The invasion plan called for three major beaches on Tarawa to be designated Red 1, Red 2, and Red 3 along the northern coast of the island with Red 1 being on the western toe of the north side of the island. The battle would commence with naval gunnery on November 20 th, 1943 that would shell for more than 1.5 hours with a brief respite for carrier-based dive bombers to strike targets. The landing force consisted of the Army’s 27 th Infantry Division and the USMC 2 nd Division for a total of 35,000 Marines and soldiers. The invasion force for the Battle of Tarawa consisted of 17 aircraft carriers (6 CVs, 6 CVLs, and 6 CVEs), 12 battleships, 8 heavy and four light cruisers, 66 destroyers, and 36 transport vessels. USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), sunk 23 November 1943ġ29 laborers captured Battle of Tarawa Map Map of Betio, Tarawa Atoll Battle of Tarawa Summary Keiji Shibazaki † Battle of Tarawa Order of Battleġ,000 Japanese and 1,200 Korean laborers Battle of Tarawa CasualtiesĪmerican The insignia of the 2nd Marine Division “Follow Me”. In order to start an attack on these islands, however, the road to invasion had to start far to the east at Tarawa. Were heavily defended and would require land-based bombers for the Americans to have a shot at victory. Bonnyman received the Medal of Honor posthumously. These Lt Alexander Bonnyman (4th from right) and his assault party storming a Japanese stronghold. The ultimate goal of the start of the United States offensive in the Pacific Theater of World War 2 was to take the Marianas Islands.
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