IJ Combined Fleet and US Pacific Fleet Commanders
Adm. Soemu Toyoda (HQ at Tokyo)
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz (HQ at Pearl Harbor)

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.

Forces deployed

Losses in parentheses

Japanese order of battle

Vice Adm. Jisaburō Ozawa

Mobile Fleet[2]
Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa in Taihō

"A" Force

Vice Adm. Ozawa's flagship Taiho
Mitsubishi A6M "Zeke" fighter
Yokosuka D4Y "Judy" dive bomber
Nakajima B6N "Jill" torpedo bombers

Sortied 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo[3]
Vice Admiral Ozawa

Carrier Division 1 (Vice Adm. Ozawa)
3 fleet carriers
Taihō (sunk by submarine 19 June)
Shōkaku (sunk by submarine 19 June)
Zuikaku
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: Myōkō, Haguro
Screen (Rear Adm. Susumu Kimura in Yahagi)
1 light cruiser: Yahagi
9 destroyers
1 Asashio-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Asagumo
3 Kagerō-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Isokaze, Tanikaze (sunk by submarine 9 June), Urakaze
4 Akizuki-class (8 × 3.9 in. main battery): Akizuki, Hatsuzuki, Wakatsuki, Shimotsuki
1 Mutsuki-class (4 × 4.7 in. main battery): Minazuki (sunk by submarine 6 June)

"B" Force

Old battleship Nagato

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
Jun'yō
Hiyō (sunk by air attack 19 June)
1 light carrier
Ryūhō
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: Nagato
1 heavy cruiser: Mogami
Screen
10 destroyers
2 Asashio-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Michishio, Yamagumo
2 Kagerō-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Nowaki, Hamakaze
2 Yūgumo-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Hayashimo, Akishimo
4 Shiratsuyu-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Shiratsuyu (sunk following collision with Seiyo Maru 14 June), Shigure, Samidare, Harusame (sunk by air attack 8 June)

Van Force

Vice Adm. Takeo Kurita
Light carrier Zuihō
Light cruiser Noshiro

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
Chitose
Chiyoda
Zuihō
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: Yamato, Musashi
Battleship Division 3 (Vice Adm. Yoshio Suzuki)
2 old battleships: Kongō, Haruna
Cruiser Division 4 (Vice Adm. Kurita)
4 heavy cruisers: Atago, Chōkai, Maya, Takao
Cruiser Division 7(Vice Adm.Kazutaka Shiraishi)
4 heavy cruisers: Kumano, Suzuya, Chikuma, Tone
Screen (Rear Adm.l Mikio Hayakawa in Noshiro)
1 light cruiser: Noshiro
1 super destroyer (41 knots, 15 torpedo tubes): Shimakaze
8 destroyers:
7 Yūgumo-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Kishinami, Okinami, Naganami, Asashimo, Tamanami, Hayanami (sunk by submarine 7 June), Fujinami

Supply Forces

Ose, typical Japanese oiler, at Sasebo naval base in 1943
Destroyer Hibiki underway in 1941
I-class submarine
Ro-class submarine

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 (sunk 20 June)
4 destroyers
1 Fubuki class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Hibiki
1 Hatsuharu class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Hatsushimo
1 Kamikaze class (4 × 4.7 in. main battery): Yūnagi
1 Momi class (3 × 4.7 in. main battery): Tsuga
2nd Supply Force
2 oilers
Genyo Maru (sunk 20 June), Azusa Maru
2 destroyers
1 Kagerō-class (6 × 5 in. main battery): Yukikaze
1 Mutsuki-class (4 × 4.7 in. main battery): Uzuki

Submarine Forces

Vice Admiral Takeo Takagi at Saipan

7 1st-class submarines
I-5 (sunk by depth charges 19 July), I-10 (sunk by depth charges 4 July), I-38, I-41, I-53, I-184 (sunk by aircraft 19 June), I-185 (sunk by depth charges 22 June)
Deployed in two parallel rows SW to NE north of the Admiralties and Bismarcks[4]
17 2nd-class submarines[lower-alpha 1]
Ro-36 (sunk by depth charges 13 June), Ro-41, Ro-42 (sunk by depth charges 10 June), Ro-43, Ro-44 (sunk by depth charges 16 June), Ro-47, Ro-68, Ro-104 (sunk by depth charges 23 May), Ro-105 (sunk by depth charges 31 May), Ro-106 (sunk by depth charges 22 May), Ro-108 (sunk by depth charges 26 May), Ro-112, Ro-113, Ro-114 (sunk by depth charges 17 June), Ro-115, Ro-116 (sunk by depth charges 23 May), Ro-117 (sunk by depth charges 17 June)

American order of battle

Fleet and Fast Carrier commanders
Vice Adm. Raymond A. Spruance
Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher

US Fifth Fleet[5]
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in heavy cruiser Indianapolis

Task Force 58 – Fast Carrier Forces
Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier Lexington

Task Group 58.1

Rear Adm. Joseph J. Clark
Light carrier Belleau Wood
Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber
Carrier Division 13
Rear Admiral Joseph J. Clark
2 fleet carriers
Hornet (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)
Yorktown (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
Belleau Wood (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)
Bataan (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
Baltimore (Capt. W.C. Calhoun)
Boston (Capt. E.E. Herrmann)
Canberra (Capt. A.R. Early)
Screen
2 anti-aircraft light cruisers[lower-alpha 2] (Rear Admiral Thebaud)
San Juan (Capt. Guy W. Clark)
Oakland (Capt. William K. Phillips)
14 destroyers (Capt. Clark)
9 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Bell, Boyd, Bradford, Brown, Burns, Charrette, Conner, Cowell, Izard
4 Gridley-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): Craven, Gridley, Maury, McCall
1 Bagley-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): Helm

Task Group 58.2

Rear Adm. Alfred E. Montgomery
Fleet carrier Bunker Hill in 1945
Light carrier Cabot in 1945
Carrier Division 3
Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery
2 fleet carriers
Bunker Hill (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)
Wasp (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
Cabot (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)
Monterey (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
Minneapolis (Capt. Harry Slocum)
Cruiser Division 13 (Rear Admiral Laurance T. DuBose)
3 light cruisers
Santa Fe (Capt. Jerauld Wright)
Mobile (Capt. Charles J. Wheeler)
Biloxi (Capt. Daniel M. McGurl)
Screen
12 destroyers
9 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Hickox, Hunt, Lewis Hancock, Marshall, Miller, Owen, Stephen Potter, The Sullivans, Tingey
3 Farragut-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): Dewey, Hull, MacDonough

Task Group 58.3

Rear Adm. John W. Reeves
Fleet carrier Enterprise underway November 1943
Marine Corps Corsairs in 1944
Anti-aircraft light cruiser Reno off California January 1944
Carrier Division 2
Rear Admiral John W. Reeves
2 fleet carriers
Enterprise (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)
Lexington (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
San Jacinto (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)
Princeton (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
Indianapolis (Capt. E.R. Johnson)
Cruiser Division 12 (Rear Admiral Robert W. Hayler)
3 light cruisers
Montpelier (Capt. H.D. Hoffman)
Cleveland (Capt. A.G. Shepard)
Birmingham (Capt. Thomas B. Inglis)
Screen
1 anti-aircraft light cruiser[lower-alpha 3]
Reno (Capt. R.C. Alexander)
13 destroyers
All Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Anthony, Braine, Caperton, Clarence K. Bronson, Cogswell, Cotten, Dortch, Gatling, Healy, Ingersoll, Knapp, Terry, Wadsworth

Task Group 58.4

Fleet carrier Essex outfitted in dazzle camouflage
Light cruiser Vincennes in San Francisco Bay in 1945
Fletcher-class destroyer Charles Ausburne underway
Carrier Division 12
Rear Admiral William K. Harrill
1 fleet carrier
Essex (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
Langley (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)
Cowpens (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
Vincennes (Capt. A.D. Brown)
Houston (Capt. W.W. Behrens)
Miami (Capt. J.G. Crawford)
Screen
1 anti-aircraft light cruiser[lower-alpha 4]
San Diego (Capt. L.J. Hudson)
14 destroyers
6 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Charles Ausburne, Stanly, Dyson, Converse, Spence, Thatcher
1 Mahan-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Case
3 Gleaves-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): Lansdowne, Lardner, McCalla
4 Benham-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): Lang, Sterett, Wilson, Ellet

Task Group 58.7

Vice Adm. Willis A. Lee
Fast battleships
Iowa at anchor in Algeria
North Carolina underway
Destroyer Bagley
Before World War II
After World War II

Commander, Battleships, Pacific Fleet
Vice Admiral Willis Augustus Lee

Battleship Division 6 (Vice Admiral Lee)
2 North Carolina class
North Carolina (Capt. Frank P. Thomas)
Washington (Capt. Thomas R. Cooley)
Battleship Division 7 (Rear Admiral Olaf M. Hustvedt)
2 Iowa class
Iowa (Capt. John L. McCrea)
New Jersey (Capt. Carl F. Holden)
Battleship Division 8 (Rear Admiral Glenn B. Davis)
1 South Dakota class
Indiana (Capt. Thomas J. Keliher Jr.)
Battleship Division 9 (Rear Admiral Edward Hanson)
2 South Dakota class
South Dakota (Capt. Ralph S. Riggs)
Alabama (Capt. Fred D. Kirtland)
Cruiser Division 6 (Rear Admiral C. Turner Joy)
3 heavy cruisers
Wichita (Capt. J.J. Mahoney)
New Orleans (Capt. J.E. Hurff)
San Francisco (Capt. Harvey Overesch)
Screen
14 destroyers
1 Porter-class (8 × 5 in. main battery): Selfridge
9 Fletcher-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Halford, Guest, Bennett, Fullam, Hudson, Yarnall, Twining, Stockham, Monssen
3 Bagley-class (4 × 5 in. main battery): Bagley, Mugford, Patterson
1 Mahan-class (5 × 5 in. main battery): Conyngham

Seventh Fleet Submarines

Rear Adm. Ralph W. Christie

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[lower-alpha 5], Redfin
Off Luzon
2 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Bluefish, Jack, Flier

Task Force 17

Vice Adm. Charles A. Lockwood
Balao-class submarine

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

Notes

  1. ↑ Ro-104, Ro-105, Ro-106, Ro-108, Ro-116 all sunk by destroyer escort England
  2. ↑ These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was rejected and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[6]
  3. ↑ These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was rejected and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[6]
  4. ↑ These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was rejected and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[6]
  5. ↑ Skippered by Cmdr. Chester W. Nimitz, Jr.

References

  1. ↑ Morison 1953, pp. 277-278
  2. ↑ Morison 1953, pp. 416-417
  3. 1 2 3 4 Morison 1953, p. 221
  4. ↑ Morison 1953, p. 226
  5. ↑ Morison 1953, pp. 412-415
  6. 1 2 3 Stille 2016, p. 7

Bibliography

  • Morison, Samuel Eliot (1953), New Guinea and the Marianas, March 1944 – August 1944, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, vol. VIII, Boston: Little, Brown and Co.
  • Silverstone, Paul H. (1970). U.S. Warships of World War II. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Co. ISBN 0-8702-1773-9.
  • Stille, Mark (2016). US Navy Light Cruisers, 1941-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-1-4728-1140-0.
  • Watts, A.J. (1966). Japanese Warships of World War II. Shepperton, Surrey: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-0215-0.
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