Eniwetok exposed a rushed beach-defense plan to naval firepower

Japanese army troops reached Eniwetok only about a month before the American assault and had little time to complete their fortifications. Their plan spread defenders along tiny, exposed islands where aircraft and naval guns could suppress coastal positions before the landings. Colorado, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Louisville, and Indianapolis supplied firepower that the garrison could not match, while Marine tanks quickly ran out of island to traverse. Parry Island's stronger beach positions prolonged the fighting only briefly because bombardment suppressed its artillery and the defenders had too little preparation time and protective terrain. Parry's roughly 1,100 defenders occupied eight beach strongpoints, yet by noon on 22 February a Marine battalion had crossed from the lagoon to the ocean shore and another took the northern tip by 13:00.