Makin Island Raid

Notes

The August 7, 1942 landing of United States Marines on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida Islands in the southern Solomons chain was the first major land offensive of the Pacific war. These landings were strategically important as they satisfied the perceived need to secure allied Australia's northern flank. To try to give the allied forces engaged in the Solomons the best chance of success, a plan was hastily drawn up for a diversionary raid against Makin Island in the Marshalls chain, approximately 1300 miles to the northeast of Guadalcanal. It was hoped that the Japanese would move forces to the Marshalls, thereby draining forces away from the Solomons. Secondary purposes of the raid were to gather experience in amphibious assaults, to gather intelligence on Japanese forces, and to gather prisoners for interrogation.

Companies A and B of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion were chosen for the raid, a total of 211 men. They were led by the charismatic LtCol Evans F. Carlson, a WWI, Nicaragua, and China veteran. One of Carlson's officers was Captain James Roosevelt, son of the President. Secrecy was important, so the plan had the Raiders transported to Makin on two of the huge old V-boats, Nautilus (SS-168) and Argonaut (SM-1). After a short period of periscope beach reconnaissance, the Marines were to be landed via outboard engine powered rubber inflatable boats. Once ashore they were to engage and kill as many of the Japanese garrison troops as possible, take prisoners if feasible, gather intelligence, and destroy any military facilities. The submarines got underway from Pearl Harbor on August 8, 1942 (the day after the Guadalcanal landings) and arrived off Makin on August 16. The assault was planned for the next morning.

The Marines encountered considerable difficulties in embarking on the rubber boats from the side of the rolling submarines. Boats were overturned and engines swamped. They eventually headed off to the beach, got reorganized, and attacked their objectives. Nautilus stood by in support, lobbing 65 rounds from her big 6-inch guns into the lagoon, striking a small freighter and a patrol craft, although later analysis could not confirm any sinkings. The return to the submarines after the raid was equally chaotic, requiring significant effort and risk by both the Marines and the submarine crews. In the end, 30 Marines were not accounted for and believed dead (in fact, nine were still alive and were captured; they were later executed). The submarines set sail for Hawaii, carefully tending to numerous wounded Marines. They arrived in Pearl Harbor to a hero's welcome.

While over half of the Japanese garrison was killed by the Raiders and valuable experience in amphibious landings was obtained, the raid for the most part did not achieve its objectives. The Japanese did not take the bait and little if any enemy forces were diverted from the Solomons. In fact, realizing their vulnerabilities in the Marshalls, the Japanese reinforced all of the island garrisons there, turning the later invasion of Tarawa into a bloodbath and a Marine legend. The final legacy of the raid is mixed, and historians have debated this point for decades. For further information, we encourage you to read the articles at the links below:

●Seventy Years Ago: The Makin Island Raid, August 1942
●The Makin Island Raid: What Really Happened to the Marines?
●The Makin Island Raid

A periscope photo taken from the Nautilus of Makin Island before Marines landed on the beaches. The intention to land on two separate beaches was canceled at the last minute and all but 12 Marines landed together. Those 12 landed on an originally planned landing site not knowing of the change of plans.

U.S. Navy photo

Two Marines pose for the camera prior to the landing. A Nautilus crewmen stands at the right. The Marine on the left is standing before a deck access ladder, probably in the crew's mess. The status of the Marine on the left is not known. The Marine in the center can be seen in the photo below. If anyone knows these men's names, please let us know.

U.S. Navy photo

Smoke from damage and fires rises from Makin Island after the Marine assault and from 6 inch shells fired from the Nautilus' guns at targets on the island and in the lagoon. Reports from Marines indicated that two ships, a small freighter and a patrol boat, had been sunk, but later analysis could not confirm these sinkings.

At 0703 AM she provided gunfire support against enemy positions on Ukiangong Point and then shelled the enemy ships in the lagoon. At 1039, an enemy plane appeared and Nautilus dove. Two aerial attacks followed at 1130 and another at 1255 keeping her down.

U.S. Navy photo

Marines in the crew's mess of Nautilus after the raid. The Marine holding the Japanese rifle can be seen in the photo above. The rifle is an Arisaka Type 99 7.7mm. It is a bolt action rifle with a 5-round internal box magazine. It was the standard rifle of the Japanese armed services for most of the war. Webmaster David Johnston has an example in his personal possession. It was an excellent weapon when first developed in the late 1930's, but its design was reflective of the Japanese adherence to tradition. The bolt action limited the rate of fire. It had an awkward dust cover over the action when closed, and this made a distinctive noise that would give away the shooter's position. The safety was an odd twist type, instead of the more accepted lever type. It was also long and heavy and awkward to carry in combat, especially for shorter men. It was far outclassed by the U.S. military's M1 Garand.

Interior photos of Nautilus are very rare. Despite its size it was still tight quarters, especially with 200+ Marines aboard.

U.S. Navy photo

After the raid two other Marines pose for the camera. The man on the left is holding what looks to be a M1911A1 .45 caliber pistol and probably a captured Japanese rifle. Both look tired.

After the raid Japanese records say that of the 71 Japanese on the island only 27 were alive when reinforcements arrived.

U.S. Navy photo

A wounded Marine, possibly an officer, sits in the wardroom of the Nautilus with a glass milk or juice on the table. Both Nautilus and Argonaut received injured men, and caring for them proved difficult during the transit back to Pearl Harbor.

U.S. Navy photo

LtCol. Evans Carlson, C.O. of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, standing in the same space as photographed above, looking the worse for ware, still dressed in his assault clothes. Carlson was an experienced and capable officer, having seen combat in WWI and Nicaragua, and held the exalted status of a China Marine of the old 4th Marine Regiment. He was charismatic with a forceful personality, and held the ear of the Roosevelts. Indeed, Captain James Roosevelt, the President's son, was one of his officers during this raid. Carlson went on to distinguished service on Guadalcanal.

U.S. Navy photo

The Argonaut approaching the dock at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor after she and Nautilus returned from the Makin Island raid with "Carlson's Raiders".

Between the end of the dock and the bow of Argonaut you can see the bow of the Nautilus, headed to the opposite side of the pier. A Marine honor guard is on the pier along with a Navy Band and the Commander-in-Chief in the Pacific, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN.

National Archives photo

The huge old Argonaut pulls up to the pier at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, August 26, 1942. The number of Marines on Argonaut's deck emphasizes her size. Just before this raid, Argonaut had returned to the war zone from an overhaul in California. During this overhaul she received numerous repairs and upgrades, including radar. Above the heads of the officers on the bridge, the SJ surface search radar can be seen.

National Archives photo

Nautilus (left) and Argonaut (right) moored at Submarine Base Pearl Harbor, August 26, 1942 at the conclusion of the Makin Island raid. Their arrival generated a lot of interest and the Navy/Marine Corps made full advantage of the boost in morale the raid gave to the nation.

Photo courtesy of Robert Hurst via Navsource.org

Crew and Marines muster on deck as the "Brass" show up to welcome everyone home. Admiral Chester Nimitz stands amid a group of probably squadron and division commanders and aides.

LtCol. Evans Carlson is probably the Marine wearing the helmet with his back to the camera.

U.S. Navy photo

A mixture of Navy and Marines pose for a photo On the Nautilus after the raid on Makin Island. Being stuck in the small vessel together probably resulted in some good friendships.

Middle row all the way to the right is one of the two Filipino Stewardsmates. There was also an African American Mess Attendant assigned to the submarine.

U.S. Navy photo

The Nautilus at Pearl Harbor after they returned from the Makin Island raid with "Carlson's Raiders". The crew are mustered on deck and a Japanese flag captured by the Raiders and presented to the crew is flying from the muzzle of the aft 6"/53 caliber deck gun. The rail surrounding the aft deck gun platform can be seen the foreground. The photo was too large for our scanner so we had to 'stitch' it together. The officer at left is thought to be LCDR William H. Brockman, Jr. who was the commanding officer of the Nautilus for the raid. The Chief Petty Officer in the right foreground is believed to be Chief Electricians Mate Foy Hester who rode Nautilus for her first 13 war patrols.

Photo in the private collection of Ric Hedman

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