Tarawa's Crimson Tides 1943*
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Date: November 20, 1943*
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Battle Location: Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands*
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Battle Type: USMC (Assault) vs Japan (Defend)*
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Description:
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In early 1943, the Japanese had established a protective perimeter around their homeland consisting of several island constellations. A key to the United Stated success in the Pacific was a strategy of island hopping. By leapfroging Japanese held islands, Japanese garrisons where isolated from Japanese supply sources. Tarawa is on record as the first U.S. amphibious assault on a defend atoll. 1,009 Marines would die when their landing boats hung up on an undisclosed reef forcing them to wade hundreds of yards, in chest deep water, to shore. The tragic mistakes made at Tarawa directly affected the success at Normandy and throughout the Pacific Theatre. When the few Japanese prisoners were asked if there was a moment when their moral flagged, they answered, "yes - when the dying Marine just kept coming." Tarawa, in ratio between casualties and troops engaged, ranks among the costliest battles in american history.*
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Notes: Converted/adapted by Jose Logrono from the original 1995 Steel Panthers wargame.*
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Design by: Mel Smith (Scenario found in Hapshott's Steel Panthers scenario collection @
www.alternatewars.com/Games/SP/SPanthers.htm).**