Saipan 1944

AN EXAMPLE OF AN AMPHIBIOUS LANDING OPERATION IN SCALE 1:1250

In the morning hours of the 15 nth. of June 1944 the operation "Forager" started the conqueror
of the japanese occupationed Mariana islands by the 5. amphibious US-corps.
The first target was the southwest coast of the island Saipan.
From direction West- by Northwest 551 ships closed to the flat coastline with offshore coral reefs …

Saipanmap ©Werner Kaiser

The here displayed vessels were located in the northern landing area called "red" and in the outer deepwater areas:
" Transport area 1 & 3 / Transport division 18 & 28 / Group Able "

USS Bolivar

The Attack transport APA-34, USS Bolivar is reaching it's disembark position with decreased speed.The Bolivar belongs to the 37 ships of the Bayfield class. This C3-S-A2 type of standartfreighter was able to transport 26 Landing crafts and 1500 troops. She appears in the colourful camouflage measure 32/16D of that month's.

In the background the Fletcher type destroyer DD- 508, USS Cony is passing the scene.
She belongs to the screen of the Transport ships.

Also the USS Doyen ( APA-1 ) belongs to the Units of the Group "Able " …

Like her sister ship USS Feland she was constructed as an Attack transport ship
and was equipped with a lower able stern and a tailgate.

Here a group of Marines is waiting for their Landing craft which is just going alongside.
Behind the crane there is a DUKW - amphibious truck visible.

APA- 31 , USS Monrovia belongs to the five ships of the " Cresent City " class.
This type of Passenger / Cargo ship was planed for the USA-South America service , but completed after the outbreak
of war and served as troupers in all big landing operations. Up to 30 Landing crafts and 1400 troops could be transported.

USS Monrovia

While the Monrovia is disembarking her troops, from the forecastle some DUKW amphibious trucks are lowered to the sea. At the stern the sense of the climbing net´s is visible. While the last Marines are entering the Landing crafts , the manned boats in the foreground are circling in waiting patterns.