The Battle of Makin: A Strategic Victory Marred by Unexpectedly High Naval Losses

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In November 1943, U.S. forces invaded Makin Atoll to secure a foothold in the central Pacific. While the ground campaign succeeded in four days, the operation suffered a catastrophic naval disaster. A single Japanese submarine torpedoed the escort carrier USS Liscome Bay, resulting in more American deaths than the entire Japanese garrison.

The Battle of Makin, fought from 20 to 24 November 1943, was the first step in the U.S. Navy's island-hopping strategy across the central Pacific. Admiral Chester Nimitz initially aimed to strike the Marshall Islands directly, but limited resources and the need for combat experience led the Joint Chiefs of Staff to approve Operation Galvanic, targeting the Gilbert Islands first. Makin Atoll, occupied by Japanese forces since December 1941, was chosen as an objective to provide a base for air support and reconnaissance.

The invasion force, Task Group 52.6, faced a garrison of 700 to 800 men, though only about 300 were armed combatants. Despite this numerical superiority, the 27th Infantry Division encountered significant difficulties. Pre-invasion reconnaissance failed to identify that the shallow lagoon would force landing craft to ground 250 yards from the beach, and craters from preliminary bombardments hindered the use of tanks. The Japanese defenders, expecting an ocean-side landing, had fortified the island with tank barriers and strongpoints, forcing the Americans to clear the island through slow, methodical reduction operations.

The most devastating moment of the campaign occurred on 24 November, when the Japanese submarine I-175 struck the flagship USS Liscome Bay with a single torpedo. The weapon detonated the ship's aircraft bomb stockpile, causing an explosion that sank the carrier almost immediately. Of the 916 crewmen aboard, 702 perished, including Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinnix and Doris Miller. This single event accounted for the vast majority of the 821 total American deaths during the battle, which resulted in nearly 1.8 Japanese casualties for every American ground soldier lost.

The operation highlighted the complexities of coordinating amphibious assaults and the vulnerability of naval task forces. While the island was successfully captured, the high cost of the victory—particularly the naval losses—underscored the dangers inherent in the Pacific campaign. The battle remains a significant study in the challenges of early amphibious warfare, demonstrating how even a well-planned operation can be upended by environmental obstacles and the tactical risks of naval positioning.

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