🔗======================>> The WWII Japan > Central Pacific  Submodule <<======================🔗
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​Central Pacific subpages:  Gilbert Islands     Marshall Islands     Mariana Islands     Marianas Naval War   
Palau Islands     OrBat–Central Pacific
​  –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mariana Islands –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––​
Wet Landing at Saipan
Wet Landing at Saipan
bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands, © 2025 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 2 Jun 2025

The Mariana Islands, among the largest in the central Pacific, were ideally situated to be a a major base area for US operations against Japan in the last year of the War with Japan.
​The accompanying map, which is not to scale, shows the major islands of the Mariana chain, namely Guam, Rota, Tinian and Saipan. Below the Marianas, you see:
  • The Republic of Palau, which includes the tiny island of Peleliu, site of one of the deadliest Pacific battles.
  • The Federated States of Micronesia, formerly the Caroline Islands. Chuuk was called Truk in WWII.
  • A portion of the Republic of Marshall Islands.
Micronesia Today
Micronesia Today
The Mariana Invasions
During the period 15 Jun - 10 Aug 1944, Saipan, Guam and Tinian, were invaded in turn by a combination of Marine and Army troops. Japanese defenders resisted vigorously but were eventually overwhelmed. Saipan was an especially brutal battle. Rota was not invaded.

Casualties were heavy. Estimates of the dead follow:
  • 15 Jun - 10 Jul, Saipan: 3,400 Americans, 24,000 Japanese military, 5,000-7,000 Japanese civilians.
  • 21 Jul - 10 Aug, Guam: 1,800 Americans, 18,000 Japanese military.
  • 24 Jul - 1 Aug: Tinian: 300 Americans, 5,000 Japanese military; 4,000 Japanese civilians.

Starting in October, air bases in the Marianas, especially on Tinian, were used by the new B-29 very heavy bombers to fly strategic bombing missions over Japan.
Conquest of the Marianas
Conquest of the Marianas
Today, Guam remains an American territory, while the other Mariana Islands to its north comprise the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, also considered as an external portion of the United States.
Sources for Big Pigeon's WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands webpage:
  • The webpage header photo, Wet Landing at Saipan, is courtesy of the Japan Times.
  • The Micronesia Today map is courtesy of micronesiatours.com.
  • ​The Gilbert & Marshall Islands map is courtesty of history.army.mil.
​
​Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands: 07-03 - WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands: (five dead, updated 2 Jun 2025)
† Chuda, Jack Richard, SN 371595, US Marine Corps, Douglas Co., NE & Pott. Co.
  • Co. C, 4th Marine Regt., 1st Provisional Marine Brigade; KIA 26 Jul 1944 Guam, Mariana Is.
  • WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands @ Battle of Guam​
† Jensen, Charles Eugene, SN 361395, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co.
  • Co. C, 2nd Amphibian Tractor Bn., 2nd Marine Div.; KIA 16 Jun 1944 Saipan, Mariana Is.
  • WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands @ Battle of Saipan
† Jensen, Eldon Elmer, SN 887825, US Marine Corps, Audubon Co. (St. Paul's)
  • Co. K, 4th Marine Regt., 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, III Amphibious Corps; WIA on first day of Guam invasion 21 Jul 1944 near Agat, Southern Landing Area, Guam, Mariana Is.; DOW 23 Jul 1944
  • WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands @ Battle of Guam
† Sluyter, Harry Alfred, SN 428233, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co.
  • Co. B, 6th Marine Regt., 2nd Marine Div.; DOW 27 Jun 1944, Saipan, Mariana Is.
  • WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands @ Battle of Saipan
† Steward, Gerald, SN 441664, US Marine Corps, Pott. Co.
  • Co. F, 9th Marine Regt., 3rd Marine Div.; KIA 25 Jul 1944 Guam, Mariana Is.
  • WWII Japan > Central Pacific > Mariana Islands @ Battle of Guam