The following table shows the ammunition expended by the Japanese on Tarawa and Makin during the intense pre-invasion aerial bombardment from 13-19 November 1943 and was compiled from captured Japanese sources.
| Type of Ammunition | Rounds Expended | Rounds Remaining | |
| Tarawa |
127 mm AA
|
1,437 a
|
3,290
|
|
75 mm AA
|
1,312 a
|
1,345
|
|
|
13 mm MG
|
51,160 a
|
14,903
|
|
|
8 inch
|
46
|
b
|
|
|
14 cm
|
104
|
b
|
|
| Makin |
13 mm MG
|
9,100 a
|
2,400
|
a. Minimum rounds expended.
b. Not available
According to Crowl and Love, "The heavy expenditure of 13mm machine gun ammunition was particularly important since these weapons were to form the basis of ground fire defense. It is clear that the Japanese recognized the seriousness of the problem. One of their dispatches sent back to Tokyo warned, "We must quickly replenish ammo for the 13mm MGs on both Tarawa and Makin." In other words Crowl and Love point out, "Whatever else the preliminary bombardment may or may not have accomplished, it wreaked havoc on the enemy's ammunition supply."
Cited in: Crowl and Love, Seizure of the Gilberts and Marshalls, The US Army in WWII, pg. 56.
copyright 1999-2001 Wheaton, Illinois
Created 9 March 1999 - Updated 14 January 2001
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