The Battle of Tarawa was fought on 20–23 November 1943 between the United States and Japan at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. This was part of Operation Galvanic with the Battle of Tarawa the first American offensive in the Central Pacific. Although BAC was conducted following the battle, ERW is still located in Kiribati today.
A series of 14 coastal defense guns, including four Vickers 8 inch guns were secured in concrete bunkers around the island to guard the open water approaches.
Recently a request was made by the Kiribati Government to New Zealand to train members of the Kiribati Police to manage ERW remaining from the battle of Tarawa. To support this request the New Zealand Defence Force trained five Kiribati Police Officers in New Zealand to an IMAS Level 1 standard. On returning to Kiribati the five successful candidates were presented their Associate Membership of the Institute of Munition Clearance and Search Engineers certificates by a member of the New Zealand High Commission.
