Quote:
Originally Posted by Seadog
The Japanese could not win at Tarawa. If they would have repulsed the American forces, there would have been an intense softening bombardment of the island and another assault, or they would have by-passed it and blockaded it into starvation. The best the Japanese could achieve is a delay and more U.S. casualties. There are several ways that this could be achieved.
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Despite the conditions of this Tarawa what-if, I have to agree with this one.
The defenders of the island couldn't stand against what the US assembled. The only way, I think, the Japanese could have a chance for a tactical win was to force a massive air and naval engagement but I doubt that at this stage of the war the Japanese had any substantial naval units or the fuel needed to stage such a naval sortie.