- Source: Philippine Sea order of battle
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.
Since the Japanese assumed the tactical offensive, their forces are listed first.
Forces deployed
Losses in parentheses
Japanese order of battle
Mobile Fleet
Vice Admiral Jisaburō Ozawa in Taihō
= "A" Force
=Sortied 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo
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
=Sortied 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo
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
=Sortied 12 June from Batjan anchorage off SW Halmahera Island
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
=Sortied with Ozawa's carrier forces 13 June from Tawi Tawi anchorage off NE Borneo
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
17 2nd-class submarines
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
US Fifth Fleet
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
=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 (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
=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
=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
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
=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
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
=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 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, Redfin
Off Luzon
2 Gato-class (10 tubes: 6 forward, 4 aft): Bluefish, Jack, Flier
= Task Force 17
=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
References
Bibliography
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Soemu Toyoda
- Korps Marinir Amerika Serikat
- Pertempuran Laut Filipina
- Daftar karya tentang Perusahaan Hindia Timur Belanda
- Philippine Sea order of battle
- Battle of the Philippine Sea
- Fast Carrier Task Force
- Philippine Navy
- Battle of Leyte Gulf
- Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku
- Red Sea crisis order of battle
- Battle of the Coral Sea
- Battle of Mabitac
- Japanese aircraft carrier Taihō
