to be one of the bloodiest conflicts in Asia, with nearly 1,000,000 Japanese perishing, both military and civilian. However, there was a stalemate in the northern region, with Japanese, backed by American troops in the region for this purpose, providing enough resistance for the Chinese army not to advance towards the Japanese mainland.

The nineteen-day initial battle to help set a stage to retake the island nearly a year later, has been characterized by the ferocity of the fighting, including close-combat charges and the use of trenches and illegal poison gas. While not the one of the bloodiest in the Pacific, with only approximately 34,000 casualties on both sides, including young, newly drafted Japanese, Americans, British, and South Koreans, and Okinawans from conquered lands and numerous North Korean volunteers. In the naval operations surrounding the battle, both sides lost considerable numbers of ships and aircraft, including the Australian battleship Helena. After the battle, the New Allied Forces began to debate a campaign to retake the island of Okinawa once and for all.