Operation Cottage | |||||||
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Part of the Aleutian Islands campaign of World War II | |||||||
American troops landing on Kiska | |||||||
| |||||||
Belligerents | |||||||
United States Canada | Japan (not present) | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Charles Corlett Harry W. Foster | Not present | ||||||
Units involved | |||||||
6th Canadian Infantry Division 1st Special Service Force | None present | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
5,300 | Sea mines, mines, booby traps | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
92 killed[1] 221 wounded Landing forces: 32 killed[2] 100 wounded U.S Navy: 1 destroyer (USS Abner Read) heavily damaged 71 killed 47 wounded | None |
Operation Cottage was a tactical maneuver which completed the Aleutian Islands campaign. On August 15, 1943, Allied military forces landed on Kiska Island, which had been occupied by Japanese forces since June 1942. However, the Japanese had secretly abandoned the island two weeks earlier, and so the Allied landings were unopposed. Allied forces suffered over 500 casualties in total during the operation from Japanese landmines and booby traps, friendly fire incidents, and vehicle accidents.[1][3]
Originally Published in Esprit de Corp Magazine, Volume 9 Issue 4 and Volume 9 Issue 5