US Strategy The American force plan consisted of a “divide and conquer” methodology. The United States focused on landing its assault forces expediently and quickly and securing Mount Suribachi and the island's commanding heights. The Americans expected victory in less than a week. Their forces consisted of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions were to land on the eastern beaches, the 4th on the right and the 5th on the left. The 3rd Marines would land on the eastern beaches or assume a defensive role, whatever it was called (Planning for the Battle of Iwo Jima, n.d.). Although their entire defense was based on the waves themselves. Sixty-eight tracked landing vehicles, including the first wave, were to hit the beach. The armored amphibians would make full use of their 75mm howitzers and machine guns in an attempt to keep the enemy at bay, thus giving some measure of protection to subsequent waves of Marines who were most vulnerable to enemy fire as they disembarked from the their LVT. (Planning for the Battle of Iwo Jima, n.d.). The United States also had an alternative plan. Since there would be the possibility of unfavorable surf conditions along the eastern beaches in the United States, the VAC issued an alternative plan on January 8, 1945, which called for a landing on the western beaches. However, since the prevailing north or northwest winds caused dangerous near-continuous swells along the southwest side of the island, it seemed unlikely that this alternative plan would be put into effect (Battle of Iwo Jima, n.d.).Japan StrategyGen. Kuribayashi was under no illusion that his forces would be sufficient to repel the American invasion. The defense strategy was centered on inflicting casualties... in the center of the card... Cyclopedia Britannica Online. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/298379/Iwo-JimaIwo Jima Operation, February - March 1945. (n.d.). Operation Iwo Jima, February - March 1945. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/iwojima/iwojima.htmPlanning for the Battle of Iwo Jima. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 18, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning_for_the_Battle_of_Iwo_JimaTadamichi Kuribayashi. (January 21, 2014). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadamichi_KuribayashiTakeichi Nishi. (2014, January 1). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeichi_NishiUnited States Marine Corps. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#Origins