Battle of Tarawa – Betio Island, November 20–23, 1943 Naval & Amphibious Battle Map
Battle of Tarawa – Betio Island, November 20–23, 1943 Naval & Amphibious Battle Map
Experience one of the most brutal and consequential amphibious assaults of World War II with this original hand-drawn operational map documenting the Battle of Tarawa. Fought on Betio Island in the Tarawa Atoll from November 20–23, 1943, this battle marked the first time American forces faced heavily fortified Japanese defenses directly at the waterline, fundamentally changing how future Pacific landings would be planned and executed.
The Battle for Betio
This hand-drawn combat map traces the amphibious landings and inland advance of the 2nd Marine Division, with supporting elements of the Army’s 27th Infantry Division, as they fought across the narrow coral island under extreme conditions. Amphibious tractors became stranded on offshore reefs, forcing Marines to wade hundreds of yards through shallow water while exposed to concentrated Japanese fire. The map records the landing beaches, regiment movements, Japanese defensive zones, and the shifting front lines at the close of each day, capturing the battle’s grinding, yard-by-yard progression across Betio.
Historical Significance
Tarawa shocked the American public and military leadership alike. Japanese commander Rear Admiral Keiji Shibazaki famously claimed that Tarawa could not be taken by “one million men in one hundred years.” Instead, it fell in just three days—but at a staggering cost. The battle exposed critical flaws in amphibious doctrine, reef intelligence, and landing craft design, lessons that directly shaped future operations at Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. This map preserves the tactical reality of that moment, when American forces proved they could overcome fortified island defenses, but only through extraordinary sacrifice.
Museum-Quality Reproduction
This is a high-quality reproduction of an original wartime hand-drawn operational map, professionally printed using museum-grade methods and materials to preserve every detail of this historic Pacific War document.
Perfect For:
• U.S. Marine Corps veterans and families
• World War II and Pacific Theater historians
• Students of amphibious warfare and military planning
• Collectors of original combat maps and operational art
• Gift-giving for military history enthusiasts
Specifications:
• Battle Result: American Victory
• Created / Published: 1943
• Location: Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands
• Style: Hand-drawn operational battle map
• Product Type: High-Quality Reproduction Print
• Dimensions (Width x Height): 22.9 x 15
Each map is printed using the finest materials and methods. Your map will be handled with white gloves from start to finish. We use the Giclée printing method on premium archival paper, producing a clear, extremely detailed, and durable print suitable for proud display in your home or office.
Digital watermark does not appear on your purchased map.
