Central Marianas naval order of battle
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: Command structure. 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. Theater and Operational Command. 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. Ground Troops. V Amphibious Corps (Maj. Gen. Holland M. Smith, USMC) Forces afloat. U.S. Fifth Fleet 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" Combat Task Groups. Carrier Support Group One (Task Group 52.14). Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan Carrier Support Group Two (Task Group 52.11). Rear Adm. H.B. Sallada Fire Support Group One (Task Group 52.17). Rear Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf Fire Support Group Two (Task Group 52.10). Rear  Adm. Walden L. Ainsworth Amphibious Operations Task Groups. Control Group (Task Group 52.6). Commodore P.S. Theiss Transport Group "Able" (Task Group 52.3). Capt. H.B. Knowles Embarking 2nd Marine Division Transport Group "Baker" (Task Group 52.4). Capt. D.W. Loomis Embarking 4th Marine Division Eastern Landing Group (Task Group 52.8). Cmdr. C.J. McWhinnie Embarking 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines Transport Screen (Task Group 52.12). Capt. R.E. Libby Tractor Flotilla (Task Group 52.5). Capt. A.J. Robertson Minesweeping and Hydrographic Survey Group (Task Group 52.13). Cmdr. R.S. Moore, USNR Joint Expeditionary Force Reserve (Task Group 51.1). Rear Adm. William H.P. Blandy Embarking 27th Infantry Division  (Army) Service and Support Units. Service and Salvage Group (Task Group 52.7). Capt. S.E. Peck Fueling Group (Task Group 50.17). Capt. Edward E. Paré