Leadmen
2nd Lieutenant
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2005
- Messages
- 3,885
Today at 0905 am 65 years ago, the first Marine amtracs hit Tarawa beach in the Gilbert Islands which are 80 miles north of the equator. This was the first opposed amphibious landing against a fortified island. The 2nd Marine Division was assigned to take the Tarawa atoll. What could go wrong?
After heavy navy bombardment on an island only two miles long and 700 yards wide, the Marines believed it would be a "walkover" with no Japanese survivors. The highest point on the island is only 10 feet above sea level. The Japanese were well dug in and weapons sighted and bunkers well constructed. The 4800 Japanese defenders were elite Special Naval Landing Force with many soldiers over six foot tall.
The first wave of amtracs in line consisted of 42 amtracs carrying 18 marines each which were to run up and into the middle of the island. Never happened. the second wave 100 yards behind would consist of 24 amtracs with 20 marines each followed by the 3rd wave with 21 amtracs and 20 marines each. There were only 8 reserve amtracs for replacements. The fourth through tenth wave were to assault the island in Higgins landing boats.
The tides were unusually low exposing a reef which the Higgins boats could not cross. When heavy Japanese fire started the men in the Higgins boats had to wade to shore under murderous fire. The Japanese plan was to prevent the landing at the shoreline. The battle for this small island would take 76 hours of fierce combat.
The losses were 1,027 Navy and Marine killed and 2,292 wounded with 88 missing. The defenders 4800 men only 146 survived the battle with only 17 being Japanese. The others were Korean laborers.
Tarawa gave some important and hard lessons for future Island hopping in the war. Better bombardment and a study of every fortification on Tarawa resulted in improved tactics and and equiptment for assaults including better communication gear.
So on this day I salute all the young men who gave their lives on this tiny island and never got the chance to get married, have children and grand children. The losses on Tarawa were three times higher then North Africa landing, twice the cost of Sicily landing and equal to Salerno.
Leadmen
After heavy navy bombardment on an island only two miles long and 700 yards wide, the Marines believed it would be a "walkover" with no Japanese survivors. The highest point on the island is only 10 feet above sea level. The Japanese were well dug in and weapons sighted and bunkers well constructed. The 4800 Japanese defenders were elite Special Naval Landing Force with many soldiers over six foot tall.
The first wave of amtracs in line consisted of 42 amtracs carrying 18 marines each which were to run up and into the middle of the island. Never happened. the second wave 100 yards behind would consist of 24 amtracs with 20 marines each followed by the 3rd wave with 21 amtracs and 20 marines each. There were only 8 reserve amtracs for replacements. The fourth through tenth wave were to assault the island in Higgins landing boats.
The tides were unusually low exposing a reef which the Higgins boats could not cross. When heavy Japanese fire started the men in the Higgins boats had to wade to shore under murderous fire. The Japanese plan was to prevent the landing at the shoreline. The battle for this small island would take 76 hours of fierce combat.
The losses were 1,027 Navy and Marine killed and 2,292 wounded with 88 missing. The defenders 4800 men only 146 survived the battle with only 17 being Japanese. The others were Korean laborers.
Tarawa gave some important and hard lessons for future Island hopping in the war. Better bombardment and a study of every fortification on Tarawa resulted in improved tactics and and equiptment for assaults including better communication gear.
So on this day I salute all the young men who gave their lives on this tiny island and never got the chance to get married, have children and grand children. The losses on Tarawa were three times higher then North Africa landing, twice the cost of Sicily landing and equal to Salerno.
Leadmen
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