A crucial World War II battle fought from June 15 to July 9, 1944, where U.S. Marines and Army forces captured the strategic island of Saipan from Japanese defenders, establishing a vital base for B-29 bomber operations against mainland Japan.

The Battle of Saipan marked a crucial turning point in World War II's Pacific theater. On June 15, 1944, the U.S. Marines launched a massive amphibious assault on this strategic Japanese stronghold in the Mariana Islands. The operation would prove to be one of the most significant and costly battles in the Pacific campaign.

Under the command of Lieutenant General Holland Smith, the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions, along with the Army's 27th Infantry Division, faced fierce resistance from Japan's 43rd Division. The island's capture was vital to the Allied forces as it would provide an ideal base for B-29 bomber operations against mainland Japan. After three weeks of intense fighting that claimed thousands of lives on both sides, U.S. forces declared Saipan secured on July 9, 1944, marking a decisive victory that brought the American military one step closer to Japan's doorstep.

Saipan's location 1,500 miles from Tokyo made it a critical strategic target for U.S. military operations. The island served three essential military functions:

• Created a direct air route to Japan for B-29 Superfortress bombers
• Provided a secure base for Allied naval operations in the Pacific
• Disrupted Japanese supply lines to their remaining Pacific holdings

The capture of Saipan established vital military infrastructure:

• Two operational airfields: Isley Field and Kagman Point
• Deep-water port facilities at Garapan
• Multiple ammunition storage facilities
• Forward staging areas for additional Pacific operations

The island's geographic features enhanced its military value:

Feature	Military Advantage
Elevated terrain	Radar installation sites
Protected harbors	Naval fleet anchorage
Coral reefs	Natural defensive barriers
Flat inland areas	Airfield construction

Saipan's position in the Marianas chain created significant advantages:

• Blocked Japan's access to remaining territories in Southeast Asia

• Eliminated Japanese air bases threatening U.S. supply routes

• Enabled surveillance of Japanese naval movements

• Protected Allied shipping lanes to Australia and New Zealand

• Brought American bombers within range of Japan's industrial centers

• Established the first U.S. territory inside Japan's inner defense ring

• Created launching points for operations against Guam and Tinian

• Secured Allied control of western Pacific sea lanes

Operation Forager launched in June 1944 as the U.S. military's strategic campaign to capture the Mariana Islands. The operation's primary objective focused on securing Saipan as a critical base for future operations against Japan.

The Joint Expeditionary Force consisted of 535 ships divided into Northern and Southern Attack Forces. Vice Admiral Richmond K. Turner commanded the naval forces while Lieutenant General Holland Smith led the ground forces, including:

• 2nd Marine Division with 19,000 combat-ready troops
• 4th Marine Division containing 20,000 personnel
• 27th Infantry Division comprising 16,000 Army soldiers
• 24th Artillery Regiment providing fire support
• Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) for beach reconnaissance

Intelligence gathered through aerial reconnaissance revealed Japanese defensive positions across Saipan:

• 15 coastal defense guns
• 76 anti-aircraft positions
• 3 airfields at Aslito Charan Kanoa Marpi Point

Pre-invasion preparations included:

• 2 days of naval bombardment starting June 13
• 165,000 shells fired at enemy positions
• 13 minesweepers clearing approach lanes
• 4 underwater demolition teams conducting beach surveys
• 8 designated landing beaches across 6 miles of coastline

Defense Type	Quantity	Location
Pillboxes	293	Western beaches
Artillery positions	47	Mount Tapotchau
Command centers	16	Garapan area
Ammunition dumps	23	Interior regions

At 0700 hours on June 15, 1944, the U.S. Marines launched their amphibious assault on Saipan's western beaches. The landing force consisted of 8,000 Marines from the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions in the first wave, supported by 68 amphibian tanks.

The Marine divisions targeted eight designated landing beaches across 6,000 yards of Saipan's western coast. The 2nd Marine Division assaulted Red and Green beaches in the northern sector, while the 4th Marine Division landed on Blue and Yellow beaches to the south. Japanese defenders concentrated their firepower from:

• 47 concrete pillboxes along the beach
• 16 heavy artillery positions on Mount Tapotchau
• 24 machine gun nests in the cliff faces
• 12 coastal defense guns in reinforced positions

Beach Designation	Landing Unit	Width (yards)	Initial Casualties
Red 1-3	2nd Marine Division	2,000	185
Green 1-2	2nd Marine Division	1,500	157
Blue 1-2	4th Marine Division	1,500	196
Yellow 1	4th Marine Division	1,000	173

The Marines secured their initial beachhead within four hours of the landing. Key achievements included:

• Penetration 1,000 yards inland on Red Beach
• Capture of Afetna Point by the 4th Marine Division
• Seizure of the O-1 line by 1400 hours
• Establishment of three supply corridors through Japanese defenses
• Integration of 96 Sherman tanks for inland support

The assault teams encountered intense resistance from:

• Concealed artillery positions
• Interlocking fields of fire
• Underground bunker networks
• Mobile Japanese counterattacks

By nightfall, 20,000 Marines established positions on shore, creating a beachhead 10,000 yards wide and 1,500 yards deep despite suffering 2,000 casualties during the initial assault.

Japanese forces mounted aggressive defensive operations against U.S. Marines on Saipan, employing strategic positions in mountainous terrain to maximize casualties. The Japanese 43rd Division executed coordinated counterattacks from fortified positions across the island's central region.

Mount Tapotchau, rising 1,554 feet above sea level, served as the Japanese army's primary observation post. The 2nd Marine Division engaged in intense combat operations from June 21-24, 1944, encountering heavily fortified cave networks containing machine gun nests, artillery pieces and sniper positions. Japanese defenders utilized the steep terrain to launch rolling grenades downhill at advancing Marines, while maintaining interlocking fields of fire from concealed positions.

Death Valley, located between Mount Tapotchau and Purple Heart Ridge, became a focal point of Japanese resistance from June 22-27, 1944. The 27th Infantry Division faced concentrated fire from:

Japanese Defensive Assets	Count
Artillery pieces	37
Machine gun positions	47
Mortar emplacements	23
Sniper nests	112

• Close air support from carrier-based aircraft
• Naval gunfire support from offshore battleships
• Tank-infantry coordination utilizing M4 Sherman tanks
• Flamethrower teams targeting cave entrances
• Combat engineer demolition squads

The U.S. Marines secured total control of Saipan on July 9, 1944, marking the end of a brutal 25-day campaign. The final phase of the battle witnessed both a tragic civilian crisis and concentrated military operations to eliminate remaining Japanese resistance.

Japanese civilians faced a devastating crisis on July 6-7, 1944, when thousands attempted mass suicides at Marpi Point. Imperial Japanese propaganda convinced 1,000 civilians to jump from the 800-foot cliffs rather than surrender to American forces. U.S. Marine interpreters used loudspeakers to persuade 3,500 civilians to move away from the cliff edges toward safety. The tragic event resulted in the deaths of hundreds of women children at what became known as "Suicide Cliff" and "Banzai Cliff."

Marine combat units systematically cleared remaining Japanese positions across Saipan's northern sector between July 7-9, 1944. The 2nd Marine Division eliminated 27 cave strongholds while the 4th Marine Division secured the coastline perimeter. Final statistics recorded:

Category	Count
Japanese Military Deaths	29,000
U.S. Military Casualties	13,786
Civilian Deaths	22,000
Japanese POWs	921

The remaining Japanese defenders launched a final coordinated attack on July 7, resulting in the deaths of 4,300 Japanese troops. U.S. forces officially declared Saipan secured at 1615 hours on July 9, establishing complete control of the strategic island base.

The capture of Saipan marked a turning point in the Pacific War that fundamentally altered the strategic balance between Allied and Japanese forces. Its seizure created direct consequences for both military operations and Japan's political landscape.

B-29 Superfortress bombers operating from Saipan's airfields gained direct access to Japan's home islands starting in October 1944. The 1,500-mile distance between Saipan and Tokyo placed Japan's industrial centers within strategic bombing range. U.S. air forces launched 3,150 bombing missions from Saipan's Isley Field between November 1944 and August 1945, delivering 27,000 tons of bombs to mainland Japan. The island's capture established a crucial forward operating base that supported:

• Strategic bombing operations against Japanese industrial targets

• Search-and-rescue missions for downed aircrews

• Reconnaissance flights tracking Japanese naval movements

• Logistical support for Pacific Fleet operations

• Admiral Toyoda replaced Admiral Koga as Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet

• General Kuniaki Koiso formed a new government focused on homeland defense

• The Imperial Japanese Navy lost 29,000 troops, depleting experienced personnel

• Japanese military strategists abandoned their outer defense perimeter concept

Impact Category	Statistical Data
Japanese Military Deaths	29,000
Leadership Changes	1 Prime Minister, 2 Military Commanders
Distance to Tokyo	1,500 miles
B-29 Missions	3,150
Bomb Tonnage	27,000 tons

• U.S. Marines launched their assault on Saipan on June 15, 1944, and secured the island on July 9, 1944, after 25 days of intense fighting.
• The capture involved the 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions along with the Army's 27th Infantry Division, facing strong resistance from Japan's 43rd Division.
• Saipan's strategic location, 1,500 miles from Tokyo, made it crucial for B-29 bomber operations against mainland Japan and served as a vital base for Allied naval operations.
• The battle resulted in significant casualties: 29,000 Japanese military deaths, 13,786 U.S. military casualties, and 22,000 civilian deaths.
• The victory marked a turning point in the Pacific War, bringing American forces within bombing range of Japan's industrial centers and establishing the first U.S. territory inside Japan's inner defense ring.

The capture of Saipan stands as one of the most significant victories in the Pacific theater of World War II. This hard-fought battle not only demonstrated the U.S. Marines' exceptional combat capabilities but also marked a decisive turning point in the war against Japan.

The strategic value of Saipan proved immeasurable as it provided the Allies with a crucial base for B-29 bombing operations against mainland Japan. The victory came at a heavy cost with thousands of casualties on both sides but ultimately shifted the balance of power in the Pacific decisively in favor of the Allied forces.

Today the Battle of Saipan serves as a testament to the determination and sacrifice of U.S. Marines who fought to secure this vital stronghold that helped bring World War II to its conclusion.