Tarawa

20.11.1943 - 23.11.1943

PacPG: 20.11.1943 - 23.11.1943

Scenario Map:

When you move the mouse pointer over the map, unit name, strength and coordinates are displayed as a label. When you press terrain button object name is displayed (city, river, sea, ...)

Changes and corrections of map:

Original map:

When you move the mouse pointer over the map object (city, river, ...), its name, coordinates, optionally flag are displayed as a label

Historic overview:

Operation codename: Galvanic The island of Betio, the principal target of attack, is located in the southwest corner of Tarawa Atoll. Has an area of about two and a half square miles, but almost every square meter of the surface had been fortified by Japaneses. In widest central part of the island they put the 1400 m long takeoff runway and a triangle drawn taxiways. Rest of the island covered with coconut palms and hid them under a perfect defense system ... (Miloš Hubáček - Ofenziva v Pacifiku, Mladá fronta, 2000) Article on Czech Wikipedia Article on English Wikipedia Scenario in dates: December 9, 1941: In the Pacific - Gilbert Islands, Tarawa and Makin are occupied by the Japanese. August 17, 1942: Gilbert Islands - A raiding unit of the US Marine Corps, in which James Roosevelt, the eldest son of the US President, also serves, attacks the seaplane base on Makin Island, landing from submarines USS Argonaut (SM-1) and USS Nautilus (SS-168). The purpose of the raid is to get intelligence and to draw Japanese attention from Guadalcanal, but none of them succeed, and the action, on the contrary, leads to the later fortification of the Gilbert Islands by the Japanese and the American losses during their attack. However, the operation boosts morale and tests Raider tactics. The war film Gung Ho! will be made about this event during the war, with attack commander Evans Carlson as a technical advisor during production. August 11, 1943: Central Pacific - US Army defense forces occupy remote, deserted Baker Island in preparation for a campaign against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Construction of an airfield for B-24 bombers and P-40 fighters begins immediately. August 25, 1943: In the United States - In Camp Elliot, California, the V Amphibious Corps is formed, the core of which is the three Divisions of the Marine Corps (3rd, 4th, and 5th), and becomes the striking amphibious force of the 5th Fleet. Headed by one of the most competent, General Holland McTyeire Smith. It is the commander who since the outbreak of war directed extensive training of the US Army, Navy and Marines in amphibious combat, which subsequently became the main factor of successful American landings in the Pacific and Atlantic. The corps under his leadership will gradually conquer the Gilbert, Marshall and Marian Islands, eventually Iwo Jima and General Smith will retire after the war, recognized a the "father" of modern U.S. amphibious warfare. September 1, 1943: In the Central Pacific - US forces land on Baker Island and build an air strip within a week. This action is to support the campaign in the Gilbert Islands. September 17, 1943: Over the Gilbert Islands - American land-based Liberator bombers attack the island of Tarawa. September 18, 1943: Over the Gilbert Islands - American planes from the carriers USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Princeton (CVL-23) and USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) attack the island of Tarawa. Admiral Pownall commands the carrier force. September 19, 1943: Over the Gilbert Islands - American land-based Liberator bombers attack the atoll of Tarawa. November 13, 1943: In the Gilbert Islands - American B-17 Flying Fortresses bomb Tarawa atoll in preparation for the coming landings. November 18, 1943: Carolina Archipelago - In attacking the Japanese Truk convoy, US submarine USS Sculpin (SS-191) is sunk by destroyer Yamagumo. Part of the survivors are taken captive, but Captain John P. Cromwell, commander of a wolf pack of submarines patrolling before Truk and knows the plans for upcoming operation Galvanic, the secrets of breaking the Japanese secret codes, and long-term Allied strategic plans in the head, voluntarily sinks with the ship. November 19, 1943: In the Gilbert Islands - Carrier aircraft of US Task Force 50 (Admiral Pownall) raid Mili, Tarawa, Makin and Nauru as a prelude to landings. Four carrier groups are engaged in the operation. There are 11 carriers, 5 battleships and 6 cruisers in the American task force. November 20, 1943: In the Gilbert Islands - American forces begin amphibious assaults. On the Tarawa Atoll, the 2nd Marine Division (General J. C. Smith) lands on Betio Island. Task Force 53 (Admiral Hill) provides naval support with 3 battleships and 4 cruisers and air support from 4 escort carriers. Of the 5000 American troops in the initial landing 1500 become casualties. The Japanese garrison consists of 4800 troops under the command of Admiral Shibasaki, supported by 50 artillery pieces and 14 light tanks Type 95. On Makin Atoll, the US 27th Infantry Division (General RC Smith) lands on Butaritari. Task Force 52 (Admiral Turner) provides naval support with 4 battleships and 4 cruisers and air support from 3 escort carriers. Meanwhile, the USS Independence (CVL-22) from Task Force 50 is hit by an aerial torpedo. November 21, 1943: In New Guinea - Attacks of the Australian 9th Division around Sattelberg gradually gain their objectives. November 21, 1943: In the Gilbert Islands - On Tarawa Atoll, more American troops (of the 2nd Marine Divison) land on Betio Island. There are heavy casualties initially. However, by noon some progress is being made in successfully landing more troops. Other American units land on Bairiki Island. On Makin Atoll, elements of the US 27th Infantry Division begin to advance on Butaritari Island. November 22, 1943: In the Gilbert Islands - On the Tarawa Atoll, there is heavy fighting. The American marines are advancing. On Makin Atoll, the American infantry occupy most of Butaritari by nightfall. On Abimama Atoll, there are American landings. November 23, 1943: In the Gilbert Islands - On Tarawa Atoll, the battle ends by noon. The US marines have suffered 1000 killed and 2000 wounded. The Japanese garrison of 4800 troops has been annihilated. A total of 17 wound Japanese troops and 129 Korean laborers are the only survivors. On Makin Atoll, the battle is also completed. American infantry have suffered about 200 dead and wounded. The Japanese have lost about 600 killed, wounded or captured. The total American losses in the Battle of Makin are twice as high as the Japanese, as Japanese I-175 submarine on the coast of Butaritari Island torpedoes the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay (CVE-56), whose subsequent catastrophic explosion kills 600 seamen, including Doris "Dorrie" Miller, the first American black knit in the US Navy decorated with the Naval Cross, for the pride in fighting aboard the battleship of USS West Virginia (BB-48) in an attack on Pearl Harbor. November 26, 1943: Gilbert Islands - At the Tarawa Atoll, defensive fire from Japanese torpedo bombers shots down Edward O´Hare, the US Medal of Honor receiver and the first US Navy fighter ace in World War II. Fateful is becoming another first - in this action leads in his F6F Hellcat the U.S. Navy´s first-ever nighttime fighter attack launched from an aircraft carrier. Even during the war will be in his honor named US destroyer USS O´Hare (DD-889). Literature sources: Jordan, David, Wiest Andrew: Atlas Of World War II.,   Ottovo nakladatelství, 2006, Praha Moskin, J. Robert: The U.S. marine corps story,   Laser - books, 1997, Plzeň . Swanston, Alexander & Malcolm: The Historical Atlas of World War II,   Columbus, 2007, Praha . Šnajdr, Miroslav: Flying Marines,   Akcent, 2015, Třebíč Hrbek, Jaroslav, Hrbek Ivan: Námořní válka vrcholí (War at sea culminates),   Naše vojsko, 1995, Praha Hubáček, Miloš: Ofenzíva v Pacifiku (Offensive in Pacific),   Mladá fronta, 2000, Praha . Newark, Tim: Turing the Tide of War,   Ottovo nakladatelství, 2003, Praha Kolektiv, : War in the Pacific,   Naše vojsko, 2006, Praha Pejčoch, Ivo: Lehký tank Typ 95 Ha-Go (Light tank Type 95 Ha-Go),  HPM No. 1/1994

Game play matters:

Scenario data:

Map size: 68 x 40 hexes 14 turns, 4 turns per day Version: PacPG 1, Starting side: Axis, Campaign: Japanese campaign, Order in campaign: 14.
Axis states:     Japan Allied states:     USA Neutral states:     -
Axis:     defend Allies:     attack
Experience of Axis purchased units:     Experience of Allied purchased units:
Climate region:      Oceania, tropics Weather character in region:      Rain regularly all year round.
Game time costingness of scenario:    18.87 % (product of units and turns numbers divided by difference between the most long and the most short scenario)
Number of Axis units: 79 units, from them are 24 core units and 55 auxiliary units 0 air units, 0 naval units and 79 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 0 to naval transport	Transports Air/Naval: Axis - Allies 0/0 - 2/30
Number of Allied units: 47 units 9 air units, 10 naval units and 28 ground units 0 of units are loaded to air transport and 10 to naval transport	Initial prestige + every turn donation: Axis / Allies 664 + 82 / 200 + 0
Max number of Axis units: 82 units, from them are 27 core units and 55 auxiliary units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 3 unit    (3 core + 0 auxiliary)
Max number of Allied units: 48 units - on start of scenario is possible to purchase 1 units
Transport units: Axis - air:     not available Allies - air:     C-47 Dakota Axis - naval:     not available Allies - naval:     AF Transport

The same time period scenarios:

Map names list:

Tactical map (large & detail):

	Basic map
	Map with unloaded transports and order numbers of units

Battlefield map:

Photographs:

Betio Island



Japanese ligt tank Type Ha-Go on Tarawa



American tanks LVT a Japanese ligt tank Type Ha-Go destroyed on Tarawa