Abstract
The United States began its Central Pacific campaign in November 1943 and named the first campaign Operation Galvanic. The Japanese conquered the Tarawa atoll; part of the Gilbert Islands, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and immediately started to construct an airfield on its largest island Betio. The seventy-six hour battle for Betio was the first amphibious operation against a well-fortified and defended atoll. The human loss of lives for Tarawa was shocking to the American public. The American public was not prepared for the cost involved in pressing an amphibious assault against a strongly held enemy island. The amphibious assault on the Tarawa Atoll at Betio taught the navy and the marines some vital lessons in amphibious warfare that would save thousands of lives in future campaigns.
Tarawa Atoll: Lessons from Betio
The United States began its Central Pacific campaign in November 1943 and named the first campaign Operation Galvanic. Operation Galvanic was the United States attack on Tarawa Atoll, which focused on the largest island of Betio. The seventy-six hour battle for Betio was the first amphibious operation against a well-fortified and defended atoll. Prior to Betio, navy, and marine amphibious operations were untested in atoll assaults. The amphibious assault on the Tarawa Atoll at Betio taught the navy and the marines some vital lessons in amphibious warfare that would save thousands of lives in future campaigns.
Setting the Stage
The Japanese conquered the Tarawa atoll; part of the Gilbert Islands, shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor and immediately started to construct an airfield on its largest island Betio. Additionally, they established formable defensives on and around the island of Betio. The Japanese enhanced the natural defenses, as well. By definition, an atoll is
