Battle of Saipan

The Battle of Saipan was a military engagement of the Mariana Islands Campaign, Pacific Theater of Operation. It was fought between the US Marines and the Japanese Imperial Army forces, from June 15 to July 9, 1944, on the island of Saipan, during World War II. It was the first island to be captured by the American forces during this campaign, the others being Guam and Tinian. It was the continuation of the Island-Hopping Campaign, which had begun with the US troops landing on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on August 7, 1942.

Summary

At 07:00 hours, on June 15, 1944, the US 2nd Marine Division, the 4th Marine Division, and the US Army's 27th Infantry Division landed on the beaches of the Island of Saipan, which had been taken by the Japanese in 1941. The Imperial Japanese Army's 43rd Infantry Division had been assigned to the defense of this island. Before the landing, seven US battleships pounded the island for two days to soften the terrain for the American troops.

By dusk of the first day, the US Marines had established a beachhead about 7 mile wide and 0.6 mile deep. Several gun emplacements had been taken out by US naval artillery. However, there were still many Japanese smaller gun bunkers and machine gun pillboxes to be destroyed. The further inland the Americans advanced, the stiffer the Japanese resistance became, suffering many casualties as they went.

Using flamethrowers, explosive, and hand grenades, the US troops managed to take one by one the Japanese machine gun nests, many of which had been set up in the island low ridges cliffs. Sometimes an advance would grind to a halt for days and they had to wait for the flamethrower and fire support from M4 Sherman tanks to snuff out the obstinate Japanese opposition. However, by July 9, the American troops had managed, after vicious fighting, to mop up the last pockets of resistance.

Commanders

US forces: Lieutenant General Holland Smith

Japanese troops: Admiral Takeo Takagi

Below, Map of Saipan, with the landing beaches marked.

Below, Marines from the 2nd Marine Div. on the Beach, two of them wounded.