In the 76-hour fight for Betio, 1,056 marines and sailors
were killed, died of wounds or were
missing and presumed to be dead. Some 2,300 men were wounded,
but recovered. Meanwhile,
at home, Americans were appalled by the losses at Tarawa,
flooding Admiral Nimitz's mail with
angry letters. But Tarawa had taught the navy and the marines
some vital lessons in amphibious
warfare which in the near future, would save thousands of lives.
More amphtracks were to be
built with better armor, including side protection for marines.
Higgins boats were removed from
landing operations. Landing craft were converted into supporting
gunboats, able to come in close
on the beach. Underwater demolition teams were organized to
destroy natural and artificial
obstacles before future atoll landing would take place.
Precision rocket and naval attacks had
proven their worth against the near impregnable fortifications.
And the role of the tank in turning
the tide of battle proved critical. All these lessons would be
applied to future campaigns with
great success. The price for Betio had been relatively high, but
within days, Betio was converted
into a forward base for the assault on the Marshalls, with bomber
and fighter sorties flying out
within hours of the marines victory. And within nine weeks of
the battle, an invasion task force
under Admiral Nimitz left Tarawa to take the Marshall Islands.
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