World War II Database

1. Anonymous says:
23 Feb 2017 05:38:37 AM

This unfortunate map has assumed undue prominence in conveying the progress of the Battle of Saipan. In fact, it is taken from the short 34 page brochure entitled "Western Pacific" published 50 years after the Battle of Saipan by the US Army Center for Military History (CMH). As such, this map is a misleading representation of the progress of the Battle of Saipan.

For example, the US Army's 27th Division appears to materialize "out of nowhere" in the Southeastern corner of Saipan, driving up to capture territory along a central corridor of Saipan, all the way to the Northeastern coast. This is completely incorrect:

[URLs below from USMC maps produced originally in 1950, note use "http" not "https"]:
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-5.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-8.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-10.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-11.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-13.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-14.jpg

Initial landings were on the western coast of Saipan by the USMC 2nd Division (northern beaches) and USMC 4th Division (southern beaches) on June 15, 1944, establishing the beachhead and subsequently driving inland. Elements of the US Army 27th Division followed, landing into captured territory on June 16th and June 17th (D+1, D+2), joining the front lines on June 17th in the southernmost sector.

The 4th Marine Division cut the island of Saipan in half by a drive to the eastern coast on June 18th, turned northward, and continued driving with the USMC 2nd Division on their left flank until reaching within a few miles of Mt. Tapotchau on June 22nd (D+7). On their left flank, the 2nd Marine Division would later capture Mt. Tapotchau and the town of Garapan.

[URLs below from USMC maps produced originally in 1945, note use "http" not "https"]:
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Saipan/maps/USMC-C-Saipan-2.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-C-Saipan/maps/USMC-C-Saipan-3.jpg

Military leadership decided that due to the broadening of the main northward front where the Kagman Peninsula jutted out, a three Division front would be required. The 27th Division had fought to capture Aslito Alirfield and Nafutan Point up to this timepoint in the battle (see map 16 below for problems). Elements of the 27th Division traversed northward through captured territory and were inserted into the center of the main front lines (extending east-to-west) on June 23rd (D+8). This is where the 27th Division ran into difficulties, lagging behind troops on their flanks, a situation that remained unresolved until approximately July 2nd (D+17).

[URLs below from USMC maps produced originally in 1950, note use "http" not "https"]:
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-17.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-16.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-18.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-19.jpg
ibiblio[dot]org/hyperwar/USMC/USMC-M-Saipan/maps/USMC-M-Saipan-20.jpg

Thus the US Army 27th Division captured territory in Southern/Southeastern Saipan, and again captured a corridor east of Mt. Taotchau to the Northeastern coast near Flores Point, but did not capture territory in between. Also, while the US Army map would suggest that US forces drove northward in a coordinated effort, in fact, US Army 27th Division forces appeared to lag until the last 3 days of the northern drive, June 2nd-4th (see map 20 above).

The best map of division-level progress of the battle can be found on pg 21 of the book "The 4th Marine Division in World War II" initially published in 1945, detailing the 4th Marine Division's capture of territory from Blue/Yellow beaches all the way up to Marpi Point, the largest area (by far) captured by a Division during the Battle of Saipan:

ia902602[dot]us[dot]archive[dot]org/6/items/The4thMarineDivisionInWorldWarII/The4thMarineDivisionInWorldWarII.pdf

2. Larry says:
23 Jul 2019 12:42:04 PM

I have battle map of Saipan from fathers collection. He got it on saipan. used it to call artillery on *** . it has every *** position on it . say's secret on it. only saw one other. would like to know more about it and value..

3. Anonymous says:
18 May 2021 12:42:42 PM

This may have been covered so forgive me for asking, is there an easy way to print any of these map? I have found having a relevant map while reading helps to “see” the action.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions