<human>:  What was the outcome of the Battle of Tarawa?
<bot>: The US forces were able to defeat the Japanese forces, but at a great cost of life. The battle of Tarawa was a key battle in the Pacific campaign during World War II, and the bloodiest battle in the history of the US Marine Corps. Over 2,000 Marines were killed in the battle, and the Marines lost the use of their landing craft for months due to the damage they sustained.