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Tanks in Hell: A Marine Corps Tank Company on Tarawa
In May 1943, a self-described "really young, green, ignorant lieutenant" assumed command of a new U.S. Marine Corps company. His even younger enlisted Marines were learning to use an untested weapon, the M4A2 "Sherman" medium tank. His sole combat veteran was the company bugler, who had salvaged his dress cap and battered horn from a sinking aircraft carrier. Just six months later, the company would be thrown into one of the ghastliest battles of World War II.
On November 20, 1943, the 2nd Marine Division launched the first amphibious assault of the Pacific War, directly into the teeth of powerful Japanese defenses on Tarawa. In that blood-soaked invasion, a single company of Sherman tanks, of which only two survived, played a pivotal role in turning the tide from looming disaster to legendary victory. In this unique study, Oscar E. Gilbert and Romain V. Cansiere use official documents, memoirs, and interviews with veterans to follow Charlie Company from its formation, and trace the movement, action—and loss—of individual tanks in this horrific four-day struggle.
The authors follow the company from training through the brutal seventy-six-hour struggle for Tarawa. Survivor accounts and air-photo analyses document the movements—and destruction—of the company's individual tanks. It is a story of escapes from drowning tanks, and even more harrowing extrications from tanks knocked out behind Japanese lines. It is a story of men doing whatever needed to be done, from burying the dead to hand-carrying heavy cannon ammunition forward under fire. It is the story of how the two surviving tanks and their crews expanded a perilously thin beachhead and cleared the way for critical reinforcements to come ashore. But most of all, it is a story of how a few unsung Marines helped turn near disaster into epic victory.
On November 20, 1943, the 2nd Marine Division launched the first amphibious assault of the Pacific War, directly into the teeth of powerful Japanese defenses on Tarawa. In that blood-soaked invasion, a single company of Sherman tanks, of which only two survived, played a pivotal role in turning the tide from looming disaster to legendary victory. In this unique study, Oscar E. Gilbert and Romain V. Cansiere use official documents, memoirs, and interviews with veterans to follow Charlie Company from its formation, and trace the movement, action—and loss—of individual tanks in this horrific four-day struggle.
The authors follow the company from training through the brutal seventy-six-hour struggle for Tarawa. Survivor accounts and air-photo analyses document the movements—and destruction—of the company's individual tanks. It is a story of escapes from drowning tanks, and even more harrowing extrications from tanks knocked out behind Japanese lines. It is a story of men doing whatever needed to be done, from burying the dead to hand-carrying heavy cannon ammunition forward under fire. It is the story of how the two surviving tanks and their crews expanded a perilously thin beachhead and cleared the way for critical reinforcements to come ashore. But most of all, it is a story of how a few unsung Marines helped turn near disaster into epic victory.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published May 18, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 5, 2025
"And when he gets to Heaven,
to St. Peter he will tell,
Another Marine reporting, Sir,
I served my time in hell."
TANKS IN HELL is the story of the US Marine M4 tanks that supported the invasion of Tarawa, bloody Tarawa, during WWII. Based on interviews with surviving members and backed up by period photographs, this is not only, in my opinion, one of the best books on that battle, but also covers in detail the early use of the M4 tanks. According to the author, the Marines never referred to the M4 as the 'Sherman' tank. That was the name given to it by the British when they received the tanks through Lend Lease. Likewise, the 'Stuart' was only referred to as the M5.
Over the years I have read so many stories about WWII that I consider myself quite the 'expert' on the subject. This book just showed me how much more I have to learn. Had I been one of those Marines on the transports, like my Uncle Ted, waiting to go ashore on Tarawa, I would have probably thought we would certainly win. Of course some casualties could be expected, for such is war. The Japanese general claimed it would take a million men a hundred years to take the atoll. There were moments when it seemed like that would be the case.
US heavy bombers bombed the target and battleships plastered the defenses as well. Certainly nothing could live through the pounding. Oh, but they did, for the defenders were dug in. The combination of coconut logs and piled up sand seemed to negate the effect of the bombs and shells. And all those bombs and shells that fell short or missed their target blew holes in the reef that the Marines would be crossing as they headed for shore. Not only were Japanese machine guns decimating those Marines wading across the reef but some ended up drowning in the underwater shell holes that swallowed up tanks as well.
Once the Marines reached the sandy beach they got as far as the seawall made of coconut logs and there they stayed that first day. The wall being about four foot high, the tanks that made it ashore could advance no further. So they drove back and forth at the water's edge firing inland, while trying not to run over the dead and wounded Marines lying there in the sand. Eventually a couple of tanks made it inland only to lose more of their number. The book tells the story of each individual tank and crew member.
If one looks at the specs for the M4 and a Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go tank one would think there was no way a Type 95 could stand up to a M4, yet one did, for a while. A lucky shot hit the M4's gun barrel sending shrapnel down the tube into the tank. Had there been a round loaded in the M4 it would have probably blown up. A couple more tanks were knocked out by Japanese guns.
Tarawa was one of those events where everything seemed to go wrong. Radios didn't work, ammo was in short supply, as was food and water. The only thing not lacking was courage. "One of the paradoxes of the military is that some of the men who are disciplinary problems in training achieve their finest moment only in combat."
There is so much this book covers that it was money well spent. Some parts reminded me of my own training on the M60A1. Anyone interested in this battle, which they could have possibly lost at one point, should search out this book. There are plenty of photos and maps as well. By the way, if one looks at current photos of Tarawa one will see some of the rusting hulks of those M4 tanks that never made it ashore. This is their story.
to St. Peter he will tell,
Another Marine reporting, Sir,
I served my time in hell."
TANKS IN HELL is the story of the US Marine M4 tanks that supported the invasion of Tarawa, bloody Tarawa, during WWII. Based on interviews with surviving members and backed up by period photographs, this is not only, in my opinion, one of the best books on that battle, but also covers in detail the early use of the M4 tanks. According to the author, the Marines never referred to the M4 as the 'Sherman' tank. That was the name given to it by the British when they received the tanks through Lend Lease. Likewise, the 'Stuart' was only referred to as the M5.
Over the years I have read so many stories about WWII that I consider myself quite the 'expert' on the subject. This book just showed me how much more I have to learn. Had I been one of those Marines on the transports, like my Uncle Ted, waiting to go ashore on Tarawa, I would have probably thought we would certainly win. Of course some casualties could be expected, for such is war. The Japanese general claimed it would take a million men a hundred years to take the atoll. There were moments when it seemed like that would be the case.
US heavy bombers bombed the target and battleships plastered the defenses as well. Certainly nothing could live through the pounding. Oh, but they did, for the defenders were dug in. The combination of coconut logs and piled up sand seemed to negate the effect of the bombs and shells. And all those bombs and shells that fell short or missed their target blew holes in the reef that the Marines would be crossing as they headed for shore. Not only were Japanese machine guns decimating those Marines wading across the reef but some ended up drowning in the underwater shell holes that swallowed up tanks as well.
Once the Marines reached the sandy beach they got as far as the seawall made of coconut logs and there they stayed that first day. The wall being about four foot high, the tanks that made it ashore could advance no further. So they drove back and forth at the water's edge firing inland, while trying not to run over the dead and wounded Marines lying there in the sand. Eventually a couple of tanks made it inland only to lose more of their number. The book tells the story of each individual tank and crew member.
If one looks at the specs for the M4 and a Japanese Type 95 Ha-Go tank one would think there was no way a Type 95 could stand up to a M4, yet one did, for a while. A lucky shot hit the M4's gun barrel sending shrapnel down the tube into the tank. Had there been a round loaded in the M4 it would have probably blown up. A couple more tanks were knocked out by Japanese guns.
Tarawa was one of those events where everything seemed to go wrong. Radios didn't work, ammo was in short supply, as was food and water. The only thing not lacking was courage. "One of the paradoxes of the military is that some of the men who are disciplinary problems in training achieve their finest moment only in combat."
There is so much this book covers that it was money well spent. Some parts reminded me of my own training on the M60A1. Anyone interested in this battle, which they could have possibly lost at one point, should search out this book. There are plenty of photos and maps as well. By the way, if one looks at current photos of Tarawa one will see some of the rusting hulks of those M4 tanks that never made it ashore. This is their story.
July 12, 2017
This was a fine account of an interesting, but horrific, battle. The detailed research into the tank crews' lives was clearly something of a labor of love and the authors did a good job of calling out the work they were doing in filling the gaps and reconciling different accounts of the events.
March 21, 2023
You don't hear a lot about tanks in the Pacific War. The Japanese, with their limited logistical base, did not use Massed Tanks in the Conquest of the Pacific Islands, and few people remember the Allied Armoured Campaigns against them in Burma and Manchuria, both of which were well executed in the last days of the War. But there was other tank warfare in the Pacific, as the US Marines and Army formations worked on the Island hopping side of the war. Oscar Gilbert, a writer and historian on WWII topics and Romain Cansiere, a French researcher here give us the beginnings of that effort-when a single Company of M4 Sherman tanks joined the first day's assault on the Island of Betio-the battle that we call Tarawa. C Company of the I Corps Medium Tank Battalion was the first to be so used as part of an amphibious attack in the Pacific- and was trying a new weapon on a new front with new doctrine. Things did not go as planned- but lessons were learnt that would save time and lives up to the present day. The book is showered with graphs, maps, diagrams and b/w pics to back up the narrative and is an amazingly granular account of the battle. I found it very compelling and well set up, with evidence to back up every element.
The Navy and Marines did not prepare as thoroughly for the this landing as they were to do for future assaults- they thought they had done enough. But this battle - with the difficult access issues(a coral reef) and a spirited and vicious Japanese defense quickly exposed the myriad flaws in the plans. Our authors explain the before, the battle and the education it gave to the Marines to make their future amphibious assaults more deadly efficient. We follow individual tanks (a Marine Tank Co was 14 Tanks- a 2 Tank HQ and three 4 tank platoons) as they acted in the battle, using both their own crews' memories and the available Aerial Recon photos from Task Force Aircraft, as well as refuse that remains on the Island today. It is a sobering story of men going into battle without enough training and coming out of it with a much better idea of how to go forward. As always it is the humanity of the men that fought this battle that catches the readers eye- regular Americans learning to be efficient killers- taught by the war itself how to fight and win. As a son of one of those Americans who crossed the Pacific to fight the Japanese, I am saddened by the cost of this education, but eminently glad the lessons were learned-and that the Marines got better and better with their use of Armour and Combined Arms warfare as the war progressed. Learning the story more intimately was compelling.
There are some adult themes, and some pretty graphic injury and violent passages in the book, so this is best read by the Junior Reader over 13/14 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this book is a veritable font of information. The Gamer gets a tonne of granular information for a Tarawa scenario, a generic island scenario, or a whole Pacific campaign. The Modeler gets a close look at an iconic battle with many Build and Diorama ideas and backup photos. The Military enthusiast gets a really intimate view of a single unit in a single action bringing a new technology into the amphibious space. I learned a great deal and found myself more emotionally involved in the unit's survival than I usually am when reading this sort of book. A strong rec from this reviewer.
The Navy and Marines did not prepare as thoroughly for the this landing as they were to do for future assaults- they thought they had done enough. But this battle - with the difficult access issues(a coral reef) and a spirited and vicious Japanese defense quickly exposed the myriad flaws in the plans. Our authors explain the before, the battle and the education it gave to the Marines to make their future amphibious assaults more deadly efficient. We follow individual tanks (a Marine Tank Co was 14 Tanks- a 2 Tank HQ and three 4 tank platoons) as they acted in the battle, using both their own crews' memories and the available Aerial Recon photos from Task Force Aircraft, as well as refuse that remains on the Island today. It is a sobering story of men going into battle without enough training and coming out of it with a much better idea of how to go forward. As always it is the humanity of the men that fought this battle that catches the readers eye- regular Americans learning to be efficient killers- taught by the war itself how to fight and win. As a son of one of those Americans who crossed the Pacific to fight the Japanese, I am saddened by the cost of this education, but eminently glad the lessons were learned-and that the Marines got better and better with their use of Armour and Combined Arms warfare as the war progressed. Learning the story more intimately was compelling.
There are some adult themes, and some pretty graphic injury and violent passages in the book, so this is best read by the Junior Reader over 13/14 years. For the Gamer/Modeler/Military Enthusiast, this book is a veritable font of information. The Gamer gets a tonne of granular information for a Tarawa scenario, a generic island scenario, or a whole Pacific campaign. The Modeler gets a close look at an iconic battle with many Build and Diorama ideas and backup photos. The Military enthusiast gets a really intimate view of a single unit in a single action bringing a new technology into the amphibious space. I learned a great deal and found myself more emotionally involved in the unit's survival than I usually am when reading this sort of book. A strong rec from this reviewer.
December 14, 2019
Battle of Tarawa
This is an interesting book, written from the perspective of a Marine tank outfit, about the colossal screw up of the invasion of Tarawa. Very few of the tanks made it into action. The book is one of the few that provides detailed maps in a e-book format to enable the reader to follow along. One does not really get the sense of riding along with a tanker in battle. While there are some narratives by the survivors decades after the conflict, the book is written more at a strategic level. I was hoping for a more in depth perspective in that regard, but it is a worthwhile read in any event.
This is an interesting book, written from the perspective of a Marine tank outfit, about the colossal screw up of the invasion of Tarawa. Very few of the tanks made it into action. The book is one of the few that provides detailed maps in a e-book format to enable the reader to follow along. One does not really get the sense of riding along with a tanker in battle. While there are some narratives by the survivors decades after the conflict, the book is written more at a strategic level. I was hoping for a more in depth perspective in that regard, but it is a worthwhile read in any event.
February 17, 2020
Great historic book about Marines and their tanks in world war 2
The author has written a magnificent book detailing the men, who attempted to come ashore during a contested and opposed landing on Tarawa. The detail and research that reveals the identity of so many Marine tankers and their fellow grunts, who not only had to battle the Japanese, but, low tides and exposed reefs. Many lives were lost , as well as graves, and so we are left to wonder if their sacrifices were worth it. I highly recommend this book and let the nest reader reach his own conclusion.
The author has written a magnificent book detailing the men, who attempted to come ashore during a contested and opposed landing on Tarawa. The detail and research that reveals the identity of so many Marine tankers and their fellow grunts, who not only had to battle the Japanese, but, low tides and exposed reefs. Many lives were lost , as well as graves, and so we are left to wonder if their sacrifices were worth it. I highly recommend this book and let the nest reader reach his own conclusion.
March 16, 2025
There's a particular kind of WWII book that I like that takes the whole massive scale of millions of men and machines across all seven continents and distills it down to the granular level that I like. This is one of those books.
The authors have done an fantastic job of covering the actions of a Marine Corps tank company on Tarawa almost down to the minute and exploring the fates of many of its men. It's detailed, but often dry. It isn't "Band of Brothers" in the sense that you do not get a feel for who many of the men were beyond a brief description of their backgrounds and you spend relatively little time with them.
What's most interesting in the book is the discussion of each tank and crew's actions on Tarawa. The book begins with a discussion of the Marine tank doctrine at the start of the war, which favored light cavalry and reconnaissance actions using light tanks. This quickly went to the way-side as obviously impractical. The Marines, like all of the branches in 1942-43, shifted gears mid-race. The USMC developed medium tank units and were still in the phase of developing tactics and techniques at Tarawa.
No one would be quick to call Tarawa a "tank battle" in the traditional sense. While the Japanese maintained a modest armored force on the island and the Marines went ashore with their tanks, the terrain eliminated any notion of using tanks to maneuver in any significant way.
The challenge of moving tanks amongst the morass of wounded Marines and shell-craters along the beaches at Tarawa was extraordinary. I gained a significant amount of respect not only for the tank crews, but for the Marines who literally guided the tanks by hand while under fire. The notion of a "combat ground guide" was terrifying. The author's take us hour by hour through the actions of each tank and each platoon and the descriptions are accompanied by well drawn maps. The actions and fate of each tank are discussed in detail, and you learn the fates of most of the men. Even the Japanese tank forces on Tarawa have a modest first-hand depiction of their actions, something I was not expecting given that the Japanese defenders were nearly wiped out.
My criticisms of the book are two-fold. First, the writing is often dry. I appreciate the author's commitment to accuracy, but outside of the descriptions in first hand accounts, it is not always riveting reading. This is especially true at the beginning of the book. Secondly, those without a background in the overall Battle of Tarawa as fought at the regiment and below level will find that the book lacks some necessary context at times. I would have appreciated a better idea of how the overall battle was developing beyond the narrow tank-fight.
While this book does not change any scholarly notions of the Pacific War, but it provides an interesting series of tactical lessons that the Marine Corps incorporated into later battles and provides fascinating detail on a little-known and seldom discussed part of the Battle of Tarawa. I found myself pondering how many of these lessons led to the decision by the modern USMC to divest itself of tanks several years back.
Recommended for Tarawa, armor, and Pacific War buffs.
The authors have done an fantastic job of covering the actions of a Marine Corps tank company on Tarawa almost down to the minute and exploring the fates of many of its men. It's detailed, but often dry. It isn't "Band of Brothers" in the sense that you do not get a feel for who many of the men were beyond a brief description of their backgrounds and you spend relatively little time with them.
What's most interesting in the book is the discussion of each tank and crew's actions on Tarawa. The book begins with a discussion of the Marine tank doctrine at the start of the war, which favored light cavalry and reconnaissance actions using light tanks. This quickly went to the way-side as obviously impractical. The Marines, like all of the branches in 1942-43, shifted gears mid-race. The USMC developed medium tank units and were still in the phase of developing tactics and techniques at Tarawa.
No one would be quick to call Tarawa a "tank battle" in the traditional sense. While the Japanese maintained a modest armored force on the island and the Marines went ashore with their tanks, the terrain eliminated any notion of using tanks to maneuver in any significant way.
The challenge of moving tanks amongst the morass of wounded Marines and shell-craters along the beaches at Tarawa was extraordinary. I gained a significant amount of respect not only for the tank crews, but for the Marines who literally guided the tanks by hand while under fire. The notion of a "combat ground guide" was terrifying. The author's take us hour by hour through the actions of each tank and each platoon and the descriptions are accompanied by well drawn maps. The actions and fate of each tank are discussed in detail, and you learn the fates of most of the men. Even the Japanese tank forces on Tarawa have a modest first-hand depiction of their actions, something I was not expecting given that the Japanese defenders were nearly wiped out.
My criticisms of the book are two-fold. First, the writing is often dry. I appreciate the author's commitment to accuracy, but outside of the descriptions in first hand accounts, it is not always riveting reading. This is especially true at the beginning of the book. Secondly, those without a background in the overall Battle of Tarawa as fought at the regiment and below level will find that the book lacks some necessary context at times. I would have appreciated a better idea of how the overall battle was developing beyond the narrow tank-fight.
While this book does not change any scholarly notions of the Pacific War, but it provides an interesting series of tactical lessons that the Marine Corps incorporated into later battles and provides fascinating detail on a little-known and seldom discussed part of the Battle of Tarawa. I found myself pondering how many of these lessons led to the decision by the modern USMC to divest itself of tanks several years back.
Recommended for Tarawa, armor, and Pacific War buffs.
June 11, 2018
30% done and I was skipping some of the many intro chapters. Page upon page of WWI strategies in a WWII tank battle book? Really? BLAH! Great cover great potential... poor execution.
September 29, 2019
Overall a good read on a pretty esoteric topic. The tactics used are what stuck out to me the most. I recommend for any armor lover.
December 15, 2019
A great book telling what it was like to be in battle inside a tank and not seeing what was going on around you. A lot has been written on the men in battle but the tank war in the Pacific.
January 21, 2020
Very very interesting!
I served in the USMC 1962 1966. Never tanks. I have much respect for these Old Corps Marines. God bless them.
I served in the USMC 1962 1966. Never tanks. I have much respect for these Old Corps Marines. God bless them.
April 20, 2020
This one had a tough time keeping my attention - which is kinda surprising for a combat history book. I didn't enjoy reading this one very much.
August 10, 2025
Good read. Happened so long ago now.
August 19, 2025
Great perspective of tank warfare in the pacific
Lots of information I have never read about Tarawa and Marine Corps use of tanks in the Pacific. Great resource!
Lots of information I have never read about Tarawa and Marine Corps use of tanks in the Pacific. Great resource!
February 28, 2020
Short and concise, the experiences of a very few in a unique environment are captured well. There is only so much one can do with one company during one battle yet the authors have provided a good baseline of information to compliment the events in the book. Worth your time if you have any interest in tanks and their use in World War II. The size of Tarawa really highlights how ferocious that battle must have been.
February 24, 2019
Fascinaing story of true heroes
Very detailed and interesting story of the heroic and chaotic actions of this tank company and its members. Would give it 5 stars if not for the numerous capitalization and punctuation errors. Perhaps these are attributed to the kindle version. Otherwise recommended to history buffs.
Very detailed and interesting story of the heroic and chaotic actions of this tank company and its members. Would give it 5 stars if not for the numerous capitalization and punctuation errors. Perhaps these are attributed to the kindle version. Otherwise recommended to history buffs.
December 27, 2022
Great description of the couple-day battle for Tarawa, from the Tankers perspective. I've read WW2 Europe tank stories before, never Pacific; very interesting.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews