Saipan (LHA 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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0 ,-1, K4-1. .qu - , fig 'Q - .' ' -' . 4..- . :Q A 1 l 1. . -. A ,. w -u - ' X Q -sy y. -M154 ,I ls? 1 fwln--an-1..,,,,,. Encountering heavy fire on the beaches. 8,000 Marines landed in the first twenty minutes and commenced a slow advance against fortified positions and frequent counter attacks. Although they suffered over 2,000 casualties the first day, the Marines secured the beachhead. On 8 July organized Japanese resistance end- ed. The Battle of Saipan was one of the fiercest in the Pacific Campaign. There were over 46,500 casualties, 43,000 of them Marines. Four Marines were post- humously awarded the Medal of Honor. mg: N pl Q, ilu 'pv- -4f'1. 'ig

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if nr . Ami A L 4, 1' SAIPAN'S home come from o smoil Du? very strofeguc aslohd sh YD6 Pocafnc OD which o major omphuous Dome was fought during Wofzo Wos L2 sh June 1044, the U, S Fnfrh FIGGY moe: me command of Admnrol Roymoho A SDIuOf'5C6 01- Yocked the Jopohese sfschghotd O1 Soipoh. defehdeci ov 390210 Hoops Thus Opened O Compokgh whach C051 ihe enemy three mogor wsloho fcmesses oh TNG Moriohos ISIODGS. SOIOOVW Guam, ond Tirwicfm Affer four Goya 01 emehsave bomhordrhehf. ihe Seems ons Founh Morihe Divisions wem Qshfye v F'

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BUILDING A GREAT SHIP On fwenfy July 4974 USS SAIPAN was launched from fhe docks af lngalls Shipbuilding Corp. in Pascagoula Mississippi The second of five general purpose amphibious assauli ships. SAIPAN was designed for amphibious assaull and she carries our the funciions of many older amphibious ships, She has a flighl deck fo launch helicopfers, a wei well deck To launch landing crafi. and Tremendous space for storage and Troop berrhing. ln addiiion To fhese assefs she has 3 five inch guns for gunfire support, fwo poini defense missle sysfems and six machine guns AT 820 feel and displacing forry rnousana ions SAIPAN is the largesf ship arfachea fo ine surface fleel. She is a powerful snip and a great assef To our nafional defense l 9 , ,, I, XV Y,,b ,,..i,.,s, ,. cw:-fr? ' 4 , tif,-'f-i?.:f3'. so ITE, 'AQ' 4h-lk Q2 'Q '52, -. . Q., 1-. 'lf -.2 ni gl? 4, . Ns 'J 1 ..L wifi 1 '4- .'H' ,4- af I A , I 4 I .., sSL , x . 4' I' S if' 1 ,,,.,,., M., s .,,.,s .