14. Submarines supported reconnaissance and commando raids
In August, 1942, US intelligence sought information about the strength and disposition of Japanese forces in the Gilbert Islands. They also desired a diversion of Japanese resources from the operations in the Solomons. Accordingly, a raiding force of 211 US Marine Raiders prepared a hit-and-run raid on Makin Island, where a small Japanese garrison was supported by a seaplane detachment. Rather than approaching the island using the surface fleet to land the Marines, two submarines assumed the role of troopships. USS Argonaut and USS Nautilus divided the Marine detachment between them, conveying them to their target on August 17, 1942.
The Marines landed via inflatable rubber boats powered by small outboard engines, though many of the latter failed due to heavy surf. The following night the submarines, which remained outside the lagoon during the raid, evacuated the Marines by the same method. In terms of its main objective – intelligence – the Makin Island Raid failed. It also led the Japanese to reinforce their garrisons in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands. Nine Marines were captured by the Japanese, transported to Kwajalein, and summarily executed. The survivors of the raiding force, which suffered 18 killed in the raid, were sent to Espiritu Santo for recuperation, before their next mission on Guadalcanal.