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Preliminary Attacks

Planners of Operation Galvanic wanted to take Betio quickly, before the Japanese could bring what were believed to be powerful submarine and air forces into the arena. To preserve strategic surprise, they ruled out concentrated air and naval bombardment until immediately before the assault.

On Nov. 17-18, planes and ships from the Navys Southern Carrier Group bombed islands throughout the Gilberts to keep the enemy confused about where the assault would come. While these raids took out some of Betios guns, their most significant
benefit was that they caused the Japanese to shoot off ammunition. On Nov. 20, Betios defenders had only 4,800 rounds of 75-mm and 127-mm antiaircraft ammunition, and 15,000 rounds of 13-mm machine gun bullets.

Research for this fact sheet was provided by Alexander Molnar, U.S. Marine Corps/U.S. Army (Ret.).

Source: Marine Corps History

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(Preliminary Attacks)