#158 Confrontation On Tarawa

US Marines engage the 7th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force on Tarawa, 1943. A scene with 1:35 figures from Master Box.

Notes

The Battle of Tarawa was fought on 20–23 November 1943 between the United States and Japan on Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands

Tarawa was the first time in the war that a United States amphibious landing was opposed by well entrenched, determined defenders.

Engaged on the ground was the 2nd Marine Division of the US Marine Corps facing off against the Japanese defenders comprising the 3rd Special Base Defense Force and 7th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force.

The battle was a costly on both sides. The Japanese were basically wiped out, almost to a man: of the 3,636 Japanese in the garrison, only one officer and sixteen enlisted men survived. Heavy casualties of over 25% on the US side sparked public protest, where headline reports of the high losses could not be understood for such a small and seemingly unimportant island.

The Kit

The Master Box kit No. MB3544 is a set of 5 injection molded figures in 1:35 scale

• 2x Japanese Marines
• 3x US Marine Corps

I purchased the kit at Miniature Hobby Singapore in Apr 2024 for SGD$15.50.

See instructions

Paint Scheme

Used: a selection of Vallejo Model Color..

Build Log

I just used 3 figures from the set

Planning a scene..

Final Gallery

US Marines engage the 7th Sasebo Special Naval Landing Force on Tarawa

Credits and References

• this project on scalemates
• Bloody Atoll series Kit No 3 Hand-to-hand combat Tarawa, November 1943 Master Box No. MB3544 1:35
  • on scalemates
  • instructions

Research References

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tarawa
• https://www.breachbangclear.com/frog-skin-camo/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/ww2/comments/z86zqs/us_marine_corps_soldiers_on_bougainville_in_1944/

U.S. Marines in Battle of Tarawa | 1943 | WW2 Documentary in Color

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