June 13, 1944

The surface ships of Mitscher's Task Force 58 spent seven hours bombarding Saipan and Tinian. Additional airstrikes further reduced the Japanese defenses and stores of equipment.

13 June--At 0930, enemy naval guns began firing in addition to the aerial bombing. The enemy holds us in utter contempt. If only we had a hundred planes or so

- Tokuzo Matsuya, tank NCO on Saipan, personal diary.

While the bombardment was impressive and caused significant damage, it was not nearly as effective as it might have been. The fleet's minesweepers had not yet arrived, and Mitscher was loath to risk his seven new, fast battleships in potentially deadly waters. Due to the geography of the coastline - an underwater shelf extended for a considerable distance, increasing the likelihood of mines - the fleet was ordered to stay at least 10,000 yards from the island, occasionally even as far out as 16,000 yards. While their shells would reach the island, their accuracy was impeded by the distance, as direct spotting from the ships was impossible. Observers in seaplanes did their best, but many fortifications escaped their notice and the ships instead fired at general areas instead of specific targets. Also, the newer battleships had trained heavily for ship-to-ship engagements, instead of the pinpoint accuracy required for the bombardment of shore targets. Their spotters, therefore, often called in intense fire on large buildings and interesting landscape features, regardless of their military import. Japanese pillboxes were generally so well constructed that only a direct hit from a large caliber shell would silence it. This would have dire consequences for the Army and Marines in the weeks to come.

The large, noticeable - and entirely unused - sugar refinery at Charan Kanoa was heavily hit, whereas...

...well concealed positions like this pillbox were left mostly unmolested.

The Navy's carriers kept up their assault as well, as an AAR from the USS Enterprise relates:

D-2 DAY (13 June 1944).

• Fighter Sweep (0445-0700).

  12 VF - 1 VF plane piloted by Ens. M.D Powell, Jr., USNR (VF-10) missing in action and pilot believed dead; area south of CHARAN-KANOA airfield strafed. No bombs dropped.

• Strike A (0500-0800).

  10 VF, 9 VB and 7 VT - VT piloted by Comdr. W.I. Martin, USN (VT-10) was shot down over SAIPAN, pilot being recovered but the two crewmen (W.R. Hargrove, USN, AOM2c and J.T. Williams, USN ARM1c) are missing and believed dead; coastal defense guns at AGINAN POINT and area around CHARAN-KANOA bombed and strafed. 11.0 tons of bombs dropped.

• Strike B (0730-0930).

  12 VF, 9 VB and 7 VT - beach installations north and south of CHARAN-KANOA and railroad yards bombed and strafed. 11.3 tons of bombs dropped.

• Strike C (1115-1400).

  8 VF and 15 VB - pill boxes and defense installations on the south coast of SAIPAN bombed by 12 VB; 3 VB escorted by 4 VF were loaded with smoke tanks but there was no action; 4 VF served as Air Coordinator. 5.5 tons of bombs dropped.

• Strike E (1400-1700).

  5 VT - bombed and burned GARAPAN TOWN on SAIPAN. 3 tons of bombs dropped.

• Special Attack (1515-1700).

  8 VF and 6 VT - bombed and burned GARAPAN TOWN on SAIPAN. 4.8 tons of bombs dropped.

• Strike F (1530-1800).

  4 VF and 11 VB - 2 twin-engine planes were destroyed and 5 probably destroyed on north side of ASLITO airfield by pilots of VB-10; gun positions along south coast of SAIPAN bombed and strafed. 5 tons of bombs dropped.

• Miscellaneous.

  1 VT carried mail to LEXINGTON (0930-1415)
  1 VT and 2 VF made special search for downed pilot (0930-1240).
  2 VF(N) escorted rescue SOCs (1105-1245).
  1 VT made message drops (1105-1245).
  1 VT from COWPENS launched at 1105 to return to that ship.
  1 VT made special search for downed pilot (1530-1800).

• Recapitulation for D-2 Day.
  

  Launchings	132
  Landings	129
  Enemy A/C Destroyed on ground	2
  Enemy A/C Probably Destroyed on Ground	5
  Own Planes Lost in Combat	2	(1 VF, 1 VT)
  Pilots Lost in Combat	1	VF
  Crewmen Lost in Combat	2	VT
  Bombs Dropped (Tons)	40.6

(NOTE: a VF is an F6F Hellcat fighter; a VT is a TBF Avenger torpedo bomber; a VB is a Curtiss Helldiver dive bomber)