The Battle For The Marshall Islands Essay

, Research Paper

The Battle for the Marshall Islands byPete Godbey Military History SS-305Professor BraimApril 9, 1999 The Marshall Islands consist of 32 coral atolls, which span 800 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. They are separated into two chains, the Ratak on the east, and Ralik on the west. Each atoll is an enclosed or semi-enclosed reef on which islands and islets of coral, sand and rock have been built naturally. They range in size from pinpoint islets, like Kili, to Kwajalein, the largest atoll in the world. The first know white man to sight the Marshall Islands was a Spaniard, Garcia de Loyassa, in 1526. Spain assumed nominal possession of the islands at the same time she annexed the Carolines and Marianas, in 1686, but they were virtually forgotten until 1788 when two Englishmen, Captains Marshall and Gilbert, explored the Marshall atolls and those of a neighboring group which were, logically, named the Gilberts (Crown and Heinl 6-8). In 1878, Germany, in a belated quest for an empire, became interested in Spain’s Pacific possessions, and encouraged her energetic traders to establish themselves in the Marshalls. Twenty-one years later, Spain sold the Carolines, Marianas (except for Guam), and Marshalls to Germany for 4 million dollars. German colonization was interrupted in 1914 when Japan, acting as an ally of Great Britain, moved in occupation forces. The League of Nations in 1920 recognized Japan’s control by giving that nation a class C mandate over the Marshalls, a mandate which specifically forbids military and naval installations. When Japan left the League in 1935 they declared absolute sovereignty over them and forbid visit from foreigners (Crown and Heinl 9-12). The importance of the Marshalls was long recognized by both American and Japanese planners. To Japan these atolls were a geographical shield, unsinkable aircraft carriers to serve as a line of departure for attack, or an outpost line of resistance in defense. America saw them as a menacing extension of Japanese power toward the eastern Pacific and a standing hazard to lines of communication into the South and Southwest Pacific. It was known that any Japanese offensive in the Middle Pacific would be supported from there. The American military prewar plan for a war with Japan, code named ORANGE, conceded the initial loss of the Philippines. It called for the fleet to drive westward through the Marshalls and Carolines and on to recapture the Philippines (Crowl and Love 4). However, with the beginning of hostilities in 1941, the United States was forced onto a strategically defensive which continued until mid-1943. Victories at Midway, in the South and Southwest Pacific, and a drive on the Aleutians finally put the United States on an offensive footing. On the other hand, the original Japanese plan for defensive, the “Z” plan, called for a lengthy defensive front across the Aleutians, Wake, Marshalls, Gliberts, and Nauru. This front was later pulled in tighter as Japanese experienced troubles in Southeast Asia. However, the Marshalls were not forgotten, the Japanese chose them to be the first line of defense in the middle Pacific. Their function was to impede, if not stop, any westward attack which might threaten the inner defensives (Crowl and Love 65). The decision to attack the Marshalls formally came in 1943. It was decided that the attack in the Central Pacific was needed. It would serve to secure the lines of communication to the Southwest Pacific, protect the flank of Southwest Pacific forces, and make the Japanese further split their reserves by adding another front (Crowl and Love 210). This would also allow for an advance along the most direct avenue to the Japanese mainland. “Thus,” Admiral Nimiz, who was commander in charge of the Pacific, said “We get on with the war.” Before the Marshalls were to be attacked, the Gilbert Islands were to be taken. This included the invasion of Tarawa, the first real amphibious operation taken by the U.S. A lot of lessons were learned at Tarawa, and those lessons changed many of the plans for the attack on the Marshalls. With these teachings, it was decided that Majuro atoll was to be taken first to provide communication support and protected anchorage. Next, there was to be a bombardment of Wotje, Maloelp, and Mille to neutralize them, then the capture of Kwajalein atoll, then the assault on Eniwetok atoll, and finally a cleanup and continued bombing operation of the leftovers (Crown and Heinl 25). Majuro, which was though to be very lightly defended, was to be first major atoll taken. It is about 24 miles long and generally extends east to west. A small force consisting of a reconnaissance platoon and a mortar platoon were sent to search Calalin and Eroj at night on the 30th of January. Soon after landing on Calalin the scout group found a native that reported 300-400 Japanese on Darrit Island. They preceded across Calalin and reached the main native settlement. There it was corrected that all Japanese had left some months before except for a Japanese naval warrant officer and a handful of civilians on Majuro Island. A detachment of the mortar platoon then went to Eroj Island to find it unoccupied (Crown and Heinl 41-43). However, bad news travels faster than good, and the correct of the amount of Japanese was not relayed quickly to the attack force commander. So, early in the next morning, aerial and naval bombardment began at 0637 and lasted until 0645 before