Kaitlyn O’Toole and Elexa Sherman

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• Ozawa and Admiral Koga Mineichi led Japanese attack on the United States

• Admiral Raymond Spruance was brought in for U.S to keep sea protection by setting up forces 180 degrees west of Tinian to wait for Japanese to come to them.

• American submarine Cavalla spotted Japanese 780 miles west of Saipan

• The American planes intercepted the Japanese between 45 and 60 miles from the American fleet which led to a strong start and they won the battle.

• Japanese were also inexperienced pilots and had poor planes which contributed to United States victory

• In mid June United States planned to take over parts of Marianas (Saipan and Guam)

• Japanese had a larger army with 71,000 troops in their northern force and 56,000 in their southern force

• Admiral Toyoda was the Japanese leader that planned to set up 1,700 planes along the Singapore shoreline to attack the United States

• Douglas MacArthur was U.S leader that used navy to gain air control over Japanese in Saipan and Tinian

• 500 Jananese planes were destroyed so more ships ordered to support their 2nd leader Ozawa for the 2nd attack

United States: get close to Japan then launch massive air attacks and then invade

Japanese: retaliation for when the United States attacked them

• Japanese: In the first Japanese strike, 42 out of 69 plans were lost. In 2nd strike, 30 out of 128 planes returned.

• The Shokaku submarine was sunk by the USS Cavalla. Many of their navy was not fully trained.

• United States: navy wasn’t trained to get the carriers back in the dark so 80 planes either crashed or went over the side. A massive rescue operation was sent out and only 16 out of 33 pilots remained missing.

• Much larger than the Battle of the Midway and Battle of Coral Sea combined

• 5th and last major carrier vs. carrier battle of the Pacific War

• Battle was nicknamed ‘Great Marianas Turkey Shoot’

1. What was one reason Japan lost this battle?

2. What triggered this battle?