The Guns that Pointed the Wrong Way

During the Japanese occupation of Tarawa, Gilbert Is., Betio islet—scene of o[?] of the bloodiest battles of the Pacific war—was fortified with British naval gu [?] captured at Singapore. The guns are still in their original positions, in various stat [?] of decay, but this one is unique. According to records of the American assault [?] Betio airfield the missing half of the barrel was caused by a direct hit from t [?] US cruiser “Tennessee”, and not from rust and neglect. —Photo by Jack Thornto [?]