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'''The Battle of Tarawa''' took place during [[World War 2]] on November 20th, 1943.  The island was defended by 4,700 Japanese troops protecting a vital airstrip from which, if captured, the [[United States]] could launch an air offensive against the [[Philippines]]. The battle involved 5,000 marines from the 2nd Marine Division.

'''The Battle of Tarawa''' took place during [[World War 2]] on November 20th, 1943.  The island was defended by 4,700 Japanese troops protecting a vital airstrip from which, if captured, the [[United States]] could launch an air offensive against the [[Philippines]]. The battle involved 18,600 marines from the 2nd Marine Division.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/battle-of-tarawa</ref>

 

== Battle Timeline<ref>http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/CRAIGE/tarawa.html</ref> ==

== Battle Timeline<ref>http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/CRAIGE/tarawa.html</ref> ==

When morning broke, the 6th Marines looked around their positions to discover the dead bodies of 300 Japanese fighters around their positions.  This turned out to be the last of the strongest resistance to U.S. forces with the exception of a few Japanese snipers that would continue to fire on US forces for the next few days.  At 1:12 pm, seventy-six hours after the battle of Tarawa had begun, the area was declared 'secure'.<ref>http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/CRAIGE/doc6.html</ref>  

When morning broke, the 6th Marines looked around their positions to discover the dead bodies of 300 Japanese fighters around their positions.  This turned out to be the last of the strongest resistance to U.S. forces with the exception of a few Japanese snipers that would continue to fire on US forces for the next few days.  At 1:12 pm, seventy-six hours after the battle of Tarawa had begun, the area was declared 'secure'.<ref>http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/CRAIGE/doc6.html</ref>  

== References ==

== References ==

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