Background
Angaur is a tiny limestone island, just 3 mi (4.8 km) long, separated from Peleliu by a 6 mi (9.7 km) strait. A very small indigenous population lived by farming, fishing, and phosphate mining. In mid-1944, the Japanese had 1,400 troops on the island, under the overall command of Palau Sector Group commander, Lieutenant General Sadae Inoue and under the direct command of Major Goto who was stationed on the island.
The weak defenses of the Palaus and the potential for airfield construction made them attractive targets for the Americans after the capture of the Marshall Islands, but shortage of landing craft meant that operations against the Palaus could not begin until the Mariana Islands were secure.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Angaur
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