History of U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II
Volume 3: Central Pacific Drive
by
Henry I. Shaw, Jr.,
Bernard C. Nalty,
Edwin T. Turnbladh
Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1966
. . . For Those Who Served
Table of Contents
Part 1: Launching the Central Pacific Offensive
Chapter 1: Early Plans for a War with Japan
Chapter 2: The Central Pacific in Global Strategy
Chapter 3: The Central Pacific Battleground
Part 2: The Gilberts Operation
Chapter 1: Preparing to Take the Offensive
Chapter 2: The Assault on Betio
Chapter 4: Completing the Capture
Chapter 5: The Importance of GALVANIC
Part 3: The Marshalls: Quickening the Pace
Chapter 1: FLINTLOCK Plans and Preparations
Chapter 2: D-Day in the Marshalls
Chapter 3: FLINTLOCK: Completing the Conquest
Chapter 4: Westward to Eniwetok
Chapter 5: The CATCHPOLE Operation
Chapter 6: The Fruits of Victory
Part 4: Saipan: The Decisive Battle
Chapter 1: Background to FORAGER
Chapter 2: American and Japanese Preparations
Chapter 3: Saipan: The First Day
Chapter 4: The Conquest of Southern Saipan
Chapter 5: The Fight for Central Saipan
Chapter 6: Northern Saipan: End of the Campaign
Part 5: Assault on Tinian
Chapter 1: The Inevitable Campaign
Chapter 3: Southward on Tinian
Part 6: The Return to Guam
Chapter 3: Consolidating a Foothold
Chapter 4: Continuing the Offensive
Chapter 5: Seizure of Northern Guam
Chapter 6: Finish in the Marianas
Appendices
Appendix A: Bibliographical Notes
Appendix B: Guide to Abbreviations (omitted)
Appendix C: Military Map Symbols (omitted)
Appendix E: Fleet Marine Force Status, 30 October 1943
Appendix F: Table of Organization F-100—Marine Division
Appendix G: Marine Task Organization and Command List
Appendix I: Unit Commendations
I. Scene of Battle 1943–1944
II. Betio Island, Showing Main Japanese Defenses
III. Betio Island, Landing and Situation 1800, 20 November
IV. Betio Island, Situation 1800 D+3
V. Roi and Namur Islands, Japanese Defenses Based on Post-Battle Study
VI. Banzai Attack
VII. W-Day on Guam, 21 July 1944
VIII. Japanese Counterattack Plan, 25–26 July 1944
Inline Maps
1. Gilbert Islands
2. Tarawa Atoll, November 1943
3. Betio Island, 21–22 November 1943
4. Makin Island, Showing Landings 20 November 1943
5. Conquest of Tarawa Atoll
6. Apamama Atoll
7. Marshall Islands
8. Kwajalein (Carillon) Atoll
9. Capture of Roi, 1 February 1944
10. Capture of Namur, 1–2 February 1944
11. Kwajalein Island, 14 February 1944
12. Eniwetok (Downside) Atoll
13. Seizure of Eniwetok Atoll, 18–22 February 1944
14. Southern Marianas
15. Saipan, Showing Japanese Defense Sectors
16. D-Day at Saipan
17. Saipan, 16–22 June 1944
18. Saipan, 23–30 June 1944
19. Saipan, 2–4 July 1944
20. Saipan, 5–8 July 1944
21. Tinian and Southern Saipan, Showing Japanese Defense Sectors and American Artillery Groupments
22. Tinian, 24–26 July 1944
23. Tinian, 27 July–1 August 1944
24. Guam, Showing Terrain Relief
25. Guam, Showing Japanese Dispositions, 21 July 1944
26. Southern Beachhead, 22–24 July 1944
27. 3rd Marine Division Progress, 22–26 July 1944
28. Capture of Orote Peninsula, 25–30 July 1944
29. Guam, 28 July–4 August 1944
30. Guam, 5–10 August 1944
31. Schematic Sketch of Japanese Tank Action in 3rd Marines Zone, 8–10 August
Illustrations
Betio Island Two Weeks After the Battle—Assault Troops on Betio—Damaged LVTs at Betio—Rubber Raft Carrying Wounded Marines—Squad Leader Points Out the Enemy—Reinforcements Wade Ashore at Betio—Machine Gun Ammunition Bearers—Flamethrower Smoke Over a Japanese Bombproof—Light Tanks and Artillery Leave Betio—Soldiers of 2/165 Assault Makin—Roi-Namur Under Bombing Attack—105-mm Ammunition Being Unloaded At Menu Island—24th Marines at Namur—Marine Light Tank on Namur—Japanese Prisoners on Roi-Namur—Army 37-mm Antitank Gun on Kwajalein—Marine 105-mm Howitzers Set Up to Fire on Engebi—22nd Marines Assault Waves Approach Engebi—Navy Fighter Attacks at Eniwetok Atoll—Marine Heavy Machine Guns on Eniwetok Island—Navy Corpsmen on Eniwetok Island—Riflemen of 22nd Marines on Parry Island—Marianas Invasion Force at Eniwetok—Fire Team on Saipan—Japanese Medium Tanks Knocked Out at Saipan—Hand Grenades Tossed by Marines on Saipan—Skirmish Line of 27th Division Infantrymen—Marines Dig In on Saipan—Company CP in Garapan—Truck-Mounted Rocket Launchers—Flame Tank Hits Enemy Cave on Saipan—Observation Plane Over Northern Saipan—Supporting Cruiser Fires on Tinian—Medium Tanks Land on Tinian—2nd Division Marines Advance on Tinian—Machine Gun on a Half-track Lays Down Searching Fire—Pack Howitzer Fires on Enemy Caves on Tinian—3rd Division Assault Troops on the Asan Beaches—Flamethrower Blasts Enemy Dugout on Guam—Shermans and Riflemen of the 1st Brigade Advance—Firing Line of 3rd Division Riflemen—Pontoon Barge Off Guam—Guamanian Women in Refugee Camp—Column of 305th Infantry Moves Cross-Island—Jungle Trail Scouted by Marine Tanks and Infantry—Army Tanks Hit and Aflame At Yigo—Jungle Patrol Near Tarague—Corsairs of MAG-21 on Orote Airfield—B-29s Approach North Field on Guam