ADDENDA "3" TO ANNEX " B "

To: Commander Task Force 53

OPERATION PLAN A162-44

BEACH STUDY FOR ALTERNATE

ATTACK PLAN A167-44

Based on Submarine Reconnaissance 29 April, Aerial

Photographs of 25 April, 7 May, 29 May and 6 June 1944
(Cloud Coverage on all Aerial Sorties renders Interpretation incomplete)
FOR DEFENSES SEE: ADDENDA No. I 6- No. 2 TO ANNEX "B"
SECRET
(Change to Restricted in Combat Area)

ALTERNATE NORTHERN ATTACK AREA

1. LOCATION:
a) Grid Coordinates: FP 781045 to 775025.

2. LANDMARKS:

a) Ftom Air: Alutom and Anae Islands.

b) Fr om Sea On the left, Alutom Island; in center

background, A1ifan-Lamlam range; and on the right,

Facpi Point.

3. DESCRIPTION OF REEF:

a) Reef-Mar A in: The ree f-face varies in width from 15

to 60 yds and genera 1ly has a normal 30-degree incli

nation, but in several places is quite steep or over
hung. There is a shallow opening at coordinates FP 77

3037 (314-G) narrowing from 70 yda in width at its

mouth to 30 yds at its head over a total length of 350

yds. At coordinates FP 774034 (314-M-R) there is a

channel 250 yds wide at its mouth narrowing to 120 yds

in its 230-yd length. Its head is par t iaIly blocked by

five large coral pinnacles. 850 yds off the reef-edge

is Anae Island, which is 350 yds long and 75 yds wide.

b) Reef-Flat: Ranging in width between 900 yds off the

north end of the beach to 450 off the center to 150

off the south end, this surface haa a very narrow

boulder zone and is partially bare or covered with

sand, silt, and grass. The four small streams in the

area discharge silt ina thin belt along the shoreline

or as miniature deltas at their mouths.

4. DESCRIPTION OF BEACH: With overall length of 2850 yds

and an average width of 10 yds, this coral sand beach

has an estimated 1:20 gradient and appears relatively

free of obstruetions.

5. PHYSIOGRAPHY:
aj Prov inces~: The area may be roughly divided into the
Coasta1 Plain, the Foot-Hi 1 Is, and the bountains.
b) Coastal Plain: This relat ively level plain 120 to
550 yds in width is covered with fine- textured clayey
and silty soils. A narrow, almost continuous grove of
coconut trees and semi-dense underbrush grows along the
beach. Most of the rest of the Plain is given over to
the cultivation of rice-fieIds. Due to a complete lack
of roads, movement inland would be hampered by the mud
of irrigated padd ies, while laterally northward it
might be more rapid along the beach pr oper. At the
southern end of the beach, the Plain merges into the
rugged shoreline typical of Facpi Point and vicinity.
Observation is almost unlimited when inland of the
groves as well as from small, local hills. Good con
cealment is chiefly offered within the groves; while
onlysha 1 low at ream-beds and the few irrigation ditches
furnish any suitable cover.
c) Foot-Hi 1 Is This 1000- to 1500-yd strip between the
50- and 400- ft contour 1ines of gently rolling terrain
is covered with stream-laid gravels and other cc rae
textured soils, which in places are barren and else
where typically s uppor t much sword- , cogon- , and short
bunch-grass , and s pa rse scrub-gr owth. In land and lateral
movement impeded by hilly nature of terra in; practi
cal ly un I imi ted obs e r vat ion is a f forded over t he Coas ta 1
Plain; some slight cover ma y be found behind rock out
crops and in stream-beds; and, because of the general
grassy character of the vegata t ion, very little con
cealment is turnished except under a few, scattered
d) Mount a ins: This rugged country, rising fairly sharp
ly from 400 ft to the 874-ft summit of Mt.A Iifan and
the 1000-ft high crater of Mt . Lamlam ia heavily for
ested down to about the 600-ft line in dense, tropical
Number with syi&ol indicates number growth and large trees. It is compara t ive ly easy to
of guns etc., dotted irdicates probable traverse t he grassy si opes o f th is A 1ifan-Lamlam range ,
but only slow and labor ious progress can be made across
the peaks and their connecting ridge.