The Battle of the Philippine Sea: The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot

1. General Information

• Belligerents: United States Navy against the Imperial Japanese Navy.
• Duration: June 19 to June 20, 1944.
• Commanders:
  • United States: Admiral Raymond Spruance, with Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher commanding Task Force 58.
  • Japan: Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa.
• Casualties:
  • United States: Approximately 130 aircraft lost and minor damage to ships.
  • Japan: Approximately 550–645 aircraft lost, three aircraft carriers sunk (Taihō, Shōkaku, and Hiyo).
• Victor: United States.
• Impact: The battle significantly reduced the combat effectiveness of the Japanese fleet, marking a pivotal point in the Pacific theater by allowing the U.S. to gain air and sea dominance in the region.

2. Background or Cause of the Battle

The battle occurred during the American offensive in the Mariana Islands, aimed at capturing key airfields and securing a strategic position for future operations, including air raids on the Japanese home islands. The Japanese launched "Operation A-Go" to counter the American advances, resulting in this major carrier battle.

3. Plans of Both Forces

• United States: The plan centered on defending the fleet and supporting ground operations in the Marianas with carrier-based aircraft. The U.S. Navy aimed to engage Japanese forces decisively to weaken them further and protect the landing forces.
• Japan: Ozawa's strategy was to lure the American carrier forces away from the Marianas and destroy them with combined air attacks from his carriers and land-based planes in the region.

4. Major Events and Their Sequence

• Initial Contact (June 19, 1944): Known as "The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot," this first day of battle involved a series of Japanese air attacks against the U.S. fleet, which were largely ineffective and resulted in massive losses of Japanese aircraft due to superior American fighter tactics and technology.
• Counterattack by Task Force 58 (June 20, 1944): After repelling the initial attacks, U.S. forces launched a series of strikes against the Japanese fleet, sinking several carriers and effectively neutralizing the Japanese naval air threat.
• Retreat of the Japanese Fleet (June 20, 1944): With heavy losses and minimal impact on the U.S. fleet, the remaining Japanese forces withdrew, marking a significant strategic defeat.

5. Major Tactics or Deception

• American Radar and Combat Air Patrols: Utilization of advanced radar technology and effective aerial combat patrols maximized the defensive capabilities of the U.S. fleet.
• Japanese Misjudgment: Underestimation of American defensive preparations and overestimation of their own operational capabilities led to catastrophic losses.

6. Causes of Victory and Defeat

• Victory (United States): Superior air power, effective use of radar and fighter direction, and better trained and equipped pilots were crucial.
• Defeat (Japan): Poor planning, inadequate pilot training, and ineffective tactical decisions resulted in a disastrous loss of aircraft and carriers.

7. Relevance of the Principles of War

This battle demonstrated the principles of mass, objective, and surprise. The U.S. effectively massed their combat power to achieve the objective of defending the fleet and landing forces, while Japan failed to effectively surprise or disrupt U.S. operations.

8. Conclusion/Summary

The Battle of the Philippine Sea marked a critical juncture in the Pacific War, showcasing the overwhelming superiority of American naval aviation and marking the beginning of the end for Japanese naval power. This victory ensured U.S. dominance in the Pacific and facilitated further offensive operations leading to the eventual surrender of Japan.