The Battle of Tarawa was a major engagement during the Pacific War of World War II, fought on Tarawa Atoll from November 20 to November 23, 1943. It marked the second time the United States took the offensive after the Guadalcanal campaign, and it was the first offensive in the strategically critical central Pacific region. This was a fierce battle with heavy casualties on both sides.

The U.S. invasion force was the largest ever assembled for a single operation in the Pacific, consisting of 17 aircraft carriers, 12 battleships, 8 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, 66 destroyers, and 36 transports. Approximately 35,000 Marines and soldiers participated in the landing and capture of the atoll, defended by 4,800 Japanese soldiers and 1,200 Koreans, who were employed in construction and support roles.

The Japanese forces recognized the strategic importance of the Gilbert Islands and devoted considerable effort to fortifying the island.

THE BATTLE

The defense of the island was entrusted to the 7th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Forces, consisting of 2,619 elite Japanese marines equipped with 14 Type 95 light tanks. To strengthen their defenses, 1,247 men from the 111th Pioneers (similar to the U.S. Seabees), 970 men from the 4th Fleet Construction Battalion, and about 1,200 forced laborers brought from Korea worked on the fortifications.

A total of 500 pillboxes, barricades, and forty artillery pieces were scattered around the island. An airfield was built in the jungle at the highest point of the island. Trenches connected strategic points, enabling troop movement when needed.

Vice Admiral Shibazaki Keiji, commanding the garrison, boasted that "it would take a million men and a hundred years" to conquer Tarawa. He died at his command post during the battle.

* Atoll: A small coral island in the shape of a ring, with an interior lagoon connected to the sea through narrow channels.

After an initial phase of naval bombardment and targeted aerial attacks, an amphibious landing was carried out by the 2nd Marine Division, reinforced by elements of the 27th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army.

In the following days, the Marines gradually gained ground until the atoll was fully captured. The Marines suffered 1,009 fatalities and 2,101 wounded, while the Navy incurred 687 casualties. Japanese defenders lost 4,690 men, with only one officer and 16 soldiers captured, along with 129 Korean laborers.

Despite U.S. forces being seven times larger, the Japanese inflicted substantial losses. However, lessons learned at Tarawa would later be applied to the battle of Iwo Jima.

UNIFORMS

The Marine depicted here is a lieutenant wearing the reversible 1942 DUCK HUNTER camouflage jacket, with green and sand tones, matching the M1 helmet cover. The trousers are the green OD 1941 HBT (HerringBone Twill) model. The eight-eyelet “Boondocker” boots, made of leather, were typically paired with gaiters. Uniform regulations specified that trousers should be tucked into the gaiters, but for comfort in combat, they were often worn over them.

EQUIPMENT

The equipment of this Marine includes the following: M1936 belt, M1916 (M1) pistol holster for the Colt 1911, two M1923 pistol magazine pouches, canteen cover, and M1941 metal canteen. M1942 first aid pouch, Ka-Bar combat knife, magazine pouch, three 30-round magazines for the Thompson. If suspenders are worn, the model is M1918, and as an officer, the most commonly used backpack was the M1936 musette bag, also used by airborne troops. The most common backpack among regular troops was the M1941 model.

WEAPONS

Weapons used were diverse. A key option was the M1 Garand rifle, which could be fitted with a grenade launcher for anti-tank grenades (M-9A1), high-explosive grenades (M-17), and white phosphorus grenades (M-19). Other options included the Thompson 1928 A1 submachine gun, the "Grease Gun" M3, the BAR M1918-2 light machine gun, and the Colt 1911 pistol, or none at all.

For explosives, the most common was the Mk IIA1 grenade, often enhanced with a 230g TNT charge for greater effectiveness against Tarawa’s fortifications. Other types included the Mk IIIA1 grenade, AN-M14 incendiary grenades, M-15 white phosphorus grenades, Mk 1 illumination grenades, and AN-M-8 white smoke canisters for concealment.

1. M1 helmet cover (1942 model)

2. 1942 DUCK HUNTER reversible camouflage jacket

3. M1936 belt

4. Ka-Bar combat knife

5. M1923 pistol magazine pouches

6. Thompson 1928 A1 

7. 1941 OD HBT trousers

8. Gaiters

9. Eight-eyelet “Boondocker” boots