June 1944

Marianas

The 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, is still held up by a strongpoint north of Mt Tipo Pale. To the right, the 8th Marines and attached element of the 29th Marines gain the crest of Mt Tapotchau, whose 1,554-foot height commands the island. Some elements of the 27th Division's 106th Infantry begin a wide outflanking movement eastward while others continue northward pressure on the enemy in Death Valley, but progress is slow. The 165th Infantry makes futile efforts to scale Purple Heart Ridge. On the right flank of the corps, the 4th Marine Division easily secures all of Kagman Peninsula, sharply reducing the corps front. Elements are now on the O-6 line. The turning point in the Nafutan battle on southern Saipan comes as the 2nd Battalion, 105th Infantry, succeeds in crushing the Japanese main line of resistance on Ridge 300, which controls Nafutan Point. The enemy's position on Saipan is by now hopeless, but fanatic resistance continues.