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:
This was the greatest carrier battle of the war. The forces engaged were three to four times those in preceding actions like Midway, and victory was so complete that the Japanese could never again engage on such a scale. ... above all the skill, initiative, and intrepid courage of the young aviators made this day one of the high points in the history of the American spirit.[1]
Since the Japanese assumed the tactical offensive, their forces are listed first.
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) |
Mobile Fleet[2]
Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa in Taihō
Sortied 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo[3]
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 Asashio-class (6 × 5 in. main battery):
3 Kagerō-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): , ,
4 Akizuki-class (8 × 3.9 in. main battery): , , ,
1 Mutsuki-class (4 × 4.7 in. main battery):
Sortied 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo[3]
Vice Admiral Kakuji Kakuta in Jun'yo
Carrier Division 2 (Vice Admiral Kakuta)
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 Asashio-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): ,
2 Kagerō-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): ,
2 Yūgumo-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): ,
4 Shiratsuyu-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , ,
Sortied 12 June from Batjan anchorage off SW Halmahera Island[3]
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.l Mikio Hayakawa in Noshiro)
1 light cruiser:
1 super destroyer (41 knots, 15 torpedo tubes):
8 destroyers:
7 Yūgumo-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , ,
Sortied with Ozawa's carrier forces 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo[3]
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 Kagerō-class (6 × 5 in. main battery):
1 Mutsuki-class (4 × 4.7 in. main battery):
Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi at Saipan
7 1st-class submarines
, , , , , ,
Deployed in two parallel rows SW to NE north of the Admiralties and Bismarcks[4]
17 2nd-class submarines
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
US Fifth Fleet[5]
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in heavy cruiser
Task Force 58 – Fast Carrier Forces
Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier
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 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , ,
4 Gridley-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): , , ,
1 Bagley-class (4 × 5 in. main battery):
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. E.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 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , ,
3 Farragut-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): , ,
Carrier Division 2
Rear Admiral John W. Reeves
2 fleet carriers
(Capt. Matthias B. Gardner)
Air Group 10 (Cmdr. W.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 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , ,
1 Mahan-class (5 × 5 in. main battery):
3 Gleaves-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): , ,
4 Benham-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): , , ,
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 Porter-class (8 × 5 in. main battery):
9 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): , , , , , , , ,
3 Bagley-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): , ,
1 Mahan-class (5 × 5 in. main battery):
Rear Admiral Ralph W. Christie (HQ at Fremantle)
Southeast of Mindanao
3 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Hake, Bashaw, Paddle
IJN anchorage at Tawi Tawi
3 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Harder, Haddo, Redfin
Off Luzon
2 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Bluefish, Jack, Flier
Patrol Submarines
Vice Admiral Charles A. Lockwood (HQ at Pearl Harbor)
At the Bonins
2 Balao-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Archerfish, Plaice
1 Gar-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Gar
1 Sargo-class (8 tubes: 4 forward, 4 aft): Swordfish
1 Porpoise-class (6 tubes: 4 forward, 2 aft): Plunger
Southeast of Formosa and eastward
2 Balao-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Pintado, Pilotfish
1 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Tunny
East and Southeast of the Marianas
2 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Albacore, Finback
1 Balao-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Bang
1 Salmon-class (8 tubes: 4 forward, 4 aft): Stingray
1 Sargo-class (8 tubes: 4 forward, 4 aft): Seawolf
Ulithi and the Philippines
3 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Flying Fish, Muskallunge, Cavalla
2 Balao-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Seahorse, Pipefish
Off Surigao Strait
1 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Growler