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Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign

Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign
Part of the Pacific War, World War II
SBD VB-16 over USS Washington 1943.jpg

An SBD Dauntless flies patrol over USS Washington and USS Lexington during the Gilbert and Marshall islands campaign.
Date November 1943 – February 1944
Location Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Pacific Ocean
Result US victory
Belligerents
 United States Empire of Japan Japan
Commanders and leaders
United States Chester W. Nimitz
United States Holland Smith
United States Richmond K. Turner
United States Ralph C. Smith
United States Marc A. Mitscher
United States Harry W. Hill
United States Thomas E. Watson (USMC)
Empire of Japan Kōsō Abe
Empire of Japan Kanemitsu
Empire of Japan Keiji Shibazaki 
Empire of Japan Seizo Ishikawa
Empire of Japan Monzo Akiyama 
Empire of Japan Chūichi Hara
Empire of Japan Yoshimi Nishida 
Casualties and losses
3,300 dead or missing,
4,830 wounded
21,000 dead,
141 captured

The Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaign were a series of battles fought from November 1943 through February 1944, in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the United States and the Empire of Japan. They were the first steps of the drive across the central Pacific by the United States Pacific Fleet and Marine Corps. The purpose was to establish airfields and naval bases that would allow air and naval support for upcoming operations across the Central Pacific. Operations Galvanic and Kourbash were the code names for the Gilberts campaign that included the seizures of Tarawa and Makin. Operations Flintlock and Catchpole were aimed at capturing Japanese Bases at Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Majuro in the Marshall Islands.

The Imperial Japanese Navy occupied the Gilbert Islands three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. They built a seaplane base on Makin and dispersed troops along the coastlines of the atolls to monitor the Allied forces' movement in the South Pacific.

Approximately 220 miles (350 km) northwest of the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands were also occupied by the Japanese, and were seen as an important outpost for their navy.

Allied commanders knew that an eventual surrender of Japan would require penetration of these islands. While commander of the U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur wanted to push towards the Philippines via New Guinea, the U.S. Navy's Admiral Chester Nimitz favored a drive across the central Pacific, through the Gilberts, the Marshalls, the Carolines, and eventually the Marianas, which would put American B-29 bombers within range of Tokyo. In addition to forcing the Japanese to fight two fronts against the Allies (Nimitz driving from the east, and MacArthur from the south,) Nimitz's plan would neutralize the outer Japanese defenses, allowing American ground, naval, and air bases to be stationed there for future attacks against other occupied island groups. These outer islands included the atolls of Tarawa and Makin in the Gilberts, and Majuro, Kwajalein, and Eniwetok in the Marshalls.


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