Battle of Saipan 1944 / Part 1 – Decision, Plans and D-Day

Successful American actions on Marshall Islands demanded continued pressure on Japanese defences and the launch of the next major operation in the Central Pacific area. Urging by the Air Force, the Navy turned its attention to Guam, Tinian and Saipan, the three largest islands in the Marianas. First in line for the invasion was the second-largest island in the archipelago, Saipan.

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#worldwartwo #militaryhistory #ww2 #pacificwar #WW2Battles #FromTheBattlefields

[counseloridealist]

My father was in the invasion. He was an Army Signalman who fought the enemy across Saipan in hand-to-hand combat. He said it was kill or be killed. I am a Vietnam combat Veteran. The cost of freedom is not free. We both sustained major wounds from our service.

[richardglady]

800 ships in 5th Fleet…more than the entire US Navy of today. Beautiful and informative video. Thank you very much.

[kromeofive]

The thumb nail photo for this video is of my Uncle. He was wounded several minutes after the photo was taken. He suffered from the wounds the rest of his life but never complained.

[caryladd]

My father in law flew missions that helped take over Saipan and finally Tinian. He had 57 combat missions ranging from strafing to bombing and so forth.

[jdestefa]

My father was in a 4th Marine Division Pathfinder unit. In addition to his weapon, ammo, grenades, K-Bar, he brought a of of TNT with him as his unit's responsibility was to eliminate Japanese fortifications and armor as they set up communications posts.

[ashleycampbell]

Appreciate the background information of why Saipan was selected as an objective. Obviously the japanese planners had identified its significance and reinforced more than known. Terrain is a huge factor for both attackers and defenders.

[christopherthrawn]

Excellent work to all who put this together.

[paulloya]

Alexander Peña, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, He was KIA July 30th 1944 on Tinian, the island was declared secure Aug 1st, He almost made it home, R.I.P Uncle Alex, the Greatest Generation of All Time, God Bless America.

[paulroberts]

Brilliant video. Such professional quality

[honorless]

My GPa went from Tarawa to Saipan to Tinian to Okinawa to 2 miles outside Nagasaki. 2nd Marines IIEF 10th Marine Regiment "Steel Rain"

[postnobills]

Lee Marvin, "I" Company, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division. Wounded in action during the Battle of Saipan, in the assault on Mount Tapochau, during which most of his company were killed. Marvin's wound (in the buttocks) was from machine gun fire, which severed his sciatic nerve. Marvin was awarded the Purple Heart and was given a medical discharge with the rank of Private First Class in 1945 at Philadelphia.

[jacksoncurtain]

My wife's Grandfather, Bill Hinkle was a Marine Cpl with 24th Marines, he was shot in the hip about 1 week into the battle. Those men were of a different breed IMO.

[allegory]

"Progress on the first day was disappointing."
Holding any ground the first day should be considered encouraging.

[fionnmaccumhaill]

My grandfather was a Corpman and lost a leg on Saipan. He died before I was born.

[davidroyer]

My father was there. He got shot that day and lost most of his left shoulder. Fought on tarwaraw, guadalcanal, pellilu, tinnian, and his last year on okinowa fighting the Japanese. 39 months in that hell hole before coming home in december of 45, as a gunny.

[philipcallicoat]

"History is. written by the victors!" (Napoleon)

[mrmaje]

If you could lose the computer voice it would add a lot. EDIT That is my only minor critique, apart from that, all good.

[hdie]

I feel like this is a digital or Ai voice or really bad audio compression

[nickdarr]

I always wonder what would have happened if the Japanese army and navy would have put aside pride and desire to prove themselves that put them in direct competition and even conflict with fellow soldiers and soldiers at all levels. The way the Japanese defended in depth in 1944 at peleliu and to a degree at iwo jima was absolutely brutal. No suicides of officers after losing a position. No mass banzai charges. Just bleeding the enemy at one defensive line as long as possible then falling back a few hundred yards to the next trench hill or cave and doing it again. The navy and the air force of both army and navy worked together and launched kamikaze attacks in speed boats and planes at troop ships and landing craft. Imagine if they fought the entire war that way

[chadhines]

My great uncle was on Saipan he was wounded while on that island and the war was over for him jap Throwed a grenade and it hit him in the left side