1. General Information
- Belligerents: United States against the Empire of Japan.
- Duration: November 20 to November 23, 1943.
- Commanders:
- United States: Major General Julian Smith commanded the 2nd Marine Division.
- Japan: Rear Admiral Keiji Shibazaki led the Japanese defense until his death in the early stages of the battle.
- Casualties:
- United States: Approximately 1,000 killed and 2,000 wounded.
- Japan: Estimated 4,690 killed, with only 17 prisoners taken.
- Victor: United States.
- Impact: The battle demonstrated the high cost of amphibious assaults against well-defended atolls but resulted in significant learning that improved tactics in subsequent island invasions. It provided a critical foothold in the Gilbert Islands and highlighted the strategic importance of airfields in the Pacific war.
2. Background or Cause of the Battle
Tarawa was part of the Allied strategy to advance through the Central Pacific, capturing key islands to facilitate the air and naval campaign against Japan. The atoll of Tarawa, specifically Betio Island, was targeted for its airfield which was crucial for controlling the surrounding maritime region.
3. Plans of Both Forces
- United States: The plan called for a direct amphibious assault on Betio, the most fortified of Tarawa’s islets. Naval bombardment and aerial bombings were to precede the landing to soften Japanese defenses.
- Japan: The Japanese fortified Betio extensively with coastal guns, pillboxes, bunkers, and trenches, and prepared to defend the island to the last man. The island’s defenses were designed to withstand a direct assault and inflict maximum casualties.
4. Major Events and Their Sequence
- Preliminary Bombardment (November 20, 1943): The battle began with naval and air bombardments intended to destroy Japanese fortifications, though these were less effective than expected.
- Amphibious Landing (November 20, 1943): Marines faced immediate resistance as they landed on the coral reefs and were forced to wade to shore under heavy fire, leading to significant casualties.
- Intense Combat (November 20-23, 1943): Marines systematically captured Japanese defensive positions in brutal close-quarters combat, facing fanatical resistance from the defenders.
- Island Secured (November 23, 1943): After three days of fierce fighting, the island was declared secure, though isolated pockets of resistance continued.
5. Major Tactics or Deception
- United States' Amphibious Tactics: The assault highlighted issues with tidal calculations and pre-assault bombardments, leading to troops landing on the reef and having to wade to shore under fire, which revised future amphibious assault tactics.
- Japanese Defensive Strategy: Utilized the terrain effectively, creating interlocking fields of fire and fortifying the island with obstacles and strong points to maximize defensive capabilities.
6. Causes of Victory and Defeat
- Victory (United States): Despite initial setbacks, the sheer tenacity and courage of the Marines, combined with superiority in numbers and firepower, overwhelmed the Japanese defenders.
- Defeat (Japan): While the defenders were well-prepared, their inability to reinforce or retreat made their ultimate defeat inevitable once the Marines established a beachhead.
7. Relevance of the Principles of War
This battle underscored the principles of surprise, mass, and objective. Although the initial surprise was not in the Americans' favor, their ability to mass sufficient forces on the objective eventually secured victory.
8. Conclusion/Summary
The Battle of Tarawa was a stark demonstration of the brutal realities of amphibious warfare and shaped American tactics in subsequent Pacific operations. It was both a tactical lesson in the difficulties of island-hopping campaigns and a strategic victory that facilitated further Allied advances across the Central Pacific.
No comments:
Post a Comment