Applying lessons learned from the September action, this time the Marines prepared a carefully coordinated plan of action involving five battalions: two from the 5th Marine Regiment, two from the 7th Marine Regiment, and one from the 2nd Marine Regiment augmented with Marine scout and sniper personnel (called the Whaling Group after its commander Colonel William J. Whaling).
Belært af erfaringerne fra kampene i september lagde marinekorpset denne gang en omhyggeligt forberedt og koordineret slagplan, som involverede fem bataljoner: to fra 5. marineregiment, to fra 7. marineregiment og en fra 2. marineregiment foruden spejdere og snigskytter (kaldet Whalinggruppen efter dens chef, oberst William J. Whaling).