Battle of Saipan

June 15 – July 9, 1944 · Saipan

Result American victory

US capture of Saipan in the Mariana Islands. The island gave US bombers bases in range of Japan, and the defeat brought down the government of Hideki Tojo.

On the map Contemporaries

Allies

Axis

Other

United States

Japan

Chester W. Nimitz military commander

Raymond A. Spruance military commander

Richmond K. Turner military commander

Chūichi Nagumo military commander

Hideyoshi Obata military commander

Yoshitsugu Saitō military commander

Strength and losses

Strength: 94,650

Civilian deaths: 8,000–10,000

Units

V Amphibious Corps 2nd Marine Division 106th Infantry Regiment (United States) 4th Tank Battalion (United States)

Thirty-First Army (Japan) 43rd Division (Imperial Japanese Army)

4th Marine Division