<P> The Navy continued its long movement west across the Pacific, seizing one island base after another . Not every Japanese stronghold had to be captured; some, like the big bases at Truk, Rabaul and Formosa were neutralized by air attack and then simply leapfrogged . The ultimate goal was to get close to Japan itself, then launch massive strategic air attacks and finally an invasion . The U.S. Navy did not seek out the Japanese fleet for a decisive battle, as Mahanian doctrine would suggest; the enemy had to attack to stop the inexorable advance . </P> <P> The climax of the carrier war came at the Battle of the Philippine Sea . </P> <P> Taking control of islands that could support airfields within B - 29 range of Tokyo was the objective . 535 ships began landing 128,000 Army soldiers and Marines on June 15, 1944 in the Mariana and Palau Islands . The achievement in planning such a complex logistical operation in just ninety days, and staging it 3,500 miles (5,600 km) from Pearl Harbor was indicative of American logistic superiority . (The previous week an even bigger landing force hit the beaches of Normandy--by 1944 the Allies had resources to spare .) </P> <P> The Japanese launched an ill - coordinated attack on the larger American fleet; Japanese planes operated at extreme ranges and could not keep together, allowing them to be easily shot down in what Americans jokingly called the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot ." </P>

How many ships did the us have after pearl harbor