The Allied plan for the invasion of Okinawa was complex and involved a number of different phases. The first phase was the amphibious assault itself, which involved landing troops on the island's beaches. This was followed by a period of consolidation, during which the Allies secured their beachhead and built up their supplies. The third phase was the drive to the island's capital, Naha. The fourth and final phase was the mopping-up operation, during which the Allies cleared out the remaining Japanese resistance on the island.
The amphibious assault was carried out by a force of over 500,000 troops, including both American and British units. The landings were opposed by a force of over 100,000 Japanese troops, who were well-entrenched and had a strong defensive position. The fighting on the beaches was fierce, and the Allies suffered heavy casualties. However, they eventually succeeded in securing a beachhead on the island.
The consolidation phase lasted for several weeks, as the Allies built up their supplies and prepared for the drive to Naha. During this time, the Japanese launched a series of counterattacks, but these were all repulsed.
The drive to Naha began in May 1945. The Allies advanced slowly, as the Japanese fought a determined defense. The fighting was particularly intense around the city of Shuri, which was the last major stronghold of the Japanese on the island. The Allies finally captured Naha in June 1945, after a month of heavy fighting.
The mopping-up operation lasted for several more months, as the Allies cleared out the remaining Japanese resistance on the island. The last Japanese troops surrendered in August 1945, after the atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The Battle of Okinawa was a major victory for the Allies. It resulted in the capture of a strategically important island and paved the way for the invasion of Japan. The battle also took a heavy toll on both sides, with over 100,000 Allied and Japanese troops killed or wounded.