The Gilbert Islands (; formerly Kingsmill Islands) are a chain of 16 atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They're the main part of the Republic of Kiribati ("Kiribati"'s the rendition of "Gilberts" in Gilbertese. On 17 August 1942, 221 U.S. Marines of the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion raided Makin from two submarines. The raid was intended by the Americans to confuse the Japanese about US intentions in the Pacific. It's instead believed to have alerted the Japanese to the strategic imp… (More on Gilberts)