The Battle of Kwajalein was fought as part of the Pacific campaign of World War II.It took place from 31 January – 3 February 1944, on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.Employing the hard-learned lessons of the Battle of Tarawa, the United States launched a successful twin assault on the main islands of Kwajalein in the south and Roi-Namur in the north. ‘No systematic training of army tanks in conjunction with small infantry units was attempted,’ an Army historian wrote.
The engineer then admitted that he had not seen any Japanese but had only heard firing.
Lying east of the Marshall Islands, Makin would make an excellent seaplane base, extending Japanese air patrols closer to Howland Island, Baker Island and Ellice Islands–all held by the Allies–and protecting the eastern flank of the Japanese perimeter from an Allied attack.As the sun went down, the attack was halted by order of General Ralph Smith, who had come ashore at 1800 to establish the 27th Division headquarters in the 165th Regiment’s command post. All but two of A Company’s 15 tanks reached shore safely. In September 1943, however, the 27th’s target changed. ‘In the early morning light they climbed down rope cargo nets into the waiting LCVPs [landing craft, vehicle and personnel],’ an Army historian wrote. South and east of the Ellice Islands lieFiji and Samoa, which in turn straddle the critical shipping lanes between the United Statesand Australia. In one instance, a group of Japanese followed some natives passing through American lines, imitating baby cries as they came. February 1, 1942 - First U.S. aircraft carrier offensive of the war as YORKTOWN and ENTERPRISE conduct air raids on Japanese bases in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. ‘We got out of that and went about 15 yards and hit another. When daylight came on November 23, 1943, 51 Japanese dead were found in front of the American guns, representing the bulk of the remaining Japanese garrison on Butaritari. Only a few Japanese, mostly labor troops and airmen, were encountered and quickly silenced.David Sanborn, Grammy-winning jazz saxophonist ("Inside," "Close-Up").While the men trained, planning for the landing operation continued.
Japanese casualties were 550 men killed and 105 prisoners of war, all but one of whom all but one were labor troops.The 165th shifted its full attention to securing the remainder of Butaritari Island. The 2nd Battalion held the center of the island from Yellow Beach to the west tank barrier and across the island to the ocean. ASIN B0007FBB8I.
The Navy also built a fleet anchorage and medical facilities.In the aftermath of these battles most of the smaller atolls in the Marshalls were conquered, mainly without any fighting. Thomas E. Valentine of E Company later said. Without aircraft, ships or hope of reinforcement or relief, the outnumbered and outgunned defenders could only hope to delay the coming American attack for as long as possible.Shortly after dark, however, the Japanese attacked the 3rd Battalion’s perimeter.