TARAWA - 20-23 NOV 1943 - Led by US navy, would help US navy launch sustained attack on Mariana islands. Japan fortified islands
US attacked with 17 carriers, 126 support ships, 12 battleships + 35,000 soldiers. Japan forces limited to 5000 Japanese + koreans who were mainly construction workers
US forces met heavy resistance, only 17 japanese surrendered, USA lost 1700 men.
-> demonstrated J military would die fighting than surrender -> would they do same when Japanese mainland was reached -> enforced military commanders that Japan should be bombed into surrender if possible before invasion attempt was made