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On 20 November 1943, simultaneous landings were made by
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
forces on
Tarawa Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati,Kiribati
''
United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
forces on Makin, two coral atolls located in the
Gilbert Islands The Gilbert Islands ( gil, Tungaru;Reilly Ridgell. ''Pacific Nations and Territories: The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia.'' 3rd. Ed. Honolulu: Bess Press, 1995. p. 95. formerly Kingsmill or King's-Mill IslandsVery often, this n ...
chain in the South-Central Pacific. Unlike at the Allied landings on
Guadalcanal Guadalcanal (; indigenous name: ''Isatabu'') is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of Solomon Islands, located in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. It is the largest island in the Solomon Islands by area, and the seco ...
the previous fall, the
Japanese Japanese may refer to: * Something from or related to Japan, an island country in East Asia * Japanese language, spoken mainly in Japan * Japanese people, the ethnic group that identifies with Japan through ancestry or culture ** Japanese diaspor ...
chose to violently oppose the Marines on the beach at
Betio Betio is the largest township of Kiribati's capital city, South Tarawa, and the country's main port. The settlement is located on a separate islet at the extreme southwest of the atoll. Betio Post Office opened on 5 April 1957 and closed in 1964. ...
, the principal island of the Tarawa Atoll. These extremely well-planned defenses, combined with unexpected tidal conditions, made the fight for Tarawa one of the most difficult for the Marine Corps of the entire
Pacific Theater The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...
. Makin was declared secure on 25 November, Tarawa on 27 November. The naval forces assigned to capture the Gilberts formed the largest armada yet assembled by either side in the Pacific, considerably larger than the Allied force that mounted the
invasion of Guadalcanal The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and Code name, codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalca ...
and dwarfing the Japanese force that attacked
Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...
. TF 50 – Carrier Force (Task Force 50): : 6
fleet carrier A fleet carrier is an aircraft carrier designed to operate with the main fleet of a nation's navy. The term was developed during World War II, to distinguish it from the escort carrier and other less capable types. In addition to many medium-siz ...
s, 5
light carrier A light aircraft carrier, or light fleet carrier, is an aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only one-h ...
s, 6
fast battleship A fast battleship was a battleship which emphasised speed without â€“ in concept â€“ undue compromise of either armor or armament. Most of the early World War I-era dreadnought battleships were typically built with low design speeds, ...
s, 3
heavy cruiser The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval Tr ...
s, 3 anti-aircraft light cruisers, 21
destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
s TF 52 – Northern Attack Force (Makin) (Task Force 52): : 3
escort carrier The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier (U.S. hull classification symbol CVE), also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft ...
s, 4 old
battleship A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...
s, 4
heavy cruiser The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval Tr ...
s, 15
destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
s, 1
minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...
, 5
transport Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline, an ...
s, 4 landing ships TF 53 – Southern Attack Force (Tarawa) (Task Force 53): : 5
escort carrier The escort carrier or escort aircraft carrier (U.S. hull classification symbol CVE), also called a "jeep carrier" or "baby flattop" in the United States Navy (USN) or "Woolworth Carrier" by the Royal Navy, was a small and slow type of aircraft ...
s, 3 old
battleship A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...
s, 2
heavy cruiser The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval Tr ...
s, 2
light cruiser A light cruiser is a type of small or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck. Prior to thi ...
s, 22
destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...
s, 2
minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...
s, 16
transport Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline, an ...
s, 4 landing ships


Command structure


Naval

The roles of Commander in Chief,
Pacific Ocean Areas Pacific Ocean Areas was a major Allied military command in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It was one of four major Allied commands during the Pacific War, and one of three United States commands in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Admira ...
(CINCPOA) and Commander in Chief,
U.S. Pacific Fleet The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is a theater-level component command of the United States Navy, located in the Pacific Ocean. It provides naval forces to the Indo-Pacific Command. Fleet headquarters is at Joint Base Pearl Harbor†...
(CINCPAC), were both exercised by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from his headquarters at
Pearl Harbor Pearl Harbor is an American lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. It was often visited by the Naval fleet of the United States, before it was acquired from the Hawaiian Kingdom by the U.S. with the signing of the Re ...
,
Hawaii Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
. Since the Gilberts and Marshalls lie in the Central Pacific, their capture was the responsibility of the
U.S. Fifth Fleet The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It has been responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean since 1995 after a 48-year hiatus. It shares a commander and headq ...
, led by Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance from aboard his flagship,
heavy cruiser The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval Tr ...
''
Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
''. The ships and troops of Operations ''Galvanic'' (landings on Tarawa Atoll) and ''Kourbash'' (landings on Makin Atoll) were under direct operational command of Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner aboard old
battleship A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...
''
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
''. In case Admiral
Mineichi Koga was a Japanese Marshal Admiral and commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy's Combined Fleet. Biography Early life and career Koga was born in the famous ceramics center of Arita in Nishimatsuura County of Saga Prefecture in 1885. He ...
attempted to disrupt Fifth Fleet's operations, Spruance was to strip all combat ships not needed to cover the landings, join with the fast carrier forces and engage the Japanese. In the event, Koga's
Combined Fleet The was the main sea-going component of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Until 1933, the Combined Fleet was not a permanent organization, but a temporary force formed for the duration of a conflict or major naval maneuvers from various units norm ...
never stirred from its anchorage at
Truk Lagoon Chuuk Lagoon, previously Truk Atoll, is an atoll in the central Pacific. It lies about northeast of New Guinea, and is part of Chuuk State within the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). A protective reef, around, encloses a natural harbou ...
in the Carolines.


Ground troops

V Amphibious Corps (Maj. Gen.
Holland M. Smith Holland McTyeire "Howlin' Mad" Smith, KCB (April 20, 1882 – January 12, 1967) was a general in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He is sometimes called the "father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare. His nickname, "Howl ...
) : Tarawa:
2nd Marine Division The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina ...
(Maj. Gen.
Julian C. Smith Julian Constable Smith (September 11, 1885 – November 5, 1975) was a United States Marine Corps general who served for 37 years, including service in Nicaragua (Navy Cross) and during World War II's Battle of Tarawa (Distinguished Service Med ...
) : Makin: 27th Infantry Division (Army) (Maj. Gen.
Ralph C. Smith Major General Ralph Corbett Smith (November 27, 1893 – January 21, 1998) was a senior officer of the United States Army. After receiving early training as a pilot from Orville Wright he served Brigadier General John J. Pershing's army agai ...
) Both Admiral Turner and General Holland Smith sailed with the Northern Attack Force even though it was obvious that Tarawa would be the scene of the main ground action. If the Japanese mounted a counterattack, it was most likely to come from the Marshalls since the closest Japanese bases to the Gilberts were located there. Nimitz and Spruance wanted the two highest-ranking officers to sail with the forces that would be the first to encounter any such enemy response. Unbeknownst to the Americans, the Japanese had stripped almost all their naval and air assets from the Marshalls in an attempt to resist the Allied effort in the Central Solomons. Thus, no counterattack materialized.


Forces afloat


Carrier Force (Task Force 50)

Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall in fleet carrier ''Yorktown''


Carrier Interceptor Group (Task Group 50.1)

Rear Admiral Pownall in ''Yorktown'' : 2 fleet carriers :: (Capt. J. J. Clark) ::: Air Group 5 (Lt. Cmdr. C. L. Crommelin) :::: VF-5: 36
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VB-5: 36
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::: VT-5: 18
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. F. B. Stump) ::: Air Group 16 (Lt. Cmdr. E. M. Snowden) :::: VF-16: 36
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VB-16: 36
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::: VT-16: 18
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : 1 light carrier :: (Capt. R. P. McConnell) ::: Air Group 25 (Lt. R. H. Price) :::: VF-25: 24
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters ::::   VF-6: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VC-25: 10
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : Battleship Division 6 (Rear Adm. E. W. Hanson) :: 3 fast battleships ::: 1 ''North Carolina''-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): ::: 2 ''South Dakota''-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): , USS ''Alabama'' War Diary, Wednesday, 17 November 1943, 0 to 4, U.S. National Archives, World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories, ca. 1/1/1942 – ca. 6/1/1946. This diary entry also makes reference to the presence of the oiler USS ''Lackawanna'' (AO-40) with Task Group 50.1 on this date. : Screen (Lr. Cmdr. A. J. Hill) :: 6 destroyers ::: All ''Fletcher''-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): , , , , ,


Northern Carrier Group (Task Group 50.2)

Rear Admiral Arthur W. Radford in fleet carrier ''Enterprise'' : 1 fleet carrier :: (Capt. S. P. Ginder) ::: Air Group 6 (Lt. Cmdr. E. H. O'Hare) () :::: VF-2: 36
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VB-6: 36
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::: VT-6: 18
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : 2 light carriers :: (Capt. A. M. Pride) ::: Air Group 24 (Cmdr. R. H. Dale) :::: VF-24: 26
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters ::::   VF-6: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VC-22B: 9
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. L. T. Hundt) ::: Air Group 30 (Lt. Cmdr. J. G. Sliney, USNR) :::: VF-30: 24
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VC-30:  9
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : Battleship Division 6 (Rear Adm. G. B. Davis) :: 3 fast battleships ::: 1 ''North Carolina''-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): ::: 2 ''South Dakota''-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): , : Screen (Cmdr. H. F. Miller) :: 6 destroyers ::: All ''Fletcher''-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): , , , , ,


Southern Carrier Group (Task Group 50.3)

Rear Admiral
Alfred E. Montgomery Vice Admiral Alfred Eugene Montgomery (12 June 1891 â€“ 15 December 1961) was an officer in the United States Navy who served in World War I and World War II. A graduate of the Naval Academy, he participated in operations in the Mexican wa ...
in fleet carrier ''Essex'' : 2 fleet carriers :: (Capt. D. B. Duncan) ::: Air Group 9 (Cmdr. J. Raby) :::: VF-9: 36
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VB-9: 36
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::: VT-9: 18
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. J. J. Ballentine) ::: Air Group 17 (Cmdr. M. P. Bagdanovitch) :::: VF-18: 36
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VB-17: 32
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver is a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. As a carrier-based bomber with the United States Navy (USN), in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. A few survi ...
dive bombers : 1 light carrier :: (Capt. R. L. Johnson) ::: Air Group 22 (Cmdr. J. M. Peters) :::: VF-22: 16
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters ::::   VF-6: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VC-22:  9
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : Cruiser Division 5 (Rear Adm. E. G. Small): :: 3 heavy cruisers ::: 1 ''Pensacola''-class (10 × 8-in. main battery): ::: 2 ''Northampton''-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): , :: 1 anti-aircraft light cruiser ::: 1 ''Atlanta''-class (12 × 5-in. main battery): : Screen (Capt. J. T. Bottom): :: 5 destroyers ::: All ''Fletcher''-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): , , , ,


Relief Carrier Group (Task Group 50.4)

Rear Admiral
Frederick C. Sherman Frederick Carl Sherman (May 27, 1888 – July 27, 1957) was a highly decorated admiral of the United States Navy during World War II. Early life Sherman was born in Port Huron, Michigan on May 27, 1888. His grandfather, Loren Sherman, was the lo ...
in fleet carrier ''Saratoga'' : 1 fleet carrier :: (Capt. J. H. Cassady) ::: Air Group 3 (Cmdr. H. H. Caldwell) :::: VF-12: 37
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VB-12: 24
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::: VT-12: 18
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : 1 light carrier :: (Capt. G. R. Henderson) ::: Air Group 23 (Lt. Cmdr. H. L. Miller) :::: VF-23: 24
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::: VT-23:   9
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : Cruiser Division 2 (Rear Adm. L. J. Wiltse) :: 2 anti-aircraft light cruisers ::: Both ''Atlanta''-class (12 × 5-in. main battery): , : Screen :: 4 destroyers ::: 3 ''Benham''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): , , ::: 1 ''Benson''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery):


Northern Attack Force (Makin) (Task Group 52)

Rear Admiral
Richmond Kelly Turner Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner (May 27, 1885 – February 12, 1961), commonly known as Admiral Kelly Turner, served in the United States Navy during World War II, and is best known for commanding the Amphibious Force during the campaign across ...
in old battleship ''
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...
''


Transport Group (Task Group 52.1)

Captain D. W. Loomis
Embarking 165th Regimental Combat Team and 105th Battalion Landing Team
of the 27th Infantry Division : 4 attack transports: , , , : 1 attack cargo ship: : 1
landing ship dock A dock landing ship (also called landing ship, dock or LSD) is an amphibious warfare ship with a well dock to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles. Some ships with well decks, such as the Soviet Ivan Rogov class, also have ...
: : Screen :: 4 destroyers ::: 2 ''Fletcher''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): , ::: 1 ''Farragut''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): ::: 1 ''Sims''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery):


Fire Support Group (Task Group 52.2)

Rear Admiral Robert M. Griffin in
fast battleship A fast battleship was a battleship which emphasised speed without â€“ in concept â€“ undue compromise of either armor or armament. Most of the early World War I-era dreadnought battleships were typically built with low design speeds, ...
''
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
''
: Unit 1 :: 2 old battleships ::: 1 ''Pennsylvania''-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): ::: 1 ''New Mexico''-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): :: 2 heavy cruisers ::: Both ''New Orleans''-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): , :: 2 destroyers ::: Both ''Farragut-''class (4 × 5-in. main battery): , : Unit 2 :: 2 old battleships ::: Both ''New Mexico''-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): , :: 2 heavy cruisers ::: 1 ''Baltimore''-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): ::: 1 ''New Orleans''-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): :: 2 destroyers ::: Both Gridley-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): , : Unit 3 :: 2 destroyers ::: 1 ''Porter''-class (8 × 5-in. main battery): ::: 1 ''Farragut''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery):


Air Support Group (Task Group 52.3)

Rear Admiral
Henry M. Mullinnix Henry Maston Mullinnix (July 4, 1892 – November 24, 1943) was a United States Navy aviator and admiral who served in World War I and was killed in action commanding a Navy escort carrier division and task force group in the Gilbert Islands ...
() in escort carrier ''Liscome Bay'' : 3 escort carriers :: () (Capt. I. D. Wiltsie ) ::: Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. M. U. Beebe) :::: 16 Grumman FM-1 Wildcat fighters :::: 12
TBM Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval a ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. H. W. Taylor) ::: Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. J. J. Lynch) :::: 16 Grumman FM-1 Wildcat fighters :::: 12
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. R. L. Bowman) ::: Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. G. M. Clifford) :::: 16 Grumman FM-1 Wildcat fighters :::: 12
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers : Screen :: 4 destroyers ::: 2 ''Sims''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): , ::: 2 ''Fletcher''-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): , :: 1 minesweeper ::: 1 ''Auk''-class (1 × 3-in. main battery):


Makin LST Group No. 1 (Task Group 54.4)

Commander A. M. Hurst : 3
landing ship tank Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with ...
s: 31, 78, 178, each carrying an LCT : 1 ''Farragut''-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery):


TF 53 Southern Attack Force (Tarawa)

Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill in old battleship ''
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...
''


Transport Group (Task Group 53.1)

Captain H. B. Knowles in attack transport ''Monrovia''
Embarking
2nd Marine Division The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina ...
, reinforced : Transport Division 4 (Capt. J. B. McGovern): :: 5 attack transports: , , , , : Transport Division 6 (Capt. T. B. Brittain): :: 4 attack transports: , , , : Transport Division 18 (Capt. Knowles): :: 3 attack transports: , , :: 3 attack cargo ships: , , :: 1
landing ship dock A dock landing ship (also called landing ship, dock or LSD) is an amphibious warfare ship with a well dock to transport and launch landing craft and amphibious vehicles. Some ships with well decks, such as the Soviet Ivan Rogov class, also have ...
: :: 1 transport: : Screen (Capt. E. M. Thompson): :: 7 destroyers ::: All ''Fletcher''-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): , , , , , ,


Minesweeper Group (Task Group 53.2)

Lieutenant Commander H. R. Peirce : 2 minesweepers :: Both ''Auk''-class (1 × 3-in. main battery): ,


Fire Support Group (Task Group 53.4)

Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman : Section 1 :: 1 ''Tennessee''-class old battleship (12 × 14-in. main battery): :: 1 ''Cleveland''-class light cruiser (12 × 6-in. main battery): :: 2 ''Benson''-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): , : Section 2 :: 1 ''Colorado''-class old battleship] (8 × 16-in. main battery): :: 1 ''Cleveland''-class light cruiser (12 × 6-in. main battery): :: 2 ''Benson''-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): , : Section 3 :: 1 ''Colorado''-class old battleship] (8 × 16-in. main battery): :: 1 Portland-class cruiser, ''Portland''-class heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery): :: 2 ''Sims''-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): , : Section 4 :: 2 ''Fletcher''-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): , : Section 5 :: 1 Portland-class cruiser, ''Portland''-class heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery): :: 1 ''Fletcher''-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery):


Air Support Group (Task Group 53.6)

Rear Admiral V. H. Ragsdale : 5 escort carriers :: (Capt. E. P. Moore) ::: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::   9
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::   9
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. F. W. McMahon) ::: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::   9
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::   9
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. D. Ketcham) ::: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :::   9
Douglas SBD Dauntless The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/div ...
dive bombers :::   9
Grumman TBF Avenger The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval av ...
torpedo bombers :: (Capt. S. J. Michael) ::: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters :: (Capt. G. A. Dussault) ::: 12
Grumman F6F Hellcat The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American Carrier-based aircraft, carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier Grumman F4F Wildcat, F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United St ...
fighters : Screen :: 5 destroyers ::: 2 ''Fletcher''-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): , ::: 3 ''Farragut''-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): , ,


Tarawa LST Group No. 1 (Task Group 54.5)

Lieutenant Commander R. M. Pits : 3
landing ship tank Landing Ship, Tank (LST), or tank landing ship, is the naval designation for ships first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto shore with ...
s: 34, 242, 243, each carrying an LCT : 1 ''Benson''-class destroyer (4 ×x 5-in. main battery):


See also

Orders of battle involving United States Marine forces in the Pacific Theatre of
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
: *
Battle of Guadalcanal order of battle The Guadalcanal Campaign, called Operation ''Watchtower'', was the first major Allied offensive in the Pacific Theater of Operations in World War II. The campaign lasted from the initial American landings on 7 August 1942 until the final ...
*
Battle of Saipan order of battle On 15 June 1944, United States Marine forces landed on the southwest coast of the island of Saipan in the central Marianas chain; these were followed a day later by US Army forces. This invasion was part of Operation Forager, an effort to reca ...
* Guam (1944) order of battle * Battle of Leyte opposing forces * Battle of Peleliu opposing forces * Battle of Iwo Jima order of battle * Okinawa ground order of battle **
Naval Base Tarawa Naval Base Tarawa was a naval base built by the United States Navy in 1943 to support the World War II effort. The base was located on Tarawa atoll in the Gilbert Islands in the Central Pacific Ocean. The base was built as one of many advance ...


Notes


References


Bibliography

* * {{cite book , last = Wright , first = Derrick , title = Tarawa 1943: The Turning of the Tide , date = 2004 , publisher = Osprey Publishing Ltd. , location = Oxford , isbn = 0-275-98271-8 Gilbert Islands World War II orders of battle Marshall Islands in World War II Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II Conflicts in 1943 Naval aviation operations and battles Naval battles of World War II involving the United States United States Navy in World War II