Battle of Tarawa order of battle

Worse, American planners at Pearl Harbor had grievously misjudged the timing of high tide at Betio, leaving the landing craft stranded on the shallow coral reefs where the Marines were slaughtered.

Since the Gilberts and Marshalls lie in the Central Pacific, their capture was the responsibility of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, led by Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance from aboard his flagship, heavy cruiser Indianapolis.

Unbeknownst to the Americans, the Japanese had stripped almost all their naval and air assets from the Marshalls in an attempt to resist the Allied effort in the Central Solomons.

2nd Marine Division Major General Julian C. Smith Gilbert Islands defense forces Rear Admiral Keiji Shibazaki (KIA 20 Nov) Approx.

5,000 total men under arms Orders of battle involving United States Marine forces in the Pacific Theatre of World War II: