| Indianapolis sortied from Pearl Harbor 10 November with
the main body of the Southern Attack Force of the Assault Force for Operation
"Galvanic," the invasion of the Gilbert Islands. On 19 November 1943, she
participated with a force of cruisers which bombarded Tarawa and the next
day pounded Makin. The ship then returned to Tarawa and acted as a fire support
ship for the landings. That day her guns splashed an enemy plane and shelled
enemy strong points as valiant landing parties struggled against fanatical
Japanese defenders in an extremely bloody and costly battle. She continued
this role until the leveled island was declared secure 3 days later. |
