History of United States Naval Operations in World War II

by Morison, Samuel Eliot

• ISBN13: 9780252070372
• ISBN10: 0252070372
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr

Summary

Volume 7: Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944 describes the two massive amphibious operations organized by Admiral Chester Nimitz to capture the strategically vital Gilbert and Marshall Islands. It also describes the warfare in the remote and frigid Aleutian Islands.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Abbreviations	xxiii
Introduction: Fast Carrier Operations, 1943-1945	xxvii
Commander James C. Shaw
PART I THE RECOVERY OF THE WESTERN ALEUTIANS June 1942-August 1943
Nine Month's Arctic Warfare, 15 June 1942-18 March 1943	3	(19)
Aleutians Situation	3	(6)
Bombardment of Kiska, 7 August	9	(3)
Adak and Amchitka	12	(7)
Bombardment of Attu, 18 February	19	(3)
The Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 26 March 1943	22	(15)
Attu Regained, April-May 1943	37	(15)
Preparations and Approach	37	(4)
The Landings, 11 May	41	(3)
One Week's Struggle	44	(5)
The Final Assault, 19-29 May	49	(3)
The Aleutians Secured, May-October 1943	52	(17)
Airfields and S-boats	52	(2)
Concentrating on Kiska	54	(2)
A Slick Evacuation, 28 July	56	(5)
Bootless Bombardment and Bloodless Occupation	61	(4)
Aleutians Secured	65	(4)
PART II THE GILBERT ISLANDS RECOVERED (Operation ``Galvanic'')
Plans and Preparations	69	(31)
The Spider's Web	69	(10)
Micronesia in Pacific Strategy	79	(6)
Organization and Training	85	(7)
Preliminary Operations	92	(8)
Fast Carrier Strikes, 1 September-6 October
Baker Island Reoccupied
Photographic Reconnaissance
Logistics Afloat in the Pacific	100	(14)
Organization and Approach, November 1943	114	(7)
Makin, 19-29 November 1943	121	(15)
Plan and Initial Landings	121	(6)
Lagoon Landings	127	(5)
Makin Taken	132	(4)
Japanese Reaction and Counterattack, October-November 1943	136	(10)
Tarawa, 19-23 November 1943	146	(29)
The Japanese Defensive System on Betio	146	(3)
Plan, Leaders, Approach	149	(7)
Betio Assaulted, 20 November	156	(7)
``Issue in Doubt''	163	(9)
Betio Secured	172	(3)
Tarawa and Abemama Secured, 24-27 November 1943	175	(12)
Bairiki to Buariki	175	(4)
Abemama	179	(3)
Conclusions and Casualties	182	(5)
Scouting Submarines and Carrier Strikes, 13 November-8 December 1943	187	(14)
Loss of Corvina and Sculpin	187	(2)
Strikes on Kwajalein and Nauru, 4-8 December	189	(12)
PART III THE CONQUEST OF THE MARSHALLS
Getting Set for the Marshalls, June-December 1943	201	(24)
Which Marshalls?	201	(7)
Amphtracs and Logistics	208	(3)
Air and Submarine Preparation	211	(11)
Enemy Preparations	222	(3)
Majuro, 31 January-8 February 1944	225	(5)
Kwajalein (Operation ``Flintlock''), 31 January-7 February 1944	230	(52)
The Atoll, the Plan and the Approach	230	(6)
Initial Landings in the North, 31 January	236	(4)
Roi and Namur, 31 January-2 February	240	(11)
The Southern Attack Force	251	(2)
Initial Landings in the South, 31 January-2 February	253	(4)
The Assault on Kwajalein Island, 1-6 February	257	(15)
Ebeye and Minor Islets, 2-6 February	272	(6)
Conclusion and Comment	278	(4)
Eniwetok (Operation ``Catchpole''), 31 January-4 March 1944	282	(23)
Preliminaries	282	(6)
Engebi, 17-18 February	288	(6)
Eniwetok Island, 19-23 February	294	(6)
Parry, 19-23 February	300	(5)
Marshalls' Mop-up, February-June 1944	305	(10)
Development of Bases	305	(2)
Neutralizing Enemy-held Atolls	307	(3)
Occupation of Minor Atolls	310	(5)
First Strike on Truk (Operation ``Hailstone''), 17-18 February 1944	315	(18)
Appendix I Forces Engaged in the Capture of Attu (Operation ``Landcrab''), 11-29 May 1943	333	(3)
Appendix II Forces Engaged in Gilbert Islands Operation (Operation ``Galvanic''), 10 November-10 December 1943	336	(7)
Appendix III Forces Engaged in Marshall Islands (Operations ``Flintlock'' and ``Catchpole''), 29 January-23 February 1944	343	(9)
Appendix IV Forces Engaged in Strike on Truk, 17-18 February 1944	352	(3)
Index	355