Operation Z (1944)

Operation Z was the designation given to the Imperial Japanese Navy's contingency plan to defend the Mariana Islands against a potential Allied invasion during World War II. The plan, formulated in 1943 and 1944, primarily focused on the decisive defeat of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in a major naval engagement near the Marianas.

The core of Operation Z revolved around luring the American fleet into battle with a combined arms approach utilizing land-based air power, carrier-based aviation, and the Japanese surface fleet, particularly battleships. The Japanese hoped to inflict crippling losses on the U.S. Navy, thereby delaying or preventing further Allied advances in the Pacific.

The Battle of the Philippine Sea, fought in June 1944, was the actualization of Operation Z. However, the battle proved to be a disastrous defeat for the Japanese. Superior American radar technology, aircraft quality, and pilot training led to devastating losses for the Japanese air forces (the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot") and significant damage to their fleet.

The failure of Operation Z and the subsequent loss of the Marianas to Allied forces significantly weakened Japan's strategic position, bringing American bombers within range of the Japanese home islands and disrupting vital supply lines. It ultimately contributed to Japan's defeat in World War II.