US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1943–44 (Battle Orders)

By January 1944 the US Marine Corps had grown to a total of 405,169 personnel, comprising 28,193 officers, 10,723 officer candidates, and 366,353 enlisted men. The Fleet Marine Force now had two amphibious corps, four divisions, a separate infantry regiment, 19 defense battalions, and numerous support and service units. Following on from Battle Orders 1: USMC in the Pacific Theater of Operations 1941–43, this book examines the continuing development of the Corps's organization, its training, tactics, weaponry, and command structure, as well as the battles fought in the Southwest Pacific on New Britain, and in the Central Pacific on Tarawa, Roi-Namur, Eniwetok, Saipan, and Tinian. The organization of the 4th Marine Division (MarDiv) and III and V Amphibious Corps (IIIAC, VAC) is also discussed along with smaller, new units. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 2 Contents......Page 3 Introduction......Page 4 Combat mission......Page 6 Unit organization......Page 12 Tactics......Page 35 Weapons and equipment......Page 41 Command, control, communications, and intelligence......Page 45 Combat operations......Page 49 Lessons learned......Page 90 Chronology......Page 92 Bibliography......Page 93 Abbreviations and linear measurements......Page 94 Index......Page 95 Imprint......Page 97 The year 1944 saw a great deal of Marine Corps activity. The early defeats suffered by America in the Pacific were past; the pivotal naval battle for Midway had been won, and the Solomon Islands had fallen once again to the Allies. By the end of 1943 the Marine Corps had established itself as an extremely proficient amphibious assault force capable of landing a reinforced division on a hostile shore, supporting it, and defeating the enemy.