Fletcher's Task Force 17 attacked Jaluit, Mili, and Makin while Halsey's Task Force 8 struck Kwajalein, Wotje, and Taroa. A near miss set Enterprise on fire, demonstrating the combat risks even without a direct hit. The attacks nevertheless inflicted moderate damage across bases too widely separated to support one another effectively. Their public value in the United States was matched by a larger Japanese strategic shock. Yamamoto saw a porous perimeter and felt increased pressure to force the early decisive battle that became Midway.
Chapter · 1:27:57-1:32:21
Marshall-Gilbert raids expose Japan's island perimeter
Enterprise and Yorktown struck widely separated bases, inflicted moderate damage, and demonstrated that Japan's island perimeter could not support every threatened point.