Battle of the Philippine Sea (馬里亞納海戰)

Location: Mariana Islands, Philippine Sea Date: 19 --20 June, 1944

Countries: United States vs. Japan

Aircraft carriers: U.S.: 7 fleet carriers (USS Hornet, Yorktown, Bunker Hill, Wasp, Enterprise, Lexington, Essex) and 8 light fleet carriers (Belleau Wood, Bataan, Monterey, Cabot, Princeton, San Jacinto, Cowpens, Langley) vs Japan: 5 fleet carriers (Taiho, Zuikaku, Shokaku, Junyo, Hiyo) and 4 light aircraft carriers (Chitose, Chiyoda, Zuiho, Ryuho)

Result: It was by far the largest 'aircraft carrier versus aircraft carrier' battle in history. The fighting brought Imperial Japanese Navy disastrous losses - three aircraft carriers, some 550--645 aircrafts and hundreds of pilots.