The V Amphibious Corps (VAC) under the command of Major General Holland Smith was formed at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii out of the earlier Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet (PhibCorpsPacFlt) that had been in existence since Apr 1942. VAC was formed to be the amphibious landing force for Fifth Fleet to support Central Pacific operations and its first mission was to seize the Gilbert Islands, including the controversial assault on Tarawa.