On 15 June 1944, United States Marine and Army forces landed on the southwest coast of the island of Saipan in the central Marianas chain. US forces declared Saipan secure on 9 July.
Marine Corps forces landed on the nearby island of Tinian on 24 July. Tinian was declared secure 1 August.
The naval forces involved can be summarized as follows:
The roles of Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA) and Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), were both exercised by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from his headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Since the Marianas lie in the Central Pacific, their capture was the responsibility of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, led by Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance from aboard his flagship, heavy cruiser Indianapolis.
The ships and embarked troops of Operation Forager were under direct operational command of Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner aboard amphibious command ship Rocky Mount.
The Marine and Army landing forces for Operation Forager were under the command of Maj. Gen. Holland M. "Howlin' Mad" Smith, USMC. Smith directed the ground troops from aboard Vice Adm. Turner's flagship Rocky Mount until the afternoon of 17 June when he set up his command post ashore.
V Amphibious Corps (Maj. Gen. Holland M. Smith, USMC)
U.S. Fifth Fleet[1]
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in heavy cruiser Indianapolis
Joint Expeditionary Force (Task Force 51)
Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner in amphibious command ship Rocky Mount
Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan
Rear Adm. H.B. Sallada
Rear Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf
Rear Adm. Walden L. Ainsworth
Commodore P.S. Theiss
Capt. H.B. Knowles
Embarking 2nd Marine Division
Capt. D.W. Loomis
Embarking 4th Marine Division
Cmdr. C.J. McWhinnie
Embarking 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines[b]
Capt. R.E. Libby
Capt. A.J. Robertson
Cmdr. R.S. Moore, USNR
Rear Adm. William H.P. Blandy
Embarking 27th Infantry Division (Army)
Capt. S.E. Peck
Capt. Edward E. Paré