Makin Island raid

Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II

U.S. Marines return to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on 26 August 1942, on board the U.S. submarine Nautilus following their raid on Makin Island

Date	17–18 August 1942
Location	Butaritari (Makin Island) in the Pacific Ocean
Result	U.S. tactical victory

Belligerents

United States

Empire of Japan

Commanders and leaders

Chester Nimitz

Evans Carlson

Kōsō Abe

Kyuzaburou Kanemitsu †

Strength

211
2nd Marine Raider Battalion

2 Officers, 69 other ranks, 2 civilians attached
13 aircraft
3 small ships

Casualties and losses

19 killed
9 captured (executed later)
2 missing
17 wounded

46 killed
2 flying boats destroyed
2 small boats sunk

Coordinates: 3°09′00″N 172°50′00″E / 3.15000°N 172.83333°E / 3.15000; 172.83333

The Makin Island Raid (occurred on 17–18 August 1942) was an attack by the United States Marine Corps Raiders on Japanese military forces on Makin Island (now known as Butaritari Island) in the Pacific Ocean. The aim was to destroy Japanese installations, take prisoners, gain intelligence on the Gilbert Islands area, and divert Japanese attention and reinforcements from the Allied landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

The raid was among the first American offensive ground combat operations of World War II. The force was drawn from the 2nd Raider Battalion and comprised a small battalion command group and two of the Battalion's six rifle companies. Because of space limitations aboard ship, each company embarked without one of its rifle sections. Battalion headquarters, A Company and 18 men from B Company—totaling 121 troops—were embarked aboard the submarine Argonaut and the remainder of B Company—totaling 90 men—aboard Nautilus. The raiding force was designated Task Group 7.15 (TG 7.15).

The Makin Atoll garrison was formed in 1942 as part of the Marshall Islands garrison and called the 62nd Garrison Force. At the time of the Makin raid the total force opposing the American landings consisted of 71 armed personnel of the Japanese seaplane base led by Warrant Officer (Heisouchou) Kyuzaburo Kanemitsu of the Special Naval Landing Force equipped with light weapons. In addition there were also four members of the Seaplane Tender base and three members of a meteorological unit. Two civilian personnel were attached to the Japanese forces as interpreters and civilian administrators.

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