Beating Betio PTO (id:#62991)

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Betio Island, Tarawa 1943-11-23 (9 others)

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Overview:

The day dawned over a corpse strewn landscape of scorched and shell-pocked sand, shredded coconut palms and smashed pillboxes. The Marines had fought hard for the island and victory was now an achievable objective. Lt. Col. McLeod, CO 3rd Battalion, was ordered to move down the tail end of the island until all enemy resistance had been eliminated. Carrier aircraft and the guns of the destroyers lying off the southern shore had already added their weight with a fifteen minute barrage. Spreading his force across the 300 yard width of the island, McLeod moved out at around 8am, supported by two Sherman tanks, Cecilia and Colorado, and seven light tanks from C Company, 2nd Tank Tank Battalion. Ahead of them lay a maze of dug-outs, blockhouses and log emplacements, where an estimated 500 of the enemy were preparing to sell their lives dearly.

Defender: Japanese (Gilbert Islands Garrison Force with Banzai Units)  

Errata (source)