Battle of Eniwetok

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
Location11°27′54″N 162°11′20″E / 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[1]: 32 
9 light tanks
3 anti-tank guns
3 naval guns
4 mountain guns
Casualties and losses
313 killed
77 missing
879 wounded[1]: 88 
3,380 killed
144 captured[1]: 88 
1 naval gun destroyed
Battle of Eniwetok is located in Marshall Islands
Battle of Eniwetok
Location within Marshall Islands
Battle of Eniwetok is located in Pacific Ocean
Battle of Eniwetok
Battle of Eniwetok (Pacific Ocean)
Map of Eniwetok Atoll

The Battle of Eniwetok was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought from 17 to 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.

  1. ^ a b c Rottman, G. The Marshall Islands 1944: Operation Flintlock, the capture of Kwajalein and Eniwetok. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd (2004) ISBN 1-84176-851-0