Table of Data Points

The 2nd and 4th Marine Divisions secured the island after nine days of fighting. The gentler terrain made US artillery and tanks more effective. On the last day the remaining Japanese launched a suicide attack.

The Imperial Japanese Navy lose 3 carriers and over 600 aircraft in the largest carrier battle in history. The IJN were unable to replace their losses and at Leyte Gulf, a few months later, their carriers were used solely as a decoy.

James Blanchard in command of the submarine USS Albacore manually (the targetting computer had failed) fires a spread of 6 torpedoes at the large carrier Taiho. A single torpedo struct and, as a result of failure to correctly vent fumes, exploded and sunk.

The United States 2nd Marine Division, 4th Marine Division, and 27th Infantry Division defeated defending Japanese forces from the 43rd Division. The battle ended a suicidal, Banzai charge, that was the largest in the Pacific war.

Stretching 8 km from Ouistreham to Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer it was the farthest east of the landing points, around 15 km from Caen. Initial landings were achieved with low casualties, but British troops ran into heavily defended areas behind the beachhead.