The Battle of the Philippine Sea was fought 19–20 June 1944 in the waters west of the Mariana Islands by elements of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet and of the United States Navy's Pacific Fleet. The battle resulted from the Japanese reaction to the American invasion of the island of Saipan. Instead of attacking the troop transports off Saipan, Admiral Toyoda chose to engage the American carrier forces in what he intended to be the long-awaited “decisive battle” that would crush U.S. naval power.
The outcome was a disaster for the Japanese Navy. The battle exacted a terrible toll from the Japanese naval air arm, costing them most of their few remaining experienced pilots. The Combined Fleet was no longer capable of serious offensive operations after this engagement. Historian Samuel Eliot Morison characterized it this way:Morison 1953, pp. 277–278
Since the Japanese assumed the tactical offensive, their forces are listed first.
Forces deployed Losses in parentheses
Ship Type IJN USN Fleet carriers (CV) 5 (3) 7 Light carriers (CVL) 4 8 Super battleships (SBB) 2 Fast battleships (BB) 3 7 Heavy cruisers (CA) 11 8 Light cruisers (CL) 2 13 Destroyers (DD) 33 (5) 67 Submarines (SS) 24 (13) ?? (2 IJN carriers claimed sunk by US subs; see Seventh Fleet Submarines‘ locations in order of battle listed below)
Aircraft type IJN USN Fighters 230 455 Dive bombers 119 242 Torpedo bombers 101 203 Totals 450 900 Aircraft losses (415) (123)
Japanese order of battle
Mobile FleetMorison 1953, pp. 416–417 Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa in Taihō
"A" Force
Sortied 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE BorneoMorison 1953, p. 221 Vice Admiral Ozawa Carrier Division 1 (Vice Adm. Ozawa) 3 fleet carriers () ()
Air Unit 79 Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" fighters 70 Yokosuka D4Y "Judy" dive bombers 7 Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers 51 Nakajima B6N "Jill" torpedo bombers Cruiser Division 5 (Rear Adm. Shintaro Hashimoto) 2 heavy cruisers: , Screen (Rear Adm. Susumu Kimura in Yahagi) 1 light cruiser: 9 destroyers 1 (6 × 5 in. main battery): 3 (6 × 5 in. main battery): , (), 4 (8 × 3.9 in. main battery): , , , 1 (4 × 4.7 in. main battery): ()
"B" Force
Sortied 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo Rear Admiral Takatsugu Jōjima in Jun'yo Carrier Division 2 (Rear Admiral Jōjima) 2 converted carriers
() 1 light carrier
Air Unit 81 Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" fighters 27 Yokosuka D4Y "Judy" dive bombers 9 Aichi D3A "Val" dive bombers 18 Nakajima B6N "Jill" torpedo bombers 1 old battleship: 1 heavy cruiser: Screen 10 destroyers 2 (6 × 5 in. main battery): , 2 (6 × 5 in. main battery): , 2 (6 × 5 in. main battery): , 4 (5 × 5 in. main battery): (), , , ()
Van Force
Sortied 12 June from Batjan anchorage off SW Halmahera Island Vice Admiral Takeo Kurita in heavy cruiser Atago Carrier Division 3 (Rear Adm. Sueo Obayashi) 3 light carriers
Air Unit 62 Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" fighters 17 Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers 9 Nakajima B6N "Jill" torpedo bombers Battleship Division 1 (Vice Adm. Matome Ugaki) 2 super battleships: , Battleship Division 3 (Vice Adm. Yoshio Suzuki) 2 old battleships: , Cruiser Division 4 (Vice Adm. Kurita) 4 heavy cruisers: , , , Cruiser Division 7 (Vice Adm. Kazutaka Shiraishi) 4 heavy cruisers: , , , Screen (Rear Adm. Mikio Hayakawa in Noshiro) 1 light cruiser: 1 super destroyer (41 knots, 15 torpedo tubes): 8 destroyers: 7 (6 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , (),
Supply Forces
Sortied with Ozawa's carrier forces 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo 1st Supply Force 4 oilers Hayasui, Nichiei Maru, Kokuyo Maru, Seiyo Maru () 4 destroyers 1 (6 × 5 in. main battery): 1 (5 × 5 in. main battery): 1 (4 × 4.7 in. main battery): 1 (3 × 4.7 in. main battery): 2nd Supply Force 2 oilers Genyo Maru (), Azusa Maru 2 destroyers 1 (6 × 5 in. main battery): 1 (4 × 4.7 in. main battery):
Submarine Forces Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi at Saipan 7 1st-class submarines (), (), , , , (), () Deployed in two parallel rows SW to NE north of the Admiralties and BismarcksMorison 1953, p. 226 17 2nd-class submarines (), , (), , (), , , (), (), (), (), , , (), , (), ()
American order of battle
US Fifth FleetMorison 1953, pp. 412–415 Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in heavy cruiser
Task Force 58 – Fast Carrier Forces Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier
Task Group 58.1
Carrier Division 13 Rear Admiral Joseph J. Clark 2 fleet carriers (Capt. William D. Sample) Air Group 2 (Cmdr. Jackson D. Arnold) 36 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. W.A. Dean) 33 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. G.B. Campbell) 18 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. L.M.D. Ford) 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters (Lt. R.L. Reiserer) (Capt. Ralph E. Jennings) Air Group 1 (Cmdr. J.M. Peters) 41 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. B.M. Strean) 40 SB2C Helldiver, 4 SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. J.W. Runyan, USNR) 17 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. W.F. Henry) 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters (Lt. A.C. Benjes) 2 light carriers (Capt. John Perry) Air Group 24 (Cmdr. E.M. Link) 26 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Link) 9 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. R.M. Swensson) (Capt. Valentine H. Schaeffer) Air Group 50 (Lt. Cmdr. J.C. Strange, USNR) 24 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Strange) 9 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. L.V. Swanson) Cruiser Division 10 (Rear Admiral Leo H. Thebaud) 3 heavy cruisers (Capt. W.C. Calhoun) (Capt. E.E. Herrmann) (Capt. A.R. Early) Screen 2 anti-aircraft light cruisers (Rear Admiral Thebaud) (Capt. Guy W. Clark) (Capt. William K. Phillips) 14 destroyers (Capt. Clark) 9 (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , , 4 (4 × 5 in. main battery): , , , 1 (4 × 5 in. main battery):
Task Group 58.2
Carrier Division 3 Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery 2 fleet carriers (Capt. T.P. Jeter) Air Group 8 (Cmdr. R.L. Shifley) 37 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. W.M. Collins) 33 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. J.D. Arbes) 18 TBF Avenger, torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. K.F. Musick) 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Evan P. Aurand) (Capt. Clifton Sprague) Air Group 14 (Cmdr. W.C. Wingard) 34 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. E.W. Biros, USNR) 32 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. J.D. Blitch) 18 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. H.S. Roberts, USNR) 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters (Lt. J.H. Boyum) 2 light carriers (Capt. S.J. Michael) Air Group 31 (Lt. Cmdr. R.A. Winston) 24 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Winston) 9 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. E.E. Wood, USNR) (Capt. Stuart H. Ingersoll) Air Group 28 (Lt. Cmdr. R.W. Mehle, USNR) 21 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Mehle) 8 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. R.P. Gift, USNR) 1 heavy cruiser (Capt. Harry Slocum) Cruiser Division 13 (Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose) 3 light cruisers (Capt. Jerauld Wright) (Capt. Charles J. Wheeler) (Capt. Daniel M. McGurl) Screen 12 destroyers 9 (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , , 3 (4 × 5 in. main battery): , ,
Task Group 58.3
Carrier Division 2 Rear Admiral John W. Reeves 2 fleet carriers (Capt. Matthias B. Gardner) Air Group 10 (Cmdr. William R. Kane) 31 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. R.W. Schumann) 21 SBD Dauntless dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. James D. Ramage) 14 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. W.I. Martin) 3 F4U Corsair night fighters (Lt. Cmdr. R.E. Harmer) (Capt. E.W. Litch) Air Group 16 (Cmdr. E.M. Snowden) 37 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Ralph Weymouth) 34 SBD Dauntless dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. Weymouth) 18 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. N.A. Sterrie, USNR) 4 F6F-xN Hellcat fighters (Lt. W.H. Abercrombie, USNR) 2 light carriers (Capt. Harold M. Martin) Air Group 51 (Lt. Cmdr. C.L. Moore) 24 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Moore) 8 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. D.J. Melvin) (Capt. W.H. Buracker) Air Group 27 (Lt. Cmdr. E.W. Wood – KIA) 24 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Wood) 9 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. S.M. Haley, USNR) 1 heavy cruiser (Capt. E.R. Johnson) Cruiser Division 12 (Rear Admiral Robert W. Hayler) 3 light cruisers (Capt. H.D. Hoffman) (Capt. A.G. Shepard) (Capt. Thomas B. Inglis) Screen 1 anti-aircraft light cruiser (Capt. R.C. Alexander) 13 destroyers All (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Task Group 58.4
Carrier Division 12 Rear Admiral William K. Harrill 1 fleet carrier (Capt. Ralph A. Ofstie) Air Group 15 (Cmdr. David McCampbell) 38 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. C.W. Brewer -- KIA) 36 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers (Lt. Cmdr. J.H. Mini) 20 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. V.G. Lambert) 4 F6F-xN Hellcat night fighters (Lt. R.M. Freeman) 2 light carriers (Capt. W.M. Dillon) Air Group 32 (Lt. Cmdr. E.C. Outlaw) 23 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Outlaw) 9 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. D.A. Marks) (Capt. H.W. Taylor) Air Group 25 (Lt. Cmdr. R.H. Price) 23 F6F Hellcat fighters (Lt. Cmdr. Price) 9 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. R.B. Cottingham, USNR) Cruiser Division 14 (Rear admiral Wilder D. Baker) 3 light cruisers (Capt. A.D. Brown) (Capt. W.W. Behrens) (Capt. J.G. Crawford) Screen 1 anti-aircraft light cruiser (Capt. L.J. Hudson) 14 destroyers 6 (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , 1 (5 × 5 in. main battery): 3 (4 × 5 in. main battery): , , 4 (4 × 5 in. main battery): , , ,
Task Group 58.7
Commander, Battleships, Pacific Fleet Vice Admiral Willis Augustus Lee Battleship Division 6 (Vice Admiral Lee) 2 (Capt. Frank P. Thomas) (Capt. Thomas R. Cooley) Battleship Division 7 (Rear Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt) 2 (Capt. John L. McCrea) (Capt. Carl F. Holden) Battleship Division 8 (Rear Admiral Glenn B. Davis) 1 (Capt. Thomas J. Keliher Jr.) Battleship Division 9 (Rear Admiral Edward Hanson) 2 (Capt. Ralph S. Riggs) (Capt. Fred D. Kirtland) Cruiser Division 6 (Rear Admiral C. Turner Joy) 3 heavy cruisers (Capt. J.J. Mahoney) (Capt. J.E. Hurff) (Capt. Harvey Overesch) Screen 14 destroyers 1 (8 × 5 in. main battery): 9 (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , , 3 (4 × 5 in. main battery): , , 1 (5 × 5 in. main battery):
Seventh Fleet Submarines
Rear Admiral Ralph W. Christie (HQ at Fremantle) Southeast of Mindanao 3 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , , IJN anchorage at Tawi Tawi 3 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , , Off Luzon 2 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , ,
Task Force 17
Patrol Submarines Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood (HQ at Pearl Harbor) At the Bonins 2 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , 1 Gar-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): 1 (8 tubes: 4 forward, 4 aft): 1 Porpoise-class (6 tubes: 4 forward, 2 aft): Southeast of Formosa and eastward 2 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , 1 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): East and Southeast of the Marianas 2 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , 1 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): 1 (8 tubes: 4 forward, 4 aft): 1 (8 tubes: 4 forward, 4 aft): Ulithi and the Philippines 3 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , , 2 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): , Off Surigao Strait 1 (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft):
Notes
References
Bibliography