Battle of Eniwetok

The Battle of Eniwetok was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought 17-23 February 1944 on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The invasion of Eniwetok followed the American success in the Battle of Kwajalein to the southeast. Capture of Eniwetok would provide an airfield and harbor to support attacks on the Mariana Islands to the northwest. The operation was officially known as "Operation Catchpole" and was a three-phase operation involving the invasion of the three main islands in the Enewetak Atoll.

Battle of Eniwetok
Part of the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign of the Pacific Theater (World War II)

Landing craft heading for Eniwetok Island
on 19 February 1944.
Date17 – 23 February 1944
Location
Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands
11.465°N 162.189°E / 11.465; 162.189
Result American victory
Belligerents
 United States  Japan
Commanders and leaders
Harry W. Hill
John T. Walker
Thomas E. Watson		 Yoshimi Nishida †
Strength

2 regiments

 3,500: 32 
9 light tanks
3 anti-tank guns
3 naval guns
4 mountain guns
Casualties and losses
313 killed
77 missing
879 wounded: 88 		 3,380 killed
144 captured: 88 
1 naval gun destroyed
Location within Marshall Islands
Battle of Eniwetok (Pacific Ocean)

Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance preceded the invasion with Operation Hailstone, a carrier strike against the Japanese base at Truk in the Caroline Islands.: 67  This raid destroyed 39 warships and more than 200 planes.: 67 

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