The Battle For Saipan

The Battle for Saipan

Family on Saipan

One of Many Families Hiding in Caves on Saipan

After the conquest of the Gilberts and the Marshalls, Nimitz could now attack the Marianas.The Marianas held a significant importance in the Pacific War.These islands were a main part of the Japanese line of communication to the South Pacific.They had been GHQ for the Imperial Fleet.One the other side of the coin, the Americans had finally developed the B-29 Superfortress, a bomber with the range to strike Japan.
Admiral Toyoda, successer to Admiral Toga, wanted to make a decisive battle in the Mairanas.So, he gathered every ship he could for this attack.As the opposing naval forces were fighting out the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Marines landed on Saipan.Admiral Nagumo, commander of the disatreous Battle of Midway, commanded the some 32,000 troops on Saipan.General Saito overseen the building up of defenses there, but due to the lack of materials, they could not build them up good.They were also at a disadvantage because they were ordered to fight on the beaches.
On June 15th, 1944, General Smith and the 5th Amphibious Corps landed at Garapan in the extreme south of Saipan.By nightfall, 20,000 troops were ashore.Near Garapan, the Japanese controlled the heights and the advancement up the coast was difficult.On the night of June 16th-17th, the 27th Infantry Division landed and took Isley Field, where, immediatly, P-47 Thunderbolt fighters arrived.The Marines soon cut the island in half, and on June 22nd, the Marines set about clearing the north and the 27th Infantry Division the south.They Marines faced savage fighting all along their over-extended line, but by the night of June 26th, they took Mt. Tapotchau.Now, the Japanese only had 1200 troops and 3 tanks left.General Smith felt that the Army didn't move fast enough to help the Marines, so he dismissed their commander, Ralph Smith.During this battle, the Army and Marines didn't cooperate well at all.On July 6th, the Marines advanced to the northern part of the island.Admiral Nagumo and General Saito both committed suicide to encourage their troops to fight to the bitter end.Two days later, the Japanese started doing suicidal charges against the Americans on the beaches.The civilian population, mostly Japanese, also committed suicide by jumping of Marpi Point en masse, or, by blowing themselves up with grenades.Of the garrison of 32,000 Japanese, only 1000 soldiers survived, and 22,000 civilians were also dead.The US casualities were high; 3,426 Marines and GIs died.After this battle, Prime Minister Hideki Tojo resigned on July 18th.

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