Talk:Raid on Makin Island

Since I got a message from —wwoods, I rechecked my source, Blair's Silent Victory. I thought it was Narwhal; Blair, who I would rely on, correctly says Nautilus, pp.308-9 & 315-6. Trekphiler 00:32, 19 July 2007 (UTC) (I'm always getting them crossed up. Argonaut, too....)

Updated Some Numbers

This was a little sloppy with numbers and references for Japanese sources. I have used some Japanese sources to confirm and verify the total number of Japanese troops on Butaritari at the time of the raid and total casualities. These numbers are almost certainly correct and are not of the wildly high numbers which Carlson cites... in fact they could not be that high because there were never that many Japanese on the island in the first place. I have, so far, found no Japanese source with casualties outside of garrison members. If I find others in the planes of small boats I will add. I suspect the boat casualities are garrison members and would be included in the 46 killed/mia. If you add two flying boats with flight crew of about 8 members each you will get 62 total Japanese casualties. I suspect this is about the right number... but if and when I can confirm either estimate I will enter it and cite published sources.

I also put in the first name and correct rank of the Japanese commanding Warrant Officer. Sargent Major was incorrect term for this Naval Officer.

The number of Japanese planes is cited at 13, but these were not on Makin Island during the raid and were attached to Tarawa garrison. The Butaritari garrison did not have any direct aircraft attached. So I do not think it is useful to include them in the troop strength attached. Canadaman1 (talk) 19:43, 15 December 2014 (UTC)

Offer to surrender

Is it correct that having killed most of a garrison, the American attackers then offered to surrender to the survivors, when they were initially unable to withdraw? That is not consistent with the account in History.com.119.224.100.246 (talk) 22:13, 17 August 2015 (UTC)