The battle of the philippine sea, resulting in the loss of three japanese carriers and more than 500 japanese airplanes, is remembered as the

The naval battle which fully crippled the Japanese Navy as an effective force against the vast US forces. With the untimely death of Admiral Yamamoto, this naval battle greatly turned the tides of War for the allied forces on the Asian Pacific naval front. Japanese air coverage was greatly reduced (3 aircraft carriers were sunk), and later during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, greatly reduced the ability of the Japanese to stop the American led counteroffensive and "island hopping" strategy.