U.S. Marines advance behind shelter of tank on Saipan. U.S.

U.S. Marines advance behind shelter of tank on Saipan. U.S. Marines advance behind shelter of a tank nicknamed "King Kong" to route isolated units of Japanese on the extreme northern end of Saipan Island. The last man in the group uses a "walkie-talkie" portable radio to keep his command post informed on progress of the troops. The Japanese fought fiercely to hold the Central Pacific island of the Marianas group, which fell to the Americans on July 8, 1944. Twelve days later American forces landed on Guam in the Marianas, and on July 23, they swarmed ashore on Tinian Island, adjoining Saipan. U.S. victories in the Marianas resulted in the overthrow of the Japanese cabinet.