<prompt> Bhala okuqhubekayo kwalesi sigaba - Ehlobo lika - 1943, i - U.S. yaqala umkhankaso weziQhingi zaseGilbert naseMarshall wokubuyisa iziQhingi zaseGilbert naseMarshall. Ngemva kwalokhu kuphumelela, amaMelika aya eziQhingini zaseMariana nasePalau ehlobo lika-1944. Ngemuva kokunqotshwa kwabo eMpini yaseSaipan, i-Imperial Japanese Navys Combined Fleet, eyayinemikhumbi yezindiza engu-5, yahlasela i-Fifth Fleet ye-Navy ngesikhathi seMpi yoLwandle lwasePhilippine, okwakuyimpi enkulu kunazo zonke yemikhumbi yezindiza emlandweni. Le mpi yayibandlulula kakhulu kangangokuthi yaziwa ngokuthi ukudubula i-turkey yaseMarianas; i - U.S. yalahlekelwa izindiza ezingu - 130 futhi ayinawo umkhumbi ngenkathi amaJapane elahlekelwa izindiza ezingu - 411 nezindiza eziphethe izindiza ezintathu. Ngemva kokunqoba eMariana, i - U.S. yaqala ukunqoba iPhilippines kabusha eLeyte  <response>: ngo-October ka-1944. Imikhumbi yempi yaseJapane yahlela ukuhlasela imikhumbi yempi yokuhlasela, okwaphumela eMpini yezinsuku ezine yaseLeyte Gulf, enye yezimpi zasolwandle ezinkulu kunazo zonke emlandweni. Izindiza zokuqala ze-kamikaze zaqhutshwa ngesikhathi sempi, zacwilisa futhi zalimaza ezinye izikebhe eziningi zase-US; lokhu kuhlasela kwakuyisikhali esisebenza kakhulu sokulwa nemikhumbi empini. 