Galvanic operation

The operation Galvanic gathers the American unloading on the surrounding Betio, Makin, Abemama and atolls.

Introduction

During the second world war, it is necessary to await the autumn 1943 before the Americans lay out of a more powerful fleet only that of the Japanese, that being due mainly to the fact that Roosevelt regarded the Germany as having priority on the Japan. In spite of this irrefutable fact the admiral Chester Nimitz and the general MacArthur must maintain a pressure constant on the Japaneses.

Very quickly, the islands Gilbert interest the American high command because of their strategic position being located at the north and the west of all the American territories. Moreover they are located on the road of the Carolines and the Marshall Islands.

It is essential however to recall the history of the Gilbert before the operation. In December 1941, the Japanese take possession of the atoll of Makin, the British then decide to evacuate Tarawa on the spot leaving only missionaries and coastguards. In September 1942, the Japanese end up taking possession of Tarawa. Garrisons are established on the islands neighborhood (Betio, archipelago of Tarawa, Butaritari, in the archipelago of Makin and finally some men is laid out on the small islands neighborhood).

Preparation of the American plan

In 1943, the American forces of the Pacifique for the majority are occupied with the central reconquest of Solomon but on May 20th, 1943, the American staff decides to take again the Marshall Islands. MacArthur will have to progress towards the Filipino and the navy will move towards Japan via the Micronesia. To coordinate the two actions, the large aircraft carriers ( Fast Carrier Forces ) will have to sail between the two forces. The danger of this operation is very visible: how two so powerful forces and being near to the positions enemies will be able to make a success of his mission? But that exceeds the framework even battle of Tarawa.

In July 1943, the first air operations of the Gilbert highlight the creation of a runway. This information definitively convinces Nimitz of the importance of the resumption of the Gilbert. This plan will have as a name Galvanic.

The American plan

For the operation Galvanic Nimitz and its staff unloadings envisage on the islands of Nauru, Betio, Tarawa and Abemama. Nevertheless in front of the too great defense of Nauru and its difficult access, the unloading is cancelled with the profit of the catch of the atoll of Makin. During the summer 1943 the admiral Nimitz orders with the aircraft carriers to attack the islands Marcus, Abamama, Tarawa and Wake to blunt Japanese defenses.

Here in detail the plan that Nimitz transmitted to Raymond Spruance (ordering the force of the central Pacific) the October 5th 1943:

“To capture, occupy, defend and develop Makin, Tarawa, Abemama while insulating Nauru firmly, in order to:

a) To control the Gilbert islands completely;

b) to prepare with the conquest of the Marshall Islands;

c) To improve safety of the lines of communication;

d) To support the operations in the Peaceful south-south-west and in Burma by increasing the pressure on the Japanese. ” Moreover, Spruance will have to be held ready to push back the Japanese imperial marine in the event of reaction of this one, to attack the airfields of the Gilbert and Marshall and finally to provide a support out of artillery, navy and aviation with the force of unloading.

American forces

For the Galvanic operation, the Exchange Pacific Force was made up as follows:

it Task force 50 of the rear-admiral Pownall made up of 6 battleships, 6 aircraft carriers, 5 light aircraft carriers, 2 escort carriers, 3 cruisers and 21 destroyers was to protect the force from invasion.

Task force 50 is divided into 4 Task forces.

it Task force 53 of against Admiral Hill, divided into 4 Task forces and including/understanding the force of unloading on Tarawa and Makin. The TF 53 consists of:

3 battleships, 5 escort carriers, 2 cruisers, 9 destroyers as well as 17 ships of transport various. The force of unloading on Tarawa was allocated with the 2nd division of marine and the unloading on Makin with the 27e division of infantry. The whole of these units named under the name of 5th amphibious body is directed by the general Holland Smith.

The 2 {{E}} division of Navy will have to start from New Zealand and the 27e of infantry of Pearl Harbor. The 2nd battalion of defense will be left in garrison with Tarawa and Apamama while the 7th battalion of defense will have to hold garrison on Makin. The 2nd division of Navy receives the most complicated task and had to undergo during the summer 1943 a drive to learn how to make use of the machines from unloading. The catch of Betio receives like code name: Longsuit, the catch of Apamama receives the name of Boxcloth. The October 25th 1943 whole is fine loan for the unloading on Tarawa which will be carried out by Regimental Combat TEAM 2 made up of the 2nd regiment of Navy, of the 2nd battalion of the 8th regiment of Navy. The remainder of the battalion of the 8th regiment forming the divisional reserve. The 6th regiment of Navy is maintained in concerning the 5th amphibious body.

The three battalions of attack will have to go on the beaches of Red 1, Red 2 and Red 3. These beaches are located at the North-East of the island. To unload the Americans will have to use LVT ( landing vehicle tank ) with weak draft to cross the coral barrier separating the ocean from the lagoon. Moreover the unloading could be done only with high tide and by fault of knowledge on sea-beds around Tarawa, the Americans could not be sure of their blow. For the bombardment of the island, the Americans planned a long ramming of the island with marine artillery before the intervention of aviation. The unloading will have carried out at 8 a.m. 30.

Beach Red 3 is with 500 meters in the east of the pier and it is there that will unload the 2d battalion of the 8th regiment of navy. In the west of the pier, the 2nd battalion of the 2nd regiment of Navy will have to unload on Beach Red 2 and finally Beach Red 1 which is to the extreme is and measures 500m as Beach Red 2 will be the place of unloading of the 3D Battalion of the 2d Régiment of Marines.

Japanese fortifications and manpower

It is the December 10th 1941 which the Japanese take the control of the archipelago of Tarawa and more precisely of Betio but it will be necessary to await the September 15th 1942 so that troops unload there (6th special force of unloading of the marine of Yokosuka). In December the 111e regiment of pioneer comes to supplement the garrison with for goal construction of defenses and the aerodrome. In February 1943, the admiral Saichiro arrives on the island, then the March 17th the 7th force of unloading of the marine of Saseko comes to reinforce the forces involved and finally in May arrives on the island the 4th unit of construction. In August, the admiral Sibasaki replaces Saichiro. Thus at the time of the allied attack the admiral has 2617 combatants of elites. Here forces in presence on the island:

- 3rd (ex 6th) special force of unloading: 1120 men;

- 7th special force of unloading of the navy (7th Sasebo): 1497 men;

- 111e pioneers: 1247 men;

- 4th unit of construction: 970 men.

On the whole, the Japanese are thus 4744 but the genius especially made up of Koreans is not intended for the combat.

The fortifications are laid out of such kinds that they are protected mutually thus ensuring a great cohesion in Japanese defense. Here the constitution of the Japanese fortifications:

4 guns of 200mm built by Vickers;
4 guns of 140 mm;
6 parts of 80 mm;
4 guns of 127mm of DCA;
8 parts of 75mm of DCA;
27 heavy machine guns of 13mm of DCA;
4 heavy machine guns of 13mm in mounting doubles DCA;
10 guns of mountain of 75mm;
6 guns of 70 mm;
9 parts of 37 mm;
31 heavy machine guns of 13 mm;
several tens of machine-guns of 7,7mm.

Course of the battle of Tarawa

The unloading

Left at the beginning for an army maneuvers the American troops are prevented only three days before true objective of their operation. Meanwhile the regiment of attack having to attack in first line on Tarawa changes commander, colonel David Shoup replaces colonel Marshall, patient. During the progression of the American fleet several escadrilles American takes care of the bombardment on Betio and the islands neighborhood of the 13 with the November 19th. These bombers are under the command of the 7th Air Force coming from Task force 57. November 19th, the first ships appear with broad of Tarawa and begin the ramming of the Japanese fortifications. It will be necessary nevertheless to wait the night before the arrival of the landing barges.

The Japanese end up locating the Americans at 4 a.m. 41 and start the fire of their batteries without success. A little later the first troops start to embark in the first landing barges but the transfers are difficult and the first waves of LVT have evil to keep their cohesion. At 5 a.m. 42 the American Marine stops its shooting to make it possible aviation to attack Betio but this one not arriving the shootings begin again at 6 a.m. 5 but meanwhile the Japanese could begin again themselves. Finally aviation arrives at 6 heurs 15 without managing to fulfill its missions. Finally at 6 a.m. 20 the hour W all the fleet takes again its shootings.

At 7 a.m. the 15 first barges advance in the Lagon protected by some dredgers and destroyers having been able to approach the coasts. Nevertheless confusion is large and the hour H is pushed back at 8 a.m. 45. Nevertheless before even the arrival of the forces of unloading a group of man directed by the lieutenant Hawkins, the Scout-Sniper Platoon had to take foot on the large pier to drive out the Japanese being likely there to take the beach in row. The operation was successful successfully in spite of the digging of a hole in the pier due to the flame throwers and which will obstruct much the accosting of the ammunition on the pier later on in the battle.

9 hours 10 should then be waited before the first barges of 3D BN of the 2d regiment do not cross the coral barrier and approach the beach, but at this time the Japanese start a heavy fire which destroys many machines of unloading. Company I succeeds in setting up a head of bridge but a Japanese station located between Beach Red 1 and Beach Red 2 takes in row the Navy. The company K is blocked just like the L which loses 35% of its manpower.

The 2d Bn of the 8th regiment arrives at 9 a.m. 17 out of Red 3 by undergoing very few losses. The companies succeed in being inserted on the island. However on Red 2 the force of unloading must undergo a fire particularly heavy and the forces of unloading undergo heavy losses not being able to establish a solid head of bridge.

The following waves cannot unload on the beach and must cross the lagoon with water until the size to see to the shoulders. Undergoing the Japanese shooting, the Americans are completely disorganized. The majority of the effectiveness normally associated with a battalion of unloading are lost because of this unhappy situation. During this hard unloading the lieutenant colonel Amey chief of the 2d Bn of the 2d regiment dies and it is however the Jordan lieutenant-colonel simple observer of the 4th division of Marines which takes the command of a force completely disorganized by the lack of radios and not having been able to establish a head of bridge of only 75m of depth on 300m broad. Just like Amey, colonel David Shoup tries to unload on Red 2, after several transfers in various barges, Shoup succeeds in unloading at 10 a.m. 30 by traversing the last 200 meters with water until the size.

Moreover starts to pose the problem of the reinforcements, Shoup little before unloading learns from major Schoettel ordering the 3D battalion on Red 1 that the situation is very precarious and that the barges undergo a heavy fire. Shoup orders to him to go on Red 2 but Schoettel answers him: “We do not have anything any more to unload”. Colonel Shoup thus decides to send 1st battalion of the 2d regiment held in reserve on Red 2. The battalion of major Kyle thus will be unloaded and undergoes heavy losses then from there.

Then the Smith general considering the sufficiently strong head of bridge on Beach Red 3 to launch reinforcements there sends the 3D bn to it 8th regiment of major Ruud. The unloading is done with difficulty, the undergoing battalion of heavy losses. The second and third waves after the hecatomb undergone by the first move towards the pier called by colonel Carlson. At the end of the morning, the Americans decide to unload tanks to support the infantrymen, on Red 1, two tanks are unloaded and one is touched by a shell which blocks the mechanism of its turret and its gun is with are turn put out of combat. Sherman is thus folded up towards the beach. The second tank is set fire to by a shell of 75 Misters On Red 2,3 tanks are unloaded which will fight throughout the day. Two tanks are put out of combat. Finally on Red 3,4 Sherman are unloaded, 3 Sherman are destroyed including one by the United States Air Force. The last which was however touched, will succeed in extinguishing the fire which was the consequence and fought for it until the end of the battle of Tarawa.

On the USS Maryland, the Smith general has great difficulty to know the situation on Betio in spite of the aerial observation this why colonel Carlson sent by Shoup will inform it of the real state of the Marines .

At 3 p.m. 30, the situation on Betio is the following one:

- on Beach Red 1, the head of bridge is deep about 150 meters;

- on Beach Red 2, the Navy shelters behind the wall of bamboos and along the pier (almost no navy on the part is beach). Head of bridge without any significant depth;

- on Beach Red the 3 finally Navy is present only on the shore.

It is on Red 1 that the majority does without the engagements. On the beach is there major Ryan (who replaces major Schoettel) and tries to reorganize its troops before sending its tanks forwards by initially making them circumvent the head of bridge, the driving way towards the center of the island being encumbered deaths. Both Sherman remainder succeed in with the infantry widening the head of bridge which reaches in end-of-day 500m depth for 150m broad. Is on this beach:

3D Battalion of the 2d regiment:

Remains of the Co (company) K;
Remains the Co I;
Left the Co L;
a group of the Co Mr.

-2d Battalion of the 2d regiment:

1st group of the Co E;
1st group of the Co G;
2nd and 3rd group of the Co H;
state major of the commander of the battalion.

-1st Battalion of the 2d Marines:

3 officers and 110 men unloaded here by error.

These some men in spite of their progression could not reduce to silence the Japanese bunkers exceeded by the lack of means adapted and the Japaneses will benefit from it for sometimes drawing in the back from American. Nevertheless, at the fallen night, 600m of ground separates Red 1 from Red 2.

At the end of the first day, the whole of the American heads of bridges make a surface of 1500m ² and a Japanese attack during the night would certainly have is enough to push back the Americans with the sea but the admiral Shibasaki fault of means of communication functioning in good state cannot return in liaison with his men and order anything to them.

November 21st

At the beginning of the November 21st, Smith decides in front of the request for Shoup to make unload the 1st Bn of the 8th regiment on Red 2. At 6 a.m. the 15 first wave is unloaded in the lagoon and must cross the last 500m with water until the size to see to the shoulders. The first 4 waves are directed towards the border between Red 1 and REd 2, zone beaten by the Japanese shootings which had made use of this position to take to side the Americans the day before. Thus the disorganized Americans arrive on the beach in a confused situation and without any heavy material to reduce the Japanese strong points. On the 199 men of the first wave, 90 are still in a position to fight. The major Hays chief of the battalion manages to gather his men and posted himself at the western end of Red 2 to prepare to join Red 1. On their side the 1st and 2nd Bataillon of the 2d regiment present on Red 2 will have to go towards the south to reach other bank of Betio. Major Kyle thus brings together 300 men about and prepares with the attack. Few before a group machine-guns had been charged to set up a fire heavy on the Japan board. At the beginning of afternoon, 3 companies of the 1st battalion, majority of the survivors of the 8th Marine and the whole of the 2nd Battalion. After the difficult crossing of the airfield, the Americans discover abandoned Japanese positions on other side of the Aérodrome and are established there before finally reaching the southern part but surrounded by strong enemy positions and separated from the remainder of the head of bridge by the nonprotected take-off runway. Thus at 7 p.m. are in this pocket:

- Company B (Williams captain): 60 men;

- Company C (Clanahan captain): 75 men;

- Company E (Tynes captain): 15 men;

- Company F: 10 men;

- Company H: a group of machine-guns;

- regimental heavy unit: 10 men.

These 180 men without vivres nor water and cruelly missing ammunition come of more than undergo a Japanese counter-attack. In front of the situation Shoup sends several LVT charged with vivres and of ammunition and finally around 6 p.m. major Kyle arrives in the pocket and the Jordna lieutenant-colonel leaves him the command of the men.

Side of Red 1, the men of major Ryan receive the order to conquer Green Beach on the west coast of the island. With the assistance of marine artillery observant the Greene second lieutenant, it obtains a support of two destroyers which after their preparation of artillery yield their place to the infantry. At 11 a.m. 10, the Marines launch out to the attack and in one hour all Japanese defenses of the sector of Green Beach remove. The Japanese, having it are true, opposite a quite low resistance. In spite of the low depth of the head of bridge (200m), the Smith general sends the 1st Bataillon of the 6th regiment on Betio the 2nd Bataillon having to follow. But the American high-command learning by not very sure sources that the Japanese decided to fold up themselves on Bairiki (possible operation with low tide) decides to send the 2nd battalion on the island. The men of major Jones (1st Bn) them of course unload Green Beach at 6 p.m. 40, late on the schedule envisaged (17 hours. Several light tanks m3 are also unloaded but with one hour of delay. In spite of these hitches, Jones envisages an attack for 8 p.m. But in front of the request for Shoup to defer the attack to the following day, Jones cancels the offensive.

On Red 3 on the other hand, the 2nd Bataillon of the 8th Régiment has great difficulty to progress because the Americans are with only a few tens of meters of the PC of the admiral where cut off themselves the Japanese soldiers. Thus an attack of the Marines of weak width is easily pushed back. With fallen the night, 12 men take possession of the Burns-Philips pier to prevent the Japanese of cut off there. At the time of this day the major Shoettel chief of the battalion unloads finally on Betio but the men do not obey to him and desperate Schoettel comes to require councils of Shoup. This last when he learns that the soldiers refuse to advance by fault of a machine-gun puts in a terrible anger. The countryside of Tarawa will be a long martyrdom for Schoettel.

Thus at the end of on November 21st, the Americans are for the first time in position to gain. They released the neighborhoods of Green Beach, set up a narrow pocket but solid to the south of the aerodrome and north, the head of bridge extends on 500m from share and others from the large pier. Lastly, in end-of-day, Shoup sends like message to Smith: We are gaining . Smith then decides to send Edson (chief of staff of the 2d division) on the island to direct the logistic operations on Betio.

November 22nd, 1943: American progression

In the night of the 21, Edson and Shoup set up the operations for the 22. Conscious that the preceding failures were due to a lack of intervention of the Artillerie of marine, they decide to utilize the batteries of the battleships. Thus 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. 30, the naval artillery draws on the Japanese positions with the assistance from some batteries unloaded on the island. Edson and Shoup envisage three attacks:

That of the 1st Bn of the 6th regiment which will have to try to contact the units present to the south of the aerodrome while attacking full is.
At the same time, the 1st bn of the 8th regiment will have to attack towards the west since Red 2 to destroy the Japanese pocket located between Red 1 and Red 2.
Enfin the 8th regiment in the east, will have to increase the head of bridge beyond the small pier.

The attack against the Japanese pocket starts at 7 a.m. with the support of the light tanks (three of the company C). The force of attack is thus composed of north in the south of:

- the company B along the beach;

- the company has in the center;

- the company C in the south.

The attack is slow, the Navy in front of eliminated methodically the points from Japanese resistances. In spite of the support of the tanks m3, the Americans have evil to come to end (the gauge of the shells of m3 who are of 37mm are insufficient). The infantrymen test then to use here or there bangalores and loads of TNT. With the loss of one of the tanks, the two others are replaced by a section of Halfs Tracs coldly unloaded having guns of 75mm. Thus at the end of the day, the Japanese pocket is always existing.

During this time the attack of the 1st Bn on Green Beach starts well. In spite of a delay in the attack which starts at 8 a.m. 15 the offensive succeeds thanks to a strong cohesion between tanks and infantries. The Sherman tanks destroying the bunkers and other nests of machine guns, the infantrymen killing the Japanese launching out on the tanks with a magnetic mine. At 11 a.m., the men of the 1st Bn carry out the junction with the men located in the pocket. The Japanese lose 250 men whereas the Americans lose only very few men. Thus except the pocket between Red 1 and Red 2, the whole of the Western part of the island is conquered. Major Jones will have for the offensive of the following day of the unit of the tanks and a substantial help naval artillery and air. Moreover the unit of the 8th regiment (except the 1st Bn) will have also attacked in the east in spite of the opposition of their chief regarding his men as too tired.

Finally the attack of the 2nd Bn of the 8th regiment close to the pier Burns Philips has like drank to capture three points of Japanese resistance (a nest of machine guns under armor-plated cupola, another nest sheltered by trunks of coconuts and a concreted shelter). 9 hours 30 of mortar fires allow to destroy the shelter in coconut which explodes in flame, its cargo of ammunition being touched. About at the same time, from the tanks Sherman draw on the armor-plated cupola allowing the infantrymen to leave to the attack. Vis-a-vis the shelter concreted the advance this fact thanks to the flame throwers of the forces of the genius. In spite of a Japanese counter-attack, the shelter is captured at the end of one hour of combat. The Japanese still wedged in the bunker try to flee but the Navy stops each entry systematically and causes a true massacre with the machine-gun and the grenade. Finally bulldozers of the genius stop the entries locking up the Japaneses in the bunker. The catch of these strengthened points makes it possible the Navy to progress without any difficulty to the east, meeting while making jump Japanese defenses, the corpses of the Japaneses being made Hara-kiri.

During the day, the 3rd battalion of the 6th regiment unloads finally on Betio after having spent one night in the barges. At 12 noon the general Holland Smith (chief of the 2nd division of navy) also unloads him in Green Beach. He decides to install his PC on Red 2 and to avoid crossing the lately conquered ground (where sometimes some Japanese remain), the general goes to Red 2 in Amtrac which is made touch by a machine-gun. Holland Smith is then helped by another barge which brings it to good port. The plan of attack for the afternoon is the following: it 1st battalion of the 6th regiment will have to attack towards the east and to capture an anti-tank ditch in the east of the runway.

The advance starts at 12 noon 30. In spite of the tiredness accumulated by the offensive of the morning, the company supported by Sherman and 7 tanks m3 Stuart starts. Slightly behind, is the company B and the company C is kept in reserve. The attack starting at 1 p.m. 30 is stopped as of the first meters by an armor-plated turret. It takes one hour and half of combat and the intervention of Sherman to continue the advance. At 3 p.m., the Navy assoiffés receives water and the company B passes at the head to continue the attack at 4 p.m. The company C is it sent to raise the 2nd bn of the 8th regiment in the south of the Japanese pocket located near the Burns-Philips pier. The other Navy in spite of their attack cannot advance and at 6 p.m. 30, bury themselves. In the evening, the Americans count 200 dead Japaneses on the conquered ground and the Japanese pocket of Burns-Philips is finally reduced. In spite of the fact that except the pocket between Red 1 and 2 all the Western part of the island is conquered, optimism does not reign yet among the American staff. The Smith general asks that be to unload for the November 23rd the 2d battalion of the 6th Marines on Green Beach and that the 3rd Bn of the 6th regiment unloading on Green Beach goes towards the east of the island with all the tanks.

The Japanese counter-attack

Nevertheless the evening of November 22nd, for the first time, the Japanese will launch an important offensive against the Americans. Indeed driven back on the oriental party of the island, the Japaneses can gain only while launching an offensive allowing them to push back the Americans with the sea. At 7 p.m. 30, a first offensive of low scale launched by 50 men manages with determination to force the passage in the American lines but the Navy succeeds in without too many problems filling the breach. The convinced Americans that a more important offensive is in preparation set up an artillery shooting at 75m of the first American lines. Although the shootings of the batteries do not obstruct of anything the Japanese preparation, the latter cannot locate the American nests of machine guns preventing the offensive from starting. At 11 p.m., two small offensives having to test the American positions are launched and pushed back without any difficulties; in waiting of an offensive large news, the shooting of stopping redoubles intensity and major Jones requests from the navy the bombardment Japanese backs. With 3 heurs of the morning, the Japanese draw using machine-guns and of guns on the positions of the Navy, the latter counteract with mortars and by sending launched volunteers of the grenades close to the Japanese guns. Finally to 4 heurs of the morning, an offensive of 300 men is finally launched by the Japanese who are stopped Net by artillery. Then following one hour of fight, the Japaneses beat a retreat and leave on ground 200 as of theirs. Moreover following the American progression, the latter will discover 125 corpses killed by destroyers USS Schreder and USS Sigsbee. The Japanese counter-attack although courageous was not likely any to push back the Americans with the sea because they were at the evening of the November 22nd on solid positions. One can surely think that a Japanese counter-attack at the evening of the unloading would have been likely all to push back the Americans but this offensive arrives at a too advanced stage of the battle and with well little too many men.

End of the battle

With the failure of the Japanese counter-attack, resistance on the island strongly weakens. Nevertheless, the Navy must still conquer is island. It is the 3rd battalion of the 6th regiment directed by the MacLeod lieutenant-colonel the purpose of who is to conquer the oriental party of Betio. Company I is placed at north, the company L in the south and the company K is in reserve. The attack starts at 8 a.m. preceded by a violent one bombardment by aviation then by artillery and finally by the marine. Despite everything 500 Japanese are still present on Betio. At 8 a.m., the 3rd battalion crosses the American lines to attack the Japanese positions defended by two anti-tank ditches. 2 Sherman and 7 tanks m3 open the road with the infantrymen and teams of lance-flame. The objective east conquered very quickly and almost without combat and the Americans continue their progression. It is the company which meets the first true Japanese resistance made up of shelters concreted and machine-guns. In front of the impossibility of an attack of face for company I, the company L decides to flank the Japaneses by the south and to continue their advance. Enough quickly, the Marines reaches the end is island because the Japanese rather than to go decide to give each other death. The last Japaneses confined in their shelters are eliminated with the lance-flame. During this time, company I ends up definitively reducing the encircled Japanese site. Thus with 1 p.m. McLeod and its men reach the end of the island and count like losses only 9 killed and 25 wounded, capturing 14 men (especially Korean) and counting 475 Japanese corpses.

The last reduced Japanese pocket

Whereas the 3rd battalion conquers is island, the last Japanese pocket between Red 1 and Red 2 is reduced by an attack of the 1st Bataillon of the 8th regiment equipped with half-track vehicles, flame thrower and of a team of demolition. Moreover two guns of 75 motorized and a group of Navy will have to attack by the coast to surprise the Japanese. Lastly, come from the west the 3rd Bn of the 2d regiment of major Schoettel will have to attack the Western side of the pocket. The American attack concentrates especially on a powerful shelter where the majority of the Japanese found refuge. The bunker is destroyed with blows of guns and explosives. After that, the conquest of the last Japanese positions especially made up of some machine-guns are methodically destroyed by the Americans. Thus at 1 p.m., any combat ceases and the Navy captures some prisoners.

Thus, on November 23rd the battle of Tarawa is finished with at midday the landing of a plane on the track of Betio. In the afternoon, the admiral Hill unloads in the island where companies of flame thrower burn all the Japanese shelters to kill out of possible survivors. In spite of the end of any resistance, the Navy will spend several days before killing the last Japanese. Thus in the night from November 23rd to 24th, two soldiers and an officer are killed with the knife by Japanese. 14 Japaneses were killed this night, animated by the error of an American soldier who launched a grenade in what he believed being a shelter and which was being a warehouse of ammunition. Thus all the night was punctuated multiple explosions. Besides in the evening of November 23rd, the Smith general placed all the Americans in defensive position to push back a possible unloading.

Losses at the time of the battle

The Japanese losses during the battle were extremely numerous, indeed on the 4744 men and workers, only 146 men were captured including 16 soldiers. The American losses are the following ones: 985 killed and disappeared including 55 officers and 2311 wounded.

The conquest of the other islands of the archipelago of the Gilbert

The catch of the island of Betio which although being the island best defended by the Japanese the conquest of the whole of the Gilbert does not ensure. As considering previously the catch of Bairiki was delegated to the 2nd Bn of the 6th regiment on November 22nd after the American high-command is intercepted a Japanese message. The latter having to fold up itself on Bairiki with low tide borrowing a mean spit of land. Nevertheless American information proves to be erroneous and will use average well the too important one for the conquest of the small island. The unloading is preceded by the bombardment by the island by the navy and aviation in front of bombarded the bunker by Bairiki defended by 15 Japanese soldiers having 2 machine-guns. After some passages, an American hunter explodes a can of gasoline thanks to one of its balls which passed by the embrasure of the blockhouse. Following the explosion, the 15 Japanese soldiers are killed and at 4 p.m. 55, hour of the unloading, the Navy unloads on an empty island of enemy.

The conquest of the other islands by the Americans starts with the unloading on November 24th at 5 hours of the 2nd Bn of the 6th regiment on the island of Buota vacuum of enemies. Learning the presence from a hundred men on the atoll of Tarawa, the Americans decide to look further into their exploration of Bairiki. Thus the evening of the November 25th, a patrol of Navy crosses of Japanese and have 2 wounded. The following day, the American progression in a dense vegetation is difficult and soon, the soldiers are taken under the fire of automatic weapons. Very quickly the combat is transformed into fight with the body with body from where the Navy leaves victorious at the killed costs of 29 of which an officer and 58 wounded. Japanese all deaths except two Korean workers is 175. Finally on November 28th, the last island of the atoll of Tarwa, Naa is conquered by the Marines which do not meet any Japanese. November 23rd, the garrison of Abemama (which does not belong to the archipelago of Tarawa) it was also conquered after the bombardment of the island by the submarine USS Nautilus which kills 5 men. The 18 others are made hara-kiri before the unloading of a group pertaining to 5th Amphibious Corps Scouts. Finally the conquest of the Gilbert islands is completed by the conquest of the atoll of Abaiang where 5 Japanese soldiers are posted who fled in the dugout and were never caught up with by the Americans who however used inflatable dinghies. The small atolls of Marakei and Maiana are also visited but empty of enemies.

Course of the battle of Makin

While the 2nd division of Navy must unload on Tarawa, the 27 {{E}} division of infantry must conquer the island of Butaritari in the atoll of Makin. It is the 165th regiment of combat made up of the whole of the 165th regiment of infantry and the 3rd bn pertaining to the 105th of infantry which must unload on Butaritari. The Japanese defense, ordered by lieutenant Seizo Ishikawa is the following one:

- 284 soldiers of the Special Force of Unloading of the Navy;

- 138 men of the 11th regiment of pioneers;

- 100 crawling mechanics and others of the air and sea base;

- 76 Japanese and 200 Koreans of a unit of construction.

The whole of the seaplanes present on the island flew away before the arrival of American.

The unloading

The unloading on Butaritari is preceded by the bombardment by Northern Attack Force. This ramming of Japanese defenses was not very useful because it did not kill any soldier and did not destroy any infrastructure. The GI' S unload then on the island without no shot being drawn and of the air observers note that there is not null trace of enemies on the island. In spite of the fact that certain officers want to remove the end of the naval bombardment, the admiral not very sure Turner of the dires of the aviators orders the continuation of ramming. During this time, the recently unloaded American infantry advances towards the interior of the island. Enough quickly, a machine-gun and some rifles opens fire on the Americans who in spite of their number, camp on their position several hours during. During this time, the commanders of the tanks m3 Stuart refuse to obey the orders of the officers of infantry. Colonel Conroy, chief of Régimental Fights TEAM followed by colonel Roosevelt, observer of the USMC tries to reason the commanders of tanks but is made kill by a marksman. Following this event, the Americans stop their advance. The only notable incident of the afternoon is the explosion of a turret of the USS the Mississippi which kills 43 sailors.

November 21st

The November 21st sees the unloading of the general Holland Smith (chief of the terrestrial operations of Galvanic) unloaded on the island. This one was already irritated the November 20th by little courage GI and decides to justify them while being shown with them. In spite of this intervention, the large majority of the soldiers do not seem to want to advance. This being due to the fact that many infantrymen do not see any reason of risk their life for the conquest of if small island. Smith learns shortly after that a Japanese resistance to the north of the island prevents any advance. Going to the place indicated, he discovers according to him, an extremely calm sector. The night of the general is disturbed besides by the shootings of the sentinels believing to see unceasingly of the Japanese. Thus the day of November 21st occurs with almost any tear on ground. But it of it is completely different on sea.

Naval battle with broad of Makin

Whereas on Tarawa, the battle proceeds without any air or maritime intervention of Japanese, in Makin the situation is different. But on November 21st, the American fleet detects the presence of a Japanese submarine near Makin. It is at midday, that destroyer USS Gansevoort detects an echo with a few kilometers of the coast. Shortly after the USS Meade detects to him also the presence of an echo. The two ships in spite of their ceaseless patrols, cannot find anything more concrete. Finally around 5 p.m., obtaining a strong contact finally, the ships put at grenader the zone. But it is necessary to await 30mn before seeing the submarine appearing. American indeed sees a periscope then before I-35 submarine to emerge from water close to the USS Frazier. The commander of the ship made éperonner the submarine then moves back and prepares with the evacuation of the survivors, the Japanese, however put their gun out of battery and is on the point of drawing but the Americans their draw above before the submarine does not run definitively. The sailors send a whale-boat to collect the Japaneses fallen to water (4), but one of them draws to them above with the Pistolet. It is completed with the machine-gun like the three others. Here still, Japanese fanaticism is thorough with its roof. Shortly after that, an American plane believer to have found a new submarine, draws on the whale-boat by error without damaging it. The USS Meade retorts by shootings of DCA which put at evil the plane which will succeed in nevertheless landing on its aircraft carrier.

Last days on Makin

The November 22nd, on Makin, Japanese resistance almost completely disappeared, the Americans being infinitely of time more numerous (23 compared with 1 for the infantry). Nevertheless, the GI' S advance always also slowly and it will be necessary to await the November 24th to see the island removed from its former owners. It is at 4 hours 35 of this day that a destroyer of escort of aircraft carrier 'USS Licorne Bay locates light at the horizon and moves towards this position. Some time after, battleship USS Mexico City locates an echo on its radar without being able to define the source of it. To 5 a.m. 7, the destroyer indicates the light comes from a buoy surely released by the Japanese to announce to the submarines the presence of the American fleet. A few minutes after whereas the aircraft carrier is put vis-a-vis the wind, Sunao Tabata, the commander of the I-175 submarine starts to draw too late a Torpille located by the USS Licorne Bay which is touched in the center, slightly with port side. The torpedo explodes on the level of the fuel compartment causing a terrible explosion in the aircraft carrier, the flames rising with more than 100 meters above water. The fire is propagated then rather quickly with the ammunition store which explodes violently and pours to the bridge of the USS New Mexico City of the remains of planes, the steel fragments and the human remainders. In the aircraft carrier, the Witsie captain was killed and the highest officer orders the evacuation of the ship. But the sailors who throw themselves to water find suddenly taken with the trap. Indeed water surface is covered with a film of gasoline and Pétrole which takes fire when a plane in flame falls to water. Thus tens of men are burned alives and of many others perish in the aircraft carrier because of the explosions. The USS Licorne Bay ran of 23 minutes thus, involving with him 644 men and 19 planes is ten times more losses than for the battle of Makin

Thus the battle of Makin finishes where the American losses (losses of the USS Licorne Bay excluded) of 64 are killed and 150 wounded.

Assessment

In the United States, the news of the number of the American losses at the time of the Galvanic operation causes an outcry, the Americans can include/understand only 4000 men belonging to the marine (crack corps of the American Armée) can be killed for the conquest of if small island.

On the military level, the conquest of the atolls of Tarawa, Makin, Abemama are of an strategic importance. American, if they wanted to continue their progression in the Pacifique were to remove the colonies Japanese woman present on these grounds, because they was located near home bases of the American navy. Nevertheless and especially for the catch of Betio, the unloading was badly carried out and even if the victory is carried thanks to the crushing excess of the Navy, the losses of the battle precede the next terrestrial combat which the Americans will have to deliver to Iwo Jima or Okinawa. Even if the names of these future battles as that of Guadalcanal) will end up erasing memories that of Tarawa, the battle of Betio remains the symbol of the difficult American reconquest in the Pacific.

But this unloading was nevertheless useful for the American high command which made use of this relative failure (failure as for the number of losses) to plan future the unloadings and especially the Débarquement of Normandy.

Sources

James Stockman, The Battle for Tarawa .
Yves Buffetaut, the Navy unloads in Tarawa , Except series Militaria Magazine n°19.

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