Pacific Combat Zone – Saipan

Living History at the National Museum of the Pacific War

During our June 2024 visit to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, one of the most memorable experiences came not from a display case or gallery wall, but from stepping into the heat, dust, and smoke of the Pacific Combat Zone’s Saipan Living History Program. This two-acre outdoor environment recreates the battlefield conditions of the Pacific Theater, and for this demonstration, the focus was the ferocious fighting on Saipan in June–July 1944.

The setting

Before the reenactment began, we walked up to a beachfront where you look out onto the land and see period-correct pill boxes, bunkers, and artillery pits. The smell of fuel from the idling vehicles, the clank of gear, and the chatter of uniformed reenactors made it clear that this was a carefully researched representation of one of the Pacific War’s pivotal island battles. The terrain itself mirrored Saipan’s mixed environment, open sand, rock-strewn cover, and palm-like vegetation broken up by fortified positions.

Equipment and Vehicles

US Army Jeep

Front and center was a fully restored PT boat moored in a mock-up of a shallow landing area, flanked by an authentic LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked) used for amphibious assaults. On the Japanese side, positions bristled with reproduction Type 92 heavy machine guns and Type 99 light machine guns, while sandbagged bunkers held a crew-served Type 1 47mm anti-tank gun.

Japanese Ha-Go Tank

Field gear was no less detailed. U.S. Marines carried M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, Thompson submachine guns, and the unmistakable BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), while Japanese defenders wielded Arisaka rifles and Nambu pistols. Each weapon was fired with blank ammunition, but the noise, recoil, and muzzle flash created an authentic battlefield atmosphere.

Weapons in Action

Marines with their M1 Garand

The sequence began with a simulated naval bombardment, the ground shaking with concussion effects, followed by the LVT grinding up the beach to deposit Marines. Reenactors laid down suppressing fire with BARs and Thompsons as the Stuart tank rolled forward to blast Japanese machine gun nests. The Japanese forces countered with machine gun bursts and mock mortar fire, forcing the Marines to use cover and coordinate their assault in small teams.

One of the most striking elements was the way weapons were demonstrated not in isolation but in coordination—riflemen advancing under the cover of light machine guns, tanks timed with infantry pushes, and communication via period radios.

The Reenactors and Their Ranks

The reenactors were not just hobbyists, they were seasoned living historians, many of whom have been involved with the museum for years, honing their impressions and perfecting the accuracy of their portrayals. Each represented a specific rank and battlefield role: enlisted riflemen advancing with M1 Garands, BAR gunners laying down suppressive fire, and Marine sergeants directing fire teams under the chaos of the simulated assault. On the Japanese side, non-commissioned officers coordinated defensive fire from entrenched positions, answering to a lieutenant commanding from a dug-in bunker. Their discipline in movement, coordination of weapons, and adherence to period-correct tactics elevated the event well beyond a casual reenactment, it felt like a live-action combat history lesson.

Attention to authenticity extended to the uniforms. In keeping with historical fact, Marines on Saipan in 1944 would not have worn shoulder patches into combat. The dangers of enemy intelligence gathering, combined with the punishing environment of amphibious warfare, meant identifying insignia was kept minimal. Reenactors reflected this with HBT utilities and period camouflage patterns free of division insignia, relying instead on small details—helmet markings, stenciled names, and subtle rank chevrons—to communicate identity.

Between action sequences, participants broke from their combat roles to engage with visitors directly. They explained the purpose and operation of each weapon, the historical events of the Saipan campaign, and the personal stories of the Marines and Japanese soldiers they portrayed. In some cases, these accounts drew from actual veterans’ recollections, lending a weight and intimacy to the presentation. This willingness to step out of character for educational moments bridged the gap between spectacle and scholarship, leaving visitors with a deeper, more personal understanding of the Pacific War.

Why Saipan Matters

The Battle of Saipan stands as a pivotal watershed in the Pacific War. Its capture in June–July 1944 turned the tide decisively in favor of the Allies, securing the Marianas and giving U.S. forces a critical springboard for B-29 Superfortress bombers. From these islands, the Japanese home islands were suddenly within reach, a shift that dramatically altered the strategic landscape of the war.

By recreating this battle in the Pacific Combat Zone, the museum allows visitors to experience the ferocity and complexity of amphibious warfare firsthand. The demonstrations convey the chilling realities of landing under artillery and machine-gun fire, the chaos of logistics under bombardment, and the unyielding human determination required to gain a foothold on hostile shores.

Acts of heroism are brought vividly to life. During the “Storming the Beaches” sequence, flames, smoke, blank-fire, and the grinding march of LVTs immerse spectators in the adrenaline-charged, sensory overload that Marines faced as they advanced under relentless enemy fire.

Equally powerful is the “Tactical Coordination” display, where BAR teams lay down suppressive fire, riflemen advance in tightly controlled fire teams, and tank-infantry units move in concert to breach fortified positions. These moments capture how discipline, cooperation, and precise timing often meant the difference between survival and defeat on Saipan’s unforgiving battlefield.

Saipan D-Day Units involved

The assault beaches were on Saipan’s southwestern coast, stretching roughly 4½ miles from Charan Kanoa northward toward Agingan Point. They were divided into Red, Green, Blue, and Yellow Beaches, running north to south. The 2nd Marine Division landed on the northern half of the assault area, and the 4th Marine Division landed on the southern half. The 27th Infantry Division (Army) did not land on D-Day but came ashore later to reinforce and expand the beachhead.

Geographic Orientation

• North = Toward Garapan & Mt. Tapochau.

• Center = Charan Kanoa village and open coastal plain.

• South = Aslito (Isley) Airfield & Agingan Point.

• East = Rugged cliffs, canefields, and inland ridges — site of some of the fiercest fighting.

Northern Sector

2nd Marine Division (Maj. Gen. Thomas E. Watson)

Red Beach 1 & Red Beach 2 – Northernmost landing zones

• 2nd Marine Regiment – Landed on Red Beach 1 (north) and Red Beach 2 (south) just north of Charan Kanoa.

• Objective: Seize the high ground inland toward Garapan Road and secure the division’s left flank.

  
  

Green Beach 1 & Green Beach 2 – Immediately south of Red Beaches

• 6th Marine Regiment – Landed on both Green Beaches, pushing toward the airfield and cutting north-south roads.

• Heavy opposition from Japanese pillboxes and coastal defense guns.

8th Marine Regiment (Reinforced)

• Held in division reserve offshore on D-Day.

• Began landing on D+1 (June 16) in the gap between the 2nd and 6th Marine Regiments.

• Helped push inland toward Mt. Tapochau and sealed off Japanese counterattack routes.

10th Marine Regiment (Division Artillery)

• 75mm pack howitzer and 105mm howitzer battalions.

• Landed progressively behind infantry units once beachheads were secure.

• Provided immediate close-support fire inland, especially against ridges and fortified villages.

Division Reconnaissance Company

• Conducted pre-invasion hydrographic and beach reconnaissance with UDT (Underwater Demolition Teams) elements.

• On D-Day and afterward, acted as scouts for advancing regiments, probing gaps and flanks.

Division Engineer, Medical, and Service Battalions

• Landed in waves after initial infantry secured enough space for supply dumps and casualty clearing stations.

• Engineers cleared mines, built beach exits, and repaired captured Japanese roads.

• Medical battalions set up aid stations at the beachhead and forward evacuation points.

• Service battalions handled ammunition supply, rations, and water distribution.

Attached Units

• 2nd Amphibian Tractor Battalion – Delivered infantry from transports to beaches; later used amtracs for supply runs across lagoon shallows and inland movement through swampy terrain.

• 2nd Tank Battalion – M4A2 Sherman tanks landed on D-Day in support of infantry. Played a key role in breaking fortified positions along the beach and during the drive toward Garapan.

• Other attached elements included shore party battalions, naval beach groups, and Navy Seabees for rapid airfield repair and logistics.

Southern Sector

4th Marine Division (Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt)

Blue Beach 1 & Blue Beach 2 – North of Agingan Point

• 23rd Marine Regiment – Landed here, pushing inland toward the Aslito (Isley) Airfield.

• Encountered swampy terrain and Japanese antiboat mines.

Yellow Beach 1 & Yellow Beach 2 – Southernmost assault beaches

• 25th Marine Regiment – Landed here, also driving toward Aslito Airfield.

• Faced heavy artillery fire from Japanese positions on Agingan Point and Aslito.

  
  

14th Marine Regiment (Division Artillery)

• Comprised of 75mm pack howitzer and 105mm howitzer battalions.

• Landed progressively after infantry secured initial objectives on Blue and Yellow Beaches.

• Provided fire support for the drive on Aslito (Isley) Airfield and later in the inland push toward Kagman Peninsula.

• Coordinated counter-battery fire against Japanese artillery firing from high ground east of the airfield.

Division Reconnaissance Company

• Assisted in pre-invasion reconnaissance along the southern coastal approaches.

• During the assault, probed Japanese defenses on the flanks of Yellow Beach and scouted inland routes toward the airfield.

• Supported the 23rd and 25th Marine Regiments by identifying gaps between strongpoints.

Division Engineer, Medical, and Service Battalions

• Engineers cleared Japanese minefields, destroyed bunkers, and constructed causeways over swampy approaches to the airfield.

• Medical battalions set up aid stations along Blue Beach and later moved inland to treat casualties from the airfield fighting.

• Service battalions managed ammunition dumps, fuel distribution, and beach logistics under frequent artillery shelling.

Attached Units

• 4th Amphibian Tractor Battalion – Ferried assault waves to the beaches, then shifted to resupply missions across beach exits and into captured zones.

• 4th Tank Battalion – M4A2 Sherman tanks supported infantry breakthroughs against pillboxes and blockhouses around Aslito Airfield; later fought in the rugged inland terrain east of the airfield.

• Other attachments included naval shore parties, CB (Seabee) construction detachments for airfield repair, and signal units for coordination between the division HQ and forward elements.

U.S. Army – 27th Infantry Division (Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith)

Infantry Regiments

• 105th Infantry Regiment – Landed D+3–D+4; fought eastward toward Mt. Tapochau and later took part in the “Death Valley” battle.

• 106th Infantry Regiment – Landed D+4; engaged in the fight for central ridges and the Kagman Peninsula.

• 165th Infantry Regiment (“Fighting 69th”) – First Army regiment ashore (D+2); relieved Marine units in the center and advanced toward Tapochau slopes.

Division Artillery

• 104th Field Artillery Battalion – 105mm howitzers, direct support for infantry.

• 105th Field Artillery Battalion – 105mm howitzers, provided rolling barrages during inland assaults.

• 249th Field Artillery Battalion – 155mm howitzers, counter-battery and long-range fire missions.

• 106th Field Artillery Battalion – 155mm howitzers, general support.

Reconnaissance

• 27th Cavalry Reconnaissance Troop (Mechanized) – Conducted route recon in cane fields and inland trails; provided armored car fire support against light Japanese resistance pockets.

Division Engineer, Medical, and Service Units

• 102nd Engineer Combat Battalion – Cleared minefields, blew caves, repaired roads; key in opening trails to Tapochau heights.

• Medical Battalion – Forward aid stations for high-casualty zones in “Death Valley” and ridge fighting.

• Quartermaster Company – Managed beach resupply points; coordinated ammunition and fuel movement inland.

• Ordnance Company – Maintained weapons and vehicles under combat conditions.

Attached & Supporting Units

• 762nd Tank Battalion (Separate) – M4A2 Sherman tanks and M3 Stuart light tanks; worked in close coordination with infantry in clearing strongpoints and supporting assaults on high ground.

• 781st Amphibian Tractor Battalion – Moved troops and supplies from LSTs to beaches after initial landings; later used for inland resupply.

• Seabee detachments – Assisted with rapid repair of roads, airstrips, and unloading points.

• Navy shore parties – Managed logistics flow between transports and the Army’s beach dumps.

  
  

Final Impression

The Saipan Living History Program is more than a demonstration; it’s a full immersion into the tactics, weapons, and human experience of the Pacific War. Seeing the coordination of infantry, armor, and supporting fire unfold in real time is something that static exhibits can’t fully convey, especially the lowering of the Japanese flag and the raising of the American flag. For anyone visiting the National Museum of the Pacific War, planning your trip around a Pacific Combat Zone event is essential.