The Imperial Japanese Navy established the Makin Atoll garrison in 1942 as part of the Marshall Islands defenses. Roughly 71 armed personnel served under a warrant officer, alongside seaplane-base and meteorological staff, interpreters, and other civilians. The Raiders launched around midnight in inflatable LCRL boats powered by unreliable six-horsepower outboards. The target combined a small combat garrison with several support functions, while the attackers depended on fragile landing craft from the start.
Notable Point · 22:38-23:55
The garrison Carlson expected to raid
The target combined a small Japanese naval garrison with seaplane, weather, and civilian support personnel before the Raiders launched in fragile motorized rubber boats.