Makin Island raid

forces, 2nd Battalion Raiders, moved their forces through the line of departure via submarine and rubber boat. The USS Argonaut (SM-1)(EX-V4) and USS Nautilus (SS-168)(EX-V6) transported rubber inflatable motor boats to the Makin Atoll (Carlson’s Marine Raiders: Makin Island 1942, Gordon L. Rottman 24-25). The transit of the troops took around 9 days from Pearl Harbor due to its winding path to avoid obvious detection. Submarines held position within 500 yds of the reef line to deploy troops and

Introduction to the Marine Raiders In 1942, World War II had been raging for three years. The United States of America have declared war upon the Axis powers following the devastating Japanese attack upon Pearl Harbor. At this point in the war the Allies are in a grave situation. German forces have pushed the British off mainland Europe, and the Japanese have conquered much of the Pacific region, coming increasingly nearer to the American mainland. In order to combat this rising threat, the American

Marines. The 886 IJN personnel defending the naval and seaplane bases on the three islands stubbornly resisted the Marine attacks. With much difficulty, the Marines secured all three islands; Tulagi on 8 August, and Gavutu and Tanambogo by 9 August.The Japanese defenders were killed nearly to the very last man, while the Marines took casualties of 122 killed. The Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, from November 1943 through February 1944, were strategic operations for the United

2 was a gruesome war that had a terrible outcome. Millions of people were killed. Cities were destroyed. Countries were bankrupted. During this war, the US played a significant role. The US had a major strategy called Island Hopping, in which the US would take over islands in the Philippines while slowly moving towards striking distance of Japan. Another important happening in this was not necessarily a slow moving conquering, but a date. This day was D-Day. A few years in through World

Pacific theater. The attack on Pearl Harbor was the final straw that convinced the United States to enter against both the Germans and the Japanese. With the two opposing forces having most of their conquered territory right on the ocean, especially the island campaigns of the Japanese, it became imperative for the amphibious landings of the Marines to be perfected and two Marine officers were tasked.      Evans Carlson, the son of a congregational minister, enlisted underage

On April 22, Mac Arthur surprised the Japanese by attacking hollandia and taking the village of Aitape. Nearly all-Japanese air power was destroyed and their eighteenth army was forced to retreat into the jungle. Battle for the Island of Biak ( May 27 1944 – July 29 1944 ) This battle was a turning point in Japanese military Strategy. The Japanese practice is to meet the invaders beachhead, and if unsuccessful, they proceed to launch suicidal Banzai charges at the enemy’s position

degree of strategic, physical, and political and/or diplomatic risk; operational techniques; modes of employment; and dependence on intelligence and indigenous assets.” The U.S. Marine Corps performed special operations from its inception: The 1776 raid on New Providence in the Bahamas provides an early example. In the twentieth century’s “Banana Wars,” Marines battled insurgents, advised and led friendly local forces, and provided civil governance

All U.S. aircraft carriers were elsewhere. On November 26 a Japanese task force, consisting of 6 carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, and several destroyers and tankers under command of Vice Adm. Chuichi Nagumo, departed in secret from the Kuril Islands. Observing radio silence, it reached a launching point at 6 AM, December 7. At 7:50 AM, the first wave of Japanese planes struck Pearl Harbour, bombarding airfields and battleships moored at the concrete quays. A second wave followed. The surprise

Once the official orders made its way, the Raiders realized they would have less than thirty days to plan, train and execute this mission. Furthermore, Carlson was told by Admiral Nimitz, “We are short of men, short of ship, and short of planes, ” as he was notified that he would only be allotted two submarines, the Nautilus and the Argonaut and they would not be ready until two days prior to departure from Pearl Harbor Hawaii. Moreover, the submarines could only accommodate part of the Raider unit