5 Oct 1942

Gilbert and Ellice Islands
  • USS S-38 spotted a Japanese tanker at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands and fired three torpedoes at it. The torpedoes struck a lagoon and detonated before they could reach the target. ww2dbase [S-38 | Tarawa | CPC]
15 Oct 1942

Gilbert and Ellice Islands
  • Portland shelled Tarawa Atoll in the Gilberts. The Japanese on Tarawa then execute 22 captured Australian coast-watchers. ww2dbase [Portland | Tarawa | DS]
15 Nov 1943

Photo(s) dated 15 Nov 1943
US Marines aboard a US Coast Guard-manned transport while they traveled for Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Nov 1943
19 Nov 1943

Gilbert and Ellice Islands
  • USS Bailey with Task Force 53 arrived off Tarawa, Gilbert Islands and screened the attacking force over the next several days during the Battle of Tarawa. ww2dbase [Gilbert Islands Campaign | Bailey | Tarawa | DS]
20 Nov 1943

Gilbert and Ellice Islands
  • USS Alabama provided naval gunfire support for the US landing at Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands. ww2dbase [Alabama | Betio, Tarawa | CPC]
  • USS Portland shelled shore positions on Betio Island at Tarawa Atoll in support of the US Marine landings. ww2dbase [Gilbert Islands Campaign | Portland | Tarawa | DS]
Photo(s) dated 20 Nov 1943
Captured Japanese 8-in gun emplacement, which was previously captured from the British at Singapore; Betio, Tarawa Atoll, 20 Nov 1943; photo 1 of 2Captured Japanese 8-in gun emplacement, which was previously captured from the British at Singapore; Betio, Tarawa Atoll, 20 Nov 1943; photo 2 of 2Battleship USS Maryland firing her main guns in the pre-invasion bombardment of Tarawa, 20 Nov 1943. Task Force commander, Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill, at left edge of photo looking through binoculars.
21 Nov 1943

Photo(s) dated 21 Nov 1943
Japanese command post after American shelling and attack, Betio, Tarawa Atoll, 21 Nov 1943US Coast Guard personnel transporting supplies to Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, circa 20-23 Nov 1943; note the wreck of an American LCVP in center of photo

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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Osami Nagano (front row, center), Nobutake Kondo (front row, third from left) at a luncheon at the Tokyo Naval Club, Tokyo, Japan, 6 May 1940

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