A Toe Hold on Red Beach 3 PTO (id:#65458)

(From The Cellar Pack #10 ID: FT295)   [next]   [previous]

Betio, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Island 1943-11-20 (26 others)

Overview:

Major Crowe, in command of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, landing on Red Beach 3, was able to reach his beach with the majority of his force mostly intact, suffering only 25 casualties on the run in, despite enfilading fire from portions on the pier, yet to be cleared by the scout-snipers and combat engineers. Red Beach 3’s defenses were also not as formidable as those on the other two beaches to his right, in large part because the seawall was not fully completed. This enabled his Marines to make headway over the wall and even to proceed southwards, although coordinating tank-infantry teams was impossible, and Crowe had to settle for sending a platoon of tanks on a search and destroy mission south. Meanwhile, Crowe’s Easy Company, in three LVTs, under the command of Lt. Edmonds, a veteran of Guadalcanal, came ashore along the right flank of Red Beach 3 and was able to sweep aside the enemy defenses along the north shore sand berm. The LVTs then moved inland to unload his company near the main runway. To Crowe’s left however, Japanese defenses thwarted all efforts to expand his beachhead in that direction.

Defender: Japanese (3rd Special Base Defense Force)  

Errata (source)