June 1944

Marianas

The V Amphibious Corps attacks northward on a 3-division front as the 27th Division enters the center of the line. The 2nd Marine Division's left and center regiments remain in place until more progress can be made on the right. The 8th Marines, on the division right, gains a cliff commmanding the most practical route to the crest of Mt Tapotchau. The 27th Division is slow in accomplishing the relief of the left flank elements of the 4th Marine Division and consequently slow in opening up an attack up a valley, called 'Death Valley', which is flanked on the left by the hill mass of Mt Tapotchau and on the right by a ridge, called 'Purple Heart Ridge'. Upon attacking, the division meets intense opposition from the cave-studded heights. Their progress is slow and costly, particularly on the left. On the right flank, the 4th Marine Division attacks with the 23rd Marines on the left and the 24th on the right. The 23rd Marines is slowed by the inability of the 165th Infantry to advance but gets to the top of Hill 600. The 24th continues to make rapid progress along Magicienne Bay and reaches the O-5 line just east of Laulau. During the night, enemy tank-supported counterattacks down Death Valley and against Hill 600 are repelled.

On southern Saipan, the 2nd Battalion of the 105th Infantry, after reorganizing throughout the morning, continues to attack the Nafutan position, getting a platoon to the top of Mt Nafutan. The rest of the battalion, after small initial gains, pulls back to its starting line.