Kiribati: Japanese WWII Guns

Tarawa was the place of a major battle during WW2 in 1943. Heavily fortified by the occupying Japanese, it was subject to an assault by US marines, that actually failed in the first attempt, and ended up lasting 72 hours and 6,000 lives from both sides. The western coast of South Tarawa still has remnants of the Japanese defenses, including two large coastal artillery guns pointing out toward the outer coral reef and some bunkers. The salty water and nature are slowly claiming the artifacts of war to erosion.