Makin Island raid

Makin Island raid
source
Conflict	Makin Island raid
Partof	Pacific War
Date	August 17–18, 1942
Place	Makin Atoll, Gilbert Islands
Result	American tactical victory
Combatant1	United States
Combatant2	Empire of Japan
Commander1	Evans Carlson
Commander2	Kōsō Abe
Units1	2nd Raider Battalion
Units2	Gilbert Islands garrison
Strength1	221 Marines
Strength2	~250–350 personnel
Casualties1	30 killed (18 on raid, 12 in aircraft loss)
Casualties2	160+ killed

Makin Island raid was a United States Marine Corps raid on the Japanese-held Makin Atoll in the Pacific War. Conducted on August 17–18, 1942, by Evans Carlson's 2nd Raider Battalion, the operation aimed to divert Japanese attention from the concurrent Guadalcanal campaign. While achieving its immediate objective, the raid had significant unintended consequences for the strategic situation in the Gilbert Islands.

Background

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the rapid Japanese expansion across the Pacific Ocean, the United States sought to seize the initiative with limited resources. The Gilbert Islands, including Makin Atoll, had been occupied by the Imperial Japanese Navy in late 1941, providing potential seaplane bases that threatened Allied lines of communication. The Battle of Midway in June 1942 had crippled Japanese carrier strength, creating an opportunity for offensive action. American planners, including Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor, conceived a diversionary raid to support the main landing on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The Office of Strategic Services also expressed interest in gathering intelligence on Japanese fortifications.

Planning and preparation

The raid was planned by the staff of the Pacific Ocean Areas command under Nimitz. The 2nd Raider Battalion, a new unit trained in guerrilla warfare and led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson, was selected for the mission. Carlson's executive officer was Major James Roosevelt, son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Raiders embarked on two large fleet submarines, the USS Nautilus (SS-168) and the USS Argonaut (SM-1), at Pearl Harbor. The plan called for a night landing from rubber boats, a swift attack on the Japanese garrison centered on the lagoon shore, and withdrawal before dawn. Rehearsals were minimal due to secrecy and time constraints, a factor that would complicate the operation.

The raid

The submarines surfaced off Makin Atoll after midnight on August 17. Heavy surf swamped several boats, delaying the landing and soaking equipment. The Raiders came ashore and engaged elements of the Gilbert Islands garrison, primarily the 62nd Naval Guard Unit under Kōsō Abe. Fighting was confused and intense around the Japanese headquarters and radio station. Two Japanese Zero fighters from Tarawa strafed the beach, and an IJNAS flying boat was shot down. By afternoon, Carlson believed the mission accomplished and attempted to withdraw. The evacuation became chaotic as rough seas capsized boats, forcing many Raiders to swim out to the submarines. Nine men were accidentally left ashore and later captured and executed by the Japanese on Kwajalein.

Aftermath

The raid succeeded as a diversion, causing the Japanese to redirect aircraft and ships to the Gilbert Islands. However, it revealed the vulnerability of Makin Atoll and prompted a major Japanese reinforcement of the entire archipelago, including the construction of an airfield on Tarawa. This significantly increased the cost of the subsequent Battle of Tarawa in 1943. The loss of 12 Raiders in a subsequent aircraft crash during the return to Hawaii added to the toll. Medals awarded included the Navy Cross to Evans Carlson and several posthumous awards. The nine captured Raiders were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart decades later.

Legacy

The operation demonstrated the strategic potential and high risks of special operations using submarine transport. It provided a morale boost for the American public and the United States Marine Corps following early defeats like the Battle of Bataan. The raid's tactics and lessons influenced the formation of later units such as the Office of Strategic Services Maritime Unit and the post-war United States Navy SEALs. The story of the raid was popularized in the 1943 film *Gung Ho!* starring Randolph Scott. The event is commemorated by the 2nd Raider Battalion memorial and remains a studied case in amphibious warfare curricula at institutions like the United States Naval Academy.

Category:Conflicts in 1942 Category:Pacific War Category:United States Marine Corps in World War II