Marshalls-Gilberts raids

Marshalls–Gilberts raids
Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II
A bomb-laden SBD-2 Dauntless dive bomber prepares to take off from the U.S. carrier Enterprise during the raids on February 1.
Date February 1, 1942 Location Marshall and Gilbert Islands, Micronesia 10°00′00″N 170°00′00″E / 10.000°N 170.000°E / 10.000; 170.000Coordinates: 10°00′00″N 170°00′00″E / 10.000°N 170.000°E / 10.000; 170.000 Result Minor damage to Japanese garrisons
Belligerents
United States	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
William Halsey, Jr. Frank Jack Fletcher	Shigeyoshi Inoue Eiji Gotō
Strength
2 aircraft carriers, 133 aircraft	51 aircraft
Casualties and losses
1 cruiser damaged, 14 aircraft destroyed	3 auxiliary ships sunk, 1 minelayer, 1 light cruiser damaged, 4 transports, 2 auxiliary ships damaged, 18 aircraft destroyed

The Marshalls–Gilberts raids were tactical airstrikes and naval artillery attacks by United States Navy aircraft carrier and other warship forces against Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) garrisons in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands on 1 February 1942. The Japanese garrisons were under the overall command of Vice Admiral Shigeyoshi Inoue, commander of the 4th Fleet. Japanese aircraft in the islands belonged to the IJN's 24th Air Flotilla under Rear Admiral Eiji Gotō. The U.S. warship forces were under the overall command of Vice Admiral William Halsey, Jr.

The raids were carried out by two separate U.S. carrier task forces. Aircraft from Task Force 17 (TF 17), commanded by Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher and centered on the carrier USS Yorktown, attacked Jaluit, Mili, and Makin (Butaritari) islands. The Yorktown aircraft inflicted moderate damage to the Japanese naval installations on the islands and destroyed three aircraft. Seven Yorktown aircraft were lost, as well as a floatplane from one of TF 17's cruisers.

Aircraft from TF 8, commanded by Halsey and centered on the carrier USS Enterprise, struck Kwajalein, Wotje, and Taroa. At the same time, cruisers and destroyers bombarded Wotje and Taroa. The strikes inflicted light to moderate damage on the three islands' naval garrisons, sank three small warships and damaged several others, including the light cruiser Katori, and destroyed 15 Japanese aircraft. The heavy cruiser USS Chester was hit and slightly damaged by a Japanese aerial bomb, and six Enterprise aircraft were lost. TFs 8 and 17 retired from the area immediately upon completion of the raids.

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