Gilbert Islands naval order of battle
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/Gilbert_Islands_map.png/370px-Gilbert_Islands_map.png)
On 20 November 1943, simultaneous landings were made by United States Marine Corps forces on Tarawa and United States Army forces on Makin, two coral atolls located in the Gilbert Islands chain in the South-Central Pacific.
Unlike at the Allied landings on Guadalcanal the previous fall, the Japanese chose to violently oppose the Marines on the beach at Betio, the principal island of the Tarawa Atoll. These extremely well-planned defenses, combined with unexpected tidal conditions, made the fight for Tarawa one of the most difficult for the Marine Corps of the entire Pacific Theater.
Makin was declared secure on 25 November, Tarawa on 27 November.
The naval forces assigned to capture the Gilberts formed the largest armada yet assembled by either side in the Pacific, considerably larger than the Allied force that mounted the invasion of Guadalcanal and dwarfing the Japanese force that attacked Pearl Harbor.
TF 50 – Carrier Force (Task Force 50):
- 6 fleet carriers, 5 light carriers, 6 fast battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 3 anti-aircraft light cruisers, 21 destroyers
TF 52 – Northern Attack Force (Makin) (Task Force 52):
- 3 escort carriers, 4 old battleships, 4 heavy cruisers, 15 destroyers, 1 minesweeper, 5 transports, 4 landing ships
TF 53 – Southern Attack Force (Tarawa) (Task Force 53):
- 5 escort carriers, 3 old battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 22 destroyers, 2 minesweepers, 16 transports, 4 landing ships
Command structure
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Adm_Chester_Nimitz-1942.jpg/140px-Adm_Chester_Nimitz-1942.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Ray_Spruance_%28cropped%29.jpg/140px-Ray_Spruance_%28cropped%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/R_K_Turner2-Feb44.jpg/140px-R_K_Turner2-Feb44.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Holland-smith-USA-P-Marianas-p194.jpg/140px-Holland-smith-USA-P-Marianas-p194.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Smith_JC.jpg/140px-Smith_JC.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Ralph_C._Smith.jpg/140px-Ralph_C._Smith.jpg)
Naval
The roles of Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA) and Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), were both exercised by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from his headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Since the Gilberts and Marshalls lie in the Central Pacific, their capture was the responsibility of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, led by Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance from aboard his flagship, heavy cruiser Indianapolis.
The ships and troops of Operations Galvanic (landings on Tarawa Atoll) and Kourbash (landings on Makin Atoll) were under direct operational command of Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner aboard old battleship Pennsylvania.
In case Admiral Mineichi Koga attempted to disrupt Fifth Fleet's operations, Spruance was to strip all combat ships not needed to cover the landings, join with the fast carrier forces and engage the Japanese. In the event, Koga's Combined Fleet never stirred from its anchorage at Truk Lagoon in the Carolines.
Ground troops
V Amphibious Corps (Maj. Gen. Holland M. Smith)
- Tarawa: 2nd Marine Division (Maj. Gen. Julian C. Smith)
- Makin: 27th Infantry Division (Army) (Maj. Gen. Ralph C. Smith)
Both Admiral Turner and General Holland Smith sailed with the Northern Attack Force even though it was obvious that Tarawa would be the scene of the main ground action. If the Japanese mounted a counterattack, it was most likely to come from the Marshalls since the closest Japanese bases to the Gilberts were located there. Nimitz and Spruance wanted the two highest-ranking officers to sail with the forces that would be the first to encounter any such enemy response. Unbeknownst to the Americans, the Japanese had stripped almost all their naval and air assets from the Marshalls in an attempt to resist the Allied effort in the Central Solomons. Thus, no counterattack materialized.
Forces afloat
Carrier Force (Task Force 50)
Rear Admiral Charles A. Pownall in fleet carrier Yorktown
Carrier Interceptor Group (Task Group 50.1)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Charles_A._Pownall.jpg/180px-Charles_A._Pownall.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/USS_Lexington_%28CV-16%29_underway_on_20_February_1944.jpg/230px-USS_Lexington_%28CV-16%29_underway_on_20_February_1944.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/USS_Fletcher_%28DD-445%29_off_New_York%2C_1942.jpg/230px-USS_Fletcher_%28DD-445%29_off_New_York%2C_1942.jpg)
Rear Admiral Pownall in Yorktown
- 2 fleet carriers
- Yorktown (Capt. J. J. Clark)
- Air Group 5 (Lt. Cmdr. C. L. Crommelin)
- VF-5: 36 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VB-5: 36 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- VT-5: 18 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 5 (Lt. Cmdr. C. L. Crommelin)
- Lexington (Capt. F. B. Stump)
- Air Group 16 (Lt. Cmdr. E. M. Snowden)
- VF-16: 36 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VB-16: 36 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- VT-16: 18 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 16 (Lt. Cmdr. E. M. Snowden)
- Yorktown (Capt. J. J. Clark)
- 1 light carrier
- Cowpens (Capt. R. P. McConnell)
- Air Group 25 (Lt. R. H. Price)
- VF-25: 24 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VF-6: 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VC-25: 10 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 25 (Lt. R. H. Price)
- Cowpens (Capt. R. P. McConnell)
- Battleship Division 6 (Rear Adm. E. W. Hanson)
- 3 fast battleships
- 1 North Carolina-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): Washington
- 2 South Dakota-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): South Dakota, Alabama[1]
- 3 fast battleships
- Screen (Lr. Cmdr. A. J. Hill)
- 6 destroyers
- All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): La Vallette, Nicholas, Taylor, Charrette, Conner, Izard
- 6 destroyers
Northern Carrier Group (Task Group 50.2)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Adm_Arthur_Radford_1950.jpg/180px-Adm_Arthur_Radford_1950.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Uss_massachusetts_bb.jpg/250px-Uss_massachusetts_bb.jpg)
Rear Admiral Arthur W. Radford in fleet carrier Enterprise
- 1 fleet carrier
- Enterprise (Capt. S. P. Ginder)
- Air Group 6 (Lt. Cmdr. E. H. O'Hare) (killed 26 Nov)
- VF-2: 36 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VB-6: 36 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- VT-6: 18 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 6 (Lt. Cmdr. E. H. O'Hare) (killed 26 Nov)
- Enterprise (Capt. S. P. Ginder)
- 2 light carriers
- Belleau Wood (Capt. A. M. Pride)
- Air Group 24 (Cmdr. R. H. Dale)
- VF-24: 26 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VF-6: 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VC-22B: 9 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 24 (Cmdr. R. H. Dale)
- Monterey (Capt. L. T. Hundt)
- Air Group 30 (Lt. Cmdr. J. G. Sliney, USNR)
- VF-30: 24 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VC-30: 9 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 30 (Lt. Cmdr. J. G. Sliney, USNR)
- Belleau Wood (Capt. A. M. Pride)
- Battleship Division 6 (Rear Adm. G. B. Davis)
- 3 fast battleships
- 1 North Carolina-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): North Carolina
- 2 South Dakota-class (9 × 16-in. main battery): Indiana, Massachusetts
- 3 fast battleships
- Screen (Cmdr. H. F. Miller)
- 6 destroyers
- All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Fletcher, Radford, Jenkins, Boyd, Bradford, Brown
- 6 destroyers
Southern Carrier Group (Task Group 50.3)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ac/Rear_Adm._Alfred_E._Montgomery.jpg/180px-Rear_Adm._Alfred_E._Montgomery.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/08/USS_Independence_%28CV-22%29_underway_in_early_1943.jpg/240px-USS_Independence_%28CV-22%29_underway_in_early_1943.jpg)
Rear Admiral Alfred E. Montgomery in fleet carrier Essex
- 2 fleet carriers
- Essex (Capt. D. B. Duncan)
- Air Group 9 (Cmdr. J. Raby)
- VF-9: 36 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VB-9: 36 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- VT-9: 18 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 9 (Cmdr. J. Raby)
- Bunker Hill (Capt. J. J. Ballentine)
- Air Group 17 (Cmdr. M. P. Bagdanovitch)
- VF-18: 36 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VB-17: 32 Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers
- Air Group 17 (Cmdr. M. P. Bagdanovitch)
- Essex (Capt. D. B. Duncan)
- 1 light carrier
- Independence (Capt. R. L. Johnson)
- Air Group 22 (Cmdr. J. M. Peters)
- VF-22: 16 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VF-6: 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VC-22: 9 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 22 (Cmdr. J. M. Peters)
- Independence (Capt. R. L. Johnson)
- Cruiser Division 5 (Rear Adm. E. G. Small):
- 3 heavy cruisers
- 1 Pensacola-class (10 × 8-in. main battery): Pensacola
- 2 Northampton-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): Salt Lake City, Chester
- 1 anti-aircraft light cruiser
- 1 Atlanta-class (12 × 5-in. main battery)[a]: Oakland
- 3 heavy cruisers
- Screen (Capt. J. T. Bottom):
- 5 destroyers
- All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Erben, Hale, Bullard, Kidd, Chauncey
- 5 destroyers
Relief Carrier Group (Task Group 50.4)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/VAdm_Frederick_C._Sherman.jpg/160px-VAdm_Frederick_C._Sherman.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/USS_San_Juan_%28CL-54%29_off_San_Francisco_on_14_October_1944_%2819-N-90941%29.jpg/220px-USS_San_Juan_%28CL-54%29_off_San_Francisco_on_14_October_1944_%2819-N-90941%29.jpg)
Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman in fleet carrier Saratoga
- 1 fleet carrier
- Saratoga (Capt. J. H. Cassady)
- Air Group 3 (Cmdr. H. H. Caldwell)
- VF-12: 37 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VB-12: 24 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- VT-12: 18 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 3 (Cmdr. H. H. Caldwell)
- Saratoga (Capt. J. H. Cassady)
- 1 light carrier
- Princeton (Capt. G. R. Henderson)
- Air Group 23 (Lt. Cmdr. H. L. Miller)
- VF-23: 24 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- VT-23: 9 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group 23 (Lt. Cmdr. H. L. Miller)
- Princeton (Capt. G. R. Henderson)
- Cruiser Division 2 (Rear Adm. L. J. Wiltse)
- 2 anti-aircraft light cruisers[a]
- Both Atlanta-class (12 × 5-in. main battery): San Diego, San Juan
- 2 anti-aircraft light cruisers[a]
- Screen
- 4 destroyers
- 3 Benham-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Stack, Sterett, Wilson
- 1 Benson-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Edwards
- 4 destroyers
Northern Attack Force (Makin) (Task Group 52)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Richmond_K._Turner.jpg/180px-Richmond_K._Turner.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/USS_Leonard_Wood_%28APA-12%29_underway_off_California_on_28_April_1944.jpg/225px-USS_Leonard_Wood_%28APA-12%29_underway_off_California_on_28_April_1944.jpg)
Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner in old battleship Pennsylvania
Transport Group (Task Group 52.1)
Captain D. W. Loomis
Embarking 165th Regimental Combat Team and 105th Battalion Landing Team
of the 27th Infantry Division
- 4 attack transports: Neville, Leonard Wood, Calvert, Pierce
- 1 attack cargo ship: Alcyone
- 1 landing ship dock: Belle Grove
- Screen
- 4 destroyers
- 2 Fletcher-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Kimberly, Burns
- 1 Farragut-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Dale
- 1 Sims-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Mustin
- 4 destroyers
Fire Support Group (Task Group 52.2)
Rear Admiral Robert M. Griffin in battleship New Mexico
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/USS_Pennsylvania_%28BB-38%29_off_Adak%2C_Alaska%2C_on_12_August_1943_%28SC-245169%29.jpg/230px-USS_Pennsylvania_%28BB-38%29_off_Adak%2C_Alaska%2C_on_12_August_1943_%28SC-245169%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Farragut_class_destroyer_off_Guadalcanal_1942.jpg/230px-Farragut_class_destroyer_off_Guadalcanal_1942.jpg)
- Unit 1
- 2 old battleships
- 1 Pennsylvania-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): Pennsylvania
- 1 New Mexico-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): New Mexico
- 2 heavy cruisers
- Both New Orleans-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): Minneapolis, San Francisco
- 2 destroyers
- Both Farragut-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Dewey, Hull
- 2 old battleships
- Unit 2
- 2 old battleships
- Both New Mexico-class (12 × 14-in. main battery): Mississippi, Idaho
- 2 heavy cruisers
- 1 Baltimore-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): Baltimore
- 1 New Orleans-class (9 × 8-in. main battery): New Orleans
- 2 destroyers
- Both Gridley-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Gridley, Maury
- 2 old battleships
- Unit 3
- 2 destroyers
- 1 Porter-class (8 × 5-in. main battery): Phelps
- 1 Farragut-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): MacDonough
- 2 destroyers
Air Support Group (Task Group 52.3)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/Grumman_F4F-4_Wildcat_of_VF-41_in_flight%2C_in_early_1942_%2880-G-7026%29.jpg/220px-Grumman_F4F-4_Wildcat_of_VF-41_in_flight%2C_in_early_1942_%2880-G-7026%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/91/Grumman_TBF-1_Avenger_of_VT-4_dropping_a_Mark_XIII_torpedo%2C_30_October_1942_%2880-G-19189%29.jpg/220px-Grumman_TBF-1_Avenger_of_VT-4_dropping_a_Mark_XIII_torpedo%2C_30_October_1942_%2880-G-19189%29.jpg)
Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix (killed 24 Nov) in escort carrier Liscome Bay
- 3 escort carriers
- Liscome Bay (sunk by submarine 24 Nov) (Capt. I. D. Wiltsie killed 24 Nov)
- Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. M. U. Beebe)
- 16 Grumman FM-1 Wildcat fighters
- 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. M. U. Beebe)
- Coral Sea (Capt. H. W. Taylor)
- Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. J. J. Lynch)
- 16 Grumman FM-1 Wildcat fighters
- 12 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. J. J. Lynch)
- Corregidor (Capt. R. L. Bowman)
- Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. G. M. Clifford)
- 16 Grumman FM-1 Wildcat fighters
- 12 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Air Group (Lt. Cmdr. G. M. Clifford)
- Liscome Bay (sunk by submarine 24 Nov) (Capt. I. D. Wiltsie killed 24 Nov)
- Screen
- 4 destroyers
- 2 Sims-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Hughes, Morris
- 2 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Hoel, Franks
- 1 minesweeper
- 1 Auk-class (1 × 3-in. main battery): Revenge
- 4 destroyers
Makin LST Group No. 1 (Task Group 54.4)
Commander A. M. Hurst
- 3 landing ship tanks: 31, 78, 178, each carrying an LCT
- 1 Farragut-class destroyer (4 × 5-in. main battery): Dale
TF 53 Southern Attack Force (Tarawa)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Harry_W._Hill.jpg/180px-Harry_W._Hill.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Gunston_Hall%3B0096886.jpg/240px-Gunston_Hall%3B0096886.jpg)
Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill in old battleship Maryland
Transport Group (Task Group 53.1)
Captain H. B. Knowles in attack transport Monrovia
Embarking 2nd Marine Division, reinforced
- Transport Division 4 (Capt. J. B. McGovern):
- 5 attack transports: Zeilin, Heywood, William P. Biddle, Harry Lee, Arthur Middleton
- Transport Division 6 (Capt. T. B. Brittain):
- 4 attack transports: Harris, Feland, J. Franklin Bell, Ormsby
- Transport Division 18 (Capt. Knowles):
- 3 attack transports: Doyen, Monrovia, Sheridan
- 3 attack cargo ships: Bellatrix, Thuban, Virgo
- 1 landing ship dock: Ashland
- 1 transport: La Salle
- Screen (Capt. E. M. Thompson):
- 7 destroyers
- All Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Sigsbee, Hazelwood, Heermann, Harrison, John Rodgers, McKee, Murray
- 7 destroyers
Minesweeper Group (Task Group 53.2)
Lieutenant Commander H. R. Peirce
- 2 minesweepers
- Both Auk-class (1 × 3-in. main battery): Pursuit, Requisite
Fire Support Group (Task Group 53.4)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f1/USS_Tennessee_%28BB43%29_1943.jpg/240px-USS_Tennessee_%28BB43%29_1943.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/59/USS_Benson_DD-421_01.jpg/240px-USS_Benson_DD-421_01.jpg)
Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman
- Section 1
- 1 Tennessee-class old battleship (12 × 14-in. main battery): Tennessee
- 1 Cleveland-class light cruiser (12 × 6-in. main battery): Mobile
- 2 Benson-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Bailey, Frazier
- Section 2
- 1 Colorado-class old battleship] (8 × 16-in. main battery): Maryland
- 1 Cleveland-class light cruiser (12 × 6-in. main battery): Santa Fe
- 2 Benson-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Meade, Gansevoort
- Section 3
- 1 Colorado-class old battleship] (8 × 16-in. main battery): Colorado
- 1 Portland-class heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery): Portland
- 2 Sims-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Anderson, Russell
- Section 4
- 2 Fletcher-class destroyers (5 × 5-in. main battery): Ringgold, Dashiell
- Section 5
- 1 Portland-class heavy cruiser (9 × 8-in. main battery): Indianapolis
- 1 Fletcher-class destroyer (5 × 5-in. main battery): Schroeder
Air Support Group (Task Group 53.6)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/USS_Suwannee_%28CVE-27%29_underway_in_Puget_Sound_on_31_January_1945.jpg/240px-USS_Suwannee_%28CVE-27%29_underway_in_Puget_Sound_on_31_January_1945.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Douglas_SBD_5_tricolor_with_bomb.jpg/240px-Douglas_SBD_5_tricolor_with_bomb.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/USS_LST-568.jpg/240px-USS_LST-568.jpg)
Rear Admiral V. H. Ragsdale
- 5 escort carriers
- Sangamon (Capt. E. P. Moore)
- 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- 9 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- 9 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Suwanee (Capt. F. W. McMahon)
- 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- 9 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- 9 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Chenango (Capt. D. Ketcham)
- 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- 9 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers
- 9 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
- Nassau (Capt. S. J. Michael)
- 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- Barnes (Capt. G. A. Dussault)
- 12 Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters
- Sangamon (Capt. E. P. Moore)
- Screen
- 5 destroyers
- 2 Fletcher-class (5 × 5-in. main battery): Cowell, Cotten
- 3 Farragut-class (4 × 5-in. main battery): Farragut, Monaghan, Aylwin
- 5 destroyers
Tarawa LST Group No. 1 (Task Group 54.5)
Lieutenant Commander R. M. Pits
- 3 landing ship tanks: 34, 242, 243, each carrying an LCT
- 1 Benson-class destroyer (4 ×x 5-in. main battery): Bancroft
See also
Orders of battle involving United States Marine forces in the Pacific Theatre of World War II:
- Battle of Guadalcanal order of battle
- Battle of Saipan order of battle
- Guam (1944) order of battle
- Battle of Leyte opposing forces
- Battle of Peleliu opposing forces
- Battle of Iwo Jima order of battle
- Okinawa ground order of battle
Notes
- ^ a b These cruisers were intended as destroyer leaders when designed. After the first two to be used in this role, Atlanta and Juneau, were lost at the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this mission was abandoned and the anti-aircraft mission adopted.[2]
References
- ^ USS Alabama War Diary, Wednesday, 17 November 1943, 0 to 4, U.S. National Archives, World War II War Diaries, Other Operational Records and Histories, ca. 1/1/1942 – ca. 6/1/1946. This diary entry also makes reference to the presence of the oiler USS Lackawanna (AO-40) with Task Group 50.1 on this date.
- ^ Stille, Mark, US Navy Light Cruisers, 1941–45, Osprey Publishing, Ltd., 2016, p. 7
Bibliography
- Morison, Samuel Eliot (1951). Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls: June 1942 April 1944. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Vol. VII. Boston: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 978-0-316-58307-7.
- Wright, Derrick (2004). Tarawa 1943: The Turning of the Tide. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0-275-98271-8.