What is the beachhead?

Line after line of landing craft reaches the beach. Soon there are thousands of soldiers. Tanks and heavy guns are landed. The noise is terrific. Rifles crack, cannons boom, tanks rumble, and planes zoom overhead. The invaders slowly advance up the beach. Sometimes the soldiers wriggle forward on their stomachs.

Sometimes they run for short distances in a zigzag line to avoid being hit. Sometimes the enemy fire is too strong and the soldiers have to dig trenches in the sand. The wounded are carried back to the landing boats, and the boats head back to the transports or to hospital ships. There the wounded are taken care of by army and navy doctors. The enemy is driven still farther back. The beach is won. It is now safe to bring in supplies. Up to now, the navy has been in charge of the amphibious operation. The army generals have been taking orders from the navy admirals.

The enemy is driven back mile after mile. More and more attacking soldiers are landed. More and more equipment is piled up on the beach. Usually after two or three days the attacking forces have established themselves strongly in enemy territory. The beach is now safe and peaceful. The amphibious part of the warfare has come to an end. The army generals take over command and the navy steams off, leaving only enough ships to continue bringing supplies in for the soldiers. The warfare in the Pacific was often entirely amphibious. This was so when a small island was invaded. The naval ships remained until the entire island was occupied.