| Naval Base Gilbert Islands | |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Naval Base Gilbert Islands |
| Location: | Pacific Ocean |
| Pushpin Map: | Kiribati#Micronesia#Oceania#Pacific Ocean |
| Archipelago: | Gilbert Islands |
Naval Base Gilbert Islands were naval bases built by the United States Navy in 1943 to support the World War II effort. The bases were located on in the Gilbert Islands in the Central Pacific Ocean. The bases were built as part of the many advance bases in the island-hopping campaign towards the Empire of Japan. The largest base was the Naval Base Tarawa. At Tarawa the Navy built a seaport, supply depots, a small ship repair depot, Carrier Aircraft Service Unit, seaplane base and two airbases. Construction started after the Battle of Tarawa ended on November 23, 1943, part of Operation Galvanic. The bases were built by the US Navy's Seabees, Naval Construction Battalions. After the war the bases were abandoned. Some of the airfields became civilian airports.[1] [2] [3]