The invasion of Tarawa was the second American attack in the Pacific (the first being Guadalcanal). On 20 November 1943, a naval bombardment preceded the landings with dive bombers from the aircraft carriers taking out large stationary artillery guns and bunkers.
The Japanese were dug in deep and when the bombing stopped, the defenders came out and set up their positions, firing on the incoming landing craft. The majority of the landing craft got hung up on the barrier reef surrounding the island and the men jumped out into head high water under constant fire. The LVTs (Landing Vehicle Tracked) in the landing force climbed over the reef and disgorged their troops on the beaches. But, in the process over half of the vehicles were destroyed by Japanese mortars and light artillery through the course of the day.
