The "76 Hours" map was hand drawn by my father, Gordon Stevens, H&S 2 in 1968 as noted in the copyright information in the title. He landed on Betio early in the morning of D+1. His experiences can be found in the "Leathernecks" section of Tarawa on the Web. The map displays the extensive defensive system the Japanese developed during their occupation of the Gilbert Islands making Betio Island the most heavily defended atoll in the world. Much of the information was gathered from the unusually accurate maps drawn up by the Second Division intelligence section prior to D-Day and also from post invasion reports. This map was published in the 1985 book, 76 Hours: The invasion of Tarawa by Eric Hammel and John E. Lane and also in their 1998 edition, Bloody Tarawa. For more information on these books see the Bibliography. In both editions the map was cut into three sections and only printed in black and white. Here the complete three color map is available measureing over two feet long and approximately one foot wide.
The 76 hrs. map is extremely useful in finding particular Japanese guns and emplacements or for tracing the movements of a certain unit during the short and violent fighting. It is an invaluable aide to use in conjunction with the book 76 Hours or any other publication about the Tarawa invasion. Click here to link to the 76 hrs. Map section.
Small map: 24"x12". 3 color. $8.00 per map plus postage.
Large map: 36"x80". B&W. $20.00 per map plus postage.
Maps shipped in mailing tube.
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copyright 2000 T.O.T.W.
Created 8 October 2000 - Updated 9 February 2021
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