The Japanese went all in during the October Leyte gulf operation with their Battleship surface fleet committed to a counter attack breaking up the invasion. However by this point in time the Japanese carrier fleet was feeble and the war lost anyway due to submarines and aircraft based in the Marianas could shut down the Japanese economy.
What if instead the Japanese committed their old and new Battleship fleet to the June battle off Saipan. At least the carrier force is intact, and there is theoretically some land based air in the Marianas (at least in the planning state). The Japanese considered it a do or die battle, why not do or die here??
The goals of the Battleship force.
a) to break up the invasion force directly
b) to allow reinforcement/resupply of Saipan by sea.
c) to act as a diversion for the American carrier force.
What if instead the Japanese committed their old and new Battleship fleet to the June battle off Saipan. At least the carrier force is intact, and there is theoretically some land based air in the Marianas (at least in the planning state). The Japanese considered it a do or die battle, why not do or die here??
The goals of the Battleship force.
a) to break up the invasion force directly
b) to allow reinforcement/resupply of Saipan by sea.
c) to act as a diversion for the American carrier force.