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Opposing Forces

[edit]
US Naval commanders for Operation Forager
Vice Adm. Raymond A. Spruance
Rear Adm. Richmond Kelly Turner
V Amphibious Corps commanders
Lieut. Gen. Holland M. Smith
Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt
Marine division commanders on Saipan
Maj. Gen. Thomas E. Watson
Maj. Gen. Clifton B. Cates
Navajo codetalkers played a key role in directing naval gunfire onto Japanese positions.

American order of battle

[edit]

U.S. Fifth Fleet[1]
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in heavy cruiser Indianapolis

Joint Expeditionary Force (Task Force 51)
Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner in amphibious command ship Rocky Mount

Northern Attack Force (Task Force 52)
Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner in amphibious command ship Rocky Mount

V Amphibious Corps

Northern sector (Red and Green beaches):

Southern sector (Blue and Yellow beaches):

Army (landed D+1):

  • 27th Infantry Division (16,404 officers and enlisted)
  • Commanding General (thru 24 Jun): Major General Ralph C. Smith
  • Commanding General (24 Jun thru 28 Jun): Major General Sanderford Jarman
  • Commanding General (after 28 Jun): Major General George W. Griner
  • XXIV Corps Artillery
  • Commanding General: Brigadier General Arthur M. Harper
    • 1st Provisional Gun Group
    • 225th Field Artillery Howitzer Group

Japanese Order of Battle

[edit]
Vice Adm. Chuichi Nagumo, commander of Imperial forces in Marianas
Lt. Gen. Saito Yoshitsugu, commander of Imperial forces on Saipan

Central Pacific Area Fleet HQ[3]

  • Commanding officer: Vice Admiral Chūichi Nagumo (self-inflicted gunshot 6 July)
  • Chief of staff: Rear Admiral Hideo Yano (seppuku 7 July)
    • 31st Army
      • Commanding officer: Lieutenant General Hideyoshi Obata (on inspection tour of Guam during battle; seppuku there 11 August)
    • 14th Air Fleet

Defenses of Saipan

  • Commanding General: Lieutenant General Saito Yoshitsugu (seppuku 7 July)
  • 43rd Infantry Division
    • 118th Infantry Regiment
    • 135th Infantry Regiment
    • 136th Infantry Regiment
  • 47th Independent Mixed Brigade
    • 316th Independent Infantry Battalion
    • 317th Independent Infantry Battalion
    • 318th Independent Infantry Battalion
  • Other units:
    • 3rd Independent Mountain Artillery Regiment
    • 9th Tank Regiment (of 1st Tank Division)
    • 3rd Battalion, 9th Independent Mixed Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment
    • 25th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment
    • 14th Independent Mortar Battalion
    • 17th Independent Mortar Battalion
    • Miscellaneous straggler units
  1. ^ Rottman 2004, p. 90.
  2. ^ "FOLLOW ME" The Story of the 2nd Marine Division in WWII. "D Day in the Pacific" by Harold J Goldberg
  3. ^ Rottman 2004, p. 91.