Raid on Makin Island

Raid on Makin Island
Part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign of the Pacific Theater (World War II)
U.S. Marines return to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on board the American submarine Nautilus following the raid, 26 August 1942.
Date August 17–18, 1942 Location Makin Island, Pacific Ocean 3°09′N 172°50′E / 3.150°N 172.833°E / 3.150; 172.833 Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Chester W. Nimitz Evans Carlson	Kōsō Abe Kyuzaburō Kanemitsu †
Strength
211 troops (from the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion) 2 submarines	2 officers 69 other ranks 2 civilians attached 13 aircraft[citation needed] 3 small ships
Casualties and losses
19 killed 17 wounded 9 captured (later executed) 2 missing	46 killed 2 flying boats destroyed 2 small boats sunk[1]
class=notpageimage| Location within Pacific Ocean

The raid on Makin Island was an attack by Marine Raiders of the United States Marine Corps on the Japanese-controlled Makin Island from August 17–18, 1942. Aims of the raid included destroying local installations, acquiring prisoners of war and military intelligence on the Gilbert Islands, and diverting Japanese attention and reinforcements from the Guadalcanal campaign and battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo. Only the first of these objectives were achieved, but the raid did boost morale and provide a test for Raider tactics.