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Where was the Battle of the
Philippine Sea fought?
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was
fought west of the Mariana Islands, a chain of 14 islands in the
north-west Pacific, about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) east of the
Philippines. The Mariana Islands are located east of the Philippines
and south of Japan and include the islands of Rota, Saipan, Tinian,
Pagan, Guguan, Agrihan, and Aguijan.
Why was it called the Battle of
the Philippine Sea?
It was called the Battle of the Philippine
Sea because the Mariana Islands formed the boundary between the
Philippine Sea and the Pacific Ocean. The conflict is known to the
Japanese as the Battle of the Mariana Islands. It was nicknamed the
"the great Marianas turkey shoot" by American pilots.
Who won the Battle of the
Philippine Sea?
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was won
by America when the United States Navy, under Admiral Raymond
Spruance defeated the Imperial Japanese naval force under Admiral
Soemu Toyoda and Commander of the First Mobile Fleet, Vice Admiral
Jisaburo Ozawa. The Japanese navy lost three aircraft carriers and
600 planes. The United States lost 120 aircraft.
When was the Battle of the
Philippine Sea?
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was
fought between June 19 - 20, 1944.
Why was the Battle of the
Philippine Sea important?
The Battle of the Philippine Sea was
important because the Japanese lost nearly 500 aircraft and 450
pilots and Japanese naval aviation never recovered from the blow.
The last great naval battle of the war, the battle of Leyte Gulf,
followed the crushing defeat and the surviving Japanese aircraft
carriers, almost empty of aircraft, could only be used as a decoy
force and Japanese pilots became involved in Kamikaze attacks.
What was the key to the American
success at the Battle of the Philippine Sea?
The key to the American success at the
Battle of the Philippine Sea was due to three important factors,
better training, better pilots and better aircraft. The Americans
were out-producing the Japanese in war machinery and developing
superior technology. The American pilots received better training,
it was common for Japanese combat pilots to receive less than 50
hours of flight training.
US Force at the Battle of the
Philippine Sea: Order of Battle
The Order of battle relates to the units,
formations, and equipment. The US Force at the Battle of the
Philippine Sea consisted of 7 heavy carriers, 8 light carriers, 7
battleships, 8 heavy cruisers, 13 light cruisers, 58 destroyers, 28
submarines and 956 carrier aircraft.
Japanese Force at the Battle of
the Philippine Sea: Order of Battle
The Japanese Force consisted of 5 heavy
carriers, 4 light carriers, 5 battleships, 13 heavy cruisers, 6
light cruisers, 27 destroyers, 24 submarines, 6 oilers, 450 carrier
aircraft and 300 land-based aircraft.
Casualties and Death Toll
The United States lost 1 damaged
battleship and 123 aircraft were destroyed. 76 US servicemen were
killed at the Battle of the Philippine Sea. The Japanese lost 3
carriers, 2 oilers, 6 other ships damaged and between 550–645
aircraft destroyed.. The Japanese death toll was estimated at 2,987.
Battle of the Philippine Sea Facts
for kids
The following fact
sheet contains interesting information, history and
facts on Battle of the Philippine Sea for kids.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts for kids
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 1: The Battle
of the Philippine Sea was called "the greatest carrier
battle of the war" and was larger than the Battle of the
Philippine Sea and the Battle of the Coral Sea combined.
Refer to Aircraft
Carriers for some interesting information.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 2: The conflict is sometimes
referred to as the "First" Battle of the Philippine Sea as the
Battle for Leyte Gulf in October 1944 is sometimes called the
"Second" Battle of the Philippine Sea. It was also given the
nickname of the “the great Marianas turkey shoot” by American
pilots.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts -
3: In May 1944, the
commander in chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Soemu
Toyoda, devized a plan, codename A-Go, in which a
major portion of the Japanese navy would move against
the enemy in an attempt to crush its carrier power.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 4: United States invasion of
Saipan in the Mariana Islands prompted the Japanese navy to launch a
counter-attack aimed at crushing the carrier power of the Americans
which resulted in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 5: The security of the Marianas
Islands was vital to Japan, which had air bases on Saipan, Tinian,
and Guam. U.S. troops were already fighting the Japanese on Saipan
and any further intrusion would leave the Philippine Islands, and
Japan itself, vulnerable to American attack.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 6: Admiral Soemu
Toyoda issued orders to Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa to
begin operation A-Go and strike the US forces.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 7: The US commanders
were Admiral Raymond Spruance and Vice Admiral Marc
Mitscher and the Japanese commanders were and Vice
Admiral Kakuji Kakuta
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 8: The Japanese put
plan A-Go into operation. Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa's First
Mobile Fleet moved towards the Philippine Sea to attack
the US forces. The plan was for Admiral Kakuta's 500
land-based planes in the Marianas to destroy a third of
the American aircraft carriers before the Japanese First
Mobile Fleet arrived.
Continued...
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts for kids
Facts
about the Battle of the Philippine Sea Facts for kids
The following fact
sheet continues with interesting information, history and facts
on Battle of the Philippine Sea for kids.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts for kids
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts -
9: The Japanese plan
started to go wrong before the battle even started.
Admiral Kakuta's strength had already been greatly
reduced by Allied air attacks on June 11-12. and on June
15 the first American troops went ashore, which marked
the start of the invasion of Saipan.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts -
10: On June 18, 1944
the US 5th Fleet commanded by Admiral Spruance and US
Task Force 58 commanded by Vice Admiral Mitscher moved
into position against Ozawa. Task Force 58 was also
covering the landings on Saipan.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 11: The Battle of the
Philippine Sea began on the morning of June 19, 1944 as
Admiral Ozawa sent 430 planes in four waves against the
US ships.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 12: The Japanese planes were
picked up on radar. The conflict was a disaster for the Japanese and
the ensuing battle became known as "the great Marianas turkey
shoot".
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 13: Admiral Ozawa had started the
battle with 430 carrier aircraft and 43 floatplanes. Only 130 planes
returned to the Japanese First Mobile Fleet.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 14: In addition to the 244 planes
lost to Ozawa a further 50 land based aircraft were also destroyed.
US forces had also destroyed two regular Japanese aircraft
carriers.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 15: As the Japanese fleet retired
northward towards safe harbor at Okinawa, it lost another aircraft
carrier and nearly 100 more warplanes
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 16: Late after noon on June 20, US
reconnaissance planes finally sighted Ozawa's ships. Mitscher
launched 230 aircraft damaging several vessels and sinking three
including the carrier Hiyo
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 17: Spruance made a controversial
decision when late on the second day of battle decided not to press
his attack further. Nevertheless, Japanese carrier aviation was
finished for the remainder of the war.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 18: During the two days of the
Battle of the Philippine Sea, the Japanese lost 3 aircraft carriers
and 2 oilers, and between 550–645 aircraft. The Japanese death toll
was estimated at 2,987. U.S. losses totaled 1 damaged battleship and
123 aircraft. The US death toll was 76.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts - 19 The Battle of the Philippine Sea
was known as "the greatest carrier battle of the war" and gave the
United States control of Saipan, Guam and Tinian islands providing
US air bases within range of B-29 bombers targeted at Japan.
Battle of the Philippine Sea
Facts for kids
Important US Battles in
WW2
For visitors interested in the important US battles
in WW2 refer to the following articles:
Battle of the Philippine Sea Facts for kids - President Franklin Roosevelt Video
The article on the
Battle of the Philippine Sea Facts provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following
Franklin Roosevelt video will
give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 32nd American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945.
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Interesting Facts about Battle of the Philippine Sea for kids and schools
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Battle of the Philippine Sea Facts for kids
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Battle of the Philippine Sea Facts with important dates and key
events
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Franklin Roosevelt
Presidency from March 4, 1933 to April 12, 1945
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Fast, fun, Battle of the Philippine Sea Facts for kids
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