The Battle of Guadalcanal
Admiral William Halsey Admiral Richmond K. Turner
Admiral William Halsey Admiral Richmond K. Turner
Japanese Admiral Yamamoto
The Battle of Guadalcanal started on August 7th, 1942 when the US Marines landed on the island of Guadalcanal. The landing at Guadalcanal was unopposed - but it took the Americans six months to defeat the Japanese in what was to turn into a classic battle of attrition.
Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands which lie to the north-eastern approaches of Australia. Though it is a humid and jungle-covered tropical island its position made it strategically important for both sides in the Pacific War. If the Japanese captured the island, they could cut off the sea route between Australia and America. If the Americans controlled the island, they would be better able to protect Australia from Japanese invasion and they could also protect the Allied build-up in Australia that would act as a springboard for a major assault on the Japanese.
Islands around Australia had been 'dotted' with men from the Australian coast watching team. These teams of spotters believed that by the end of June 1942 the island of Guadalcanal held some 3,000 Japanese soldiers on it. The allies believed it was the intention of the Japanese to build an airfield near a large plantation on the island (Lunga plantation).
The Chief of Naval Forces in the area, Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set this threat. Despite the Roosevelt-Churchill directive that gave the European war zone priority, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the go-ahead for the first American offensive campaign since Pearl Harbor, HI in December 1941.
King's plan seemed simple enough. The 1st US Marine Division would land in Guadalcanal and secure a beach head to allow other US forces to land.
On August 7th, the Americans started their attack on Guadalcanal. Up to that date, the amphibious force was the most powerful ever assembled. Three carriers gave air support (the 'Saratoga', the 'Wasp' and the 'Enterprise') guarded by the battleship USS North Carolina and 24 other support ships. Five cruisers from America and Australia guarded the actual landing craft that gathered off the coast of Guadalcanal.
The Americans achieved complete tactical surprise. When the Marines landed, they expected major Japanese defenses. They found nothing.
Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands which lie to the north-eastern approaches of Australia. Though it is a humid and jungle-covered tropical island its position made it strategically important for both sides in the Pacific War. If the Japanese captured the island, they could cut off the sea route between Australia and America. If the Americans controlled the island, they would be better able to protect Australia from Japanese invasion and they could also protect the Allied build-up in Australia that would act as a springboard for a major assault on the Japanese.
Islands around Australia had been 'dotted' with men from the Australian coast watching team. These teams of spotters believed that by the end of June 1942 the island of Guadalcanal held some 3,000 Japanese soldiers on it. The allies believed it was the intention of the Japanese to build an airfield near a large plantation on the island (Lunga plantation).
The Chief of Naval Forces in the area, Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set this threat. Despite the Roosevelt-Churchill directive that gave the European war zone priority, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the go-ahead for the first American offensive campaign since Pearl Harbor, HI in December 1941.
King's plan seemed simple enough. The 1st US Marine Division would land in Guadalcanal and secure a beach head to allow other US forces to land.
On August 7th, the Americans started their attack on Guadalcanal. Up to that date, the amphibious force was the most powerful ever assembled. Three carriers gave air support (the 'Saratoga', the 'Wasp' and the 'Enterprise') guarded by the battleship USS North Carolina and 24 other support ships. Five cruisers from America and Australia guarded the actual landing craft that gathered off the coast of Guadalcanal.
The Americans achieved complete tactical surprise. When the Marines landed, they expected major Japanese defenses. They found nothing.
Islands around Australia had been 'dotted' with men from the Australian coast watching team. These teams of spotters believed that by the end of June 1942 the island of Guadalcanal held some 3,000 Japanese soldiers on it. The allies believed it was the intention of the Japanese to build an airfield near a large plantation on the island (Lunga plantation).
The Chief of Naval Forces in the area, Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set this threat. Despite the Roosevelt-Churchill directive that gave the European war zone priority, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the go-ahead for the first American offensive campaign since Pearl Harbor, HI in December 1941.
King's plan seemed simple enough. The 1st US Marine Division would land in Guadalcanal and secure a beach head to allow other US forces to land.
On August 7th, the Americans started their attack on Guadalcanal. Up to that date, the amphibious force was the most powerful ever assembled. Three carriers gave air support (the 'Saratoga', the 'Wasp' and the 'Enterprise') guarded by the battleship USS North Carolina and 24 other support ships. Five cruisers from America and Australia guarded the actual landing craft that gathered off the coast of Guadalcanal.
The Americans achieved complete tactical surprise. When the Marines landed, they expected major Japanese defenses. They found nothing.
As the Americans advanced inland towards where the airfield was being built, they came across another major problem - the climate. The hot and humid jungle climate quickly took its toll on soldiers carrying heavy equipment. The Americans made no contact with the Japanese and for the first 24 hours there was no fighting on Guadalcanal.
However, this was not so for the Marines who landed at nearby islands that lay to the north of Guadalcanal. The Americans needed to control these small islands in order to control the Ironbottom Sound and nearby channel that separated Guadalcanal from Florida Island, north of it. Here the Marines encountered fierce resistance and it took the U.S. Marine Raiders 24 hours to eliminate the Japanese who had been based at there.
The Americans arrived at the airfield on Guadalcanal late on August 8th. Once again, there were no Japanese there as they had fled into the jungle. The news that the Marines had reached the airfield was greeted with joy in Washington. But this joy was shattered on the night of August 8th/9th when a Japanese cruiser force attacked the Allied naval force at Guadalcanal and forced it to withdraw. The Marines on Guadalcanal were left to defend themselves without support from the naval forces.
The Japanese Navy controlled the sea around Guadalcanal and frequently fired on the Marines. The Japanese air force bombed the airfield runway. However, Vandergrift did have one good piece of luck - the Japanese had left a number of very useful vehicles which the Marines used to repair the runway. Their work was rewarded on August 20th when 19 Wildcat fighters and 12 Dauntless bombers landed at the airfield - now known as Henderson airfield.
The Japanese had landed men on Guadalcanal on August 18th. It was here that the Americans first found out that the Japanese did not surrender and that they were willing to die for the emperor. The Japanese commander dishonored by defeat committed ritual suicide.
This became a very strategic airfield for the Allies bringing them one step closer to being able to reach Japan by air, the ultimate goal of the Allies. Japan would try three more times to retake this airfield simply because the Japanese hierarchy in Tokyo refused to admit defeat and ordered yet more men to Guadalcanal. In mid-November 1942, planes from Henderson attacked a convoy of ships bringing Japanese reinforcements to Guadalcanal. Of eleven transport ships, six were sunk, one was severely damaged and four had to be beached. Only 2,000 men ever reached Guadalcanal - but few had any equipment as this had been lost at sea. In December 1942, the emperor ordered a withdrawal from Guadalcanal. This withdrawal took place from January to February 1943 and the Americans learned that even in defeat that the Japanese were a force to be reckoned with. 11,000 Japanese soldiers were taken off the island in the so-called 'Tokyo Night Express'.
The American victory at Guadalcanal ensured that Australia was safe from a Japanese invasion while the sea route from Australia to America was also protected.
The Chief of Naval Forces in the area, Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set this threat. Despite the Roosevelt-Churchill directive that gave the European war zone priority, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the go-ahead for the first American offensive campaign since Pearl Harbor, HI in December 1941.
King's plan seemed simple enough. The 1st US Marine Division would land in Guadalcanal and secure a beach head to allow other US forces to land.
On August 7th, the Americans started their attack on Guadalcanal. Up to that date, the amphibious force was the most powerful ever assembled. Three carriers gave air support (the 'Saratoga', the 'Wasp' and the 'Enterprise') guarded by the battleship USS North Carolina and 24 other support ships. Five cruisers from America and Australia guarded the actual landing craft that gathered off the coast of Guadalcanal.
The Americans achieved complete tactical surprise. When the Marines landed, they expected major Japanese defenses. They found nothing.
As the Americans advanced inland towards where the airfield was being built, they came across another major problem - the climate. The hot and humid jungle climate quickly took its toll on soldiers carrying heavy equipment. The Americans made no contact with the Japanese and for the first 24 hours there was no fighting on Guadalcanal.
However, this was not so for the Marines who landed at nearby islands that lay to the north of Guadalcanal. The Americans needed to control these small islands in order to control the Ironbottom Sound and nearby channel that separated Guadalcanal from Florida Island, north of it. Here the Marines encountered fierce resistance and it took the U.S. Marine Raiders 24 hours to eliminate the Japanese who had been based at there.
The Americans arrived at the airfield on Guadalcanal late on August 8th. Once again, there were no Japanese there as they had fled into the jungle. The news that the Marines had reached the airfield was greeted with joy in Washington. But this joy was shattered on the night of August 8th/9th when a Japanese cruiser force attacked the Allied naval force at Guadalcanal and forced it to withdraw. The Marines on Guadalcanal were left to defend themselves without support from the naval forces.
The Japanese Navy controlled the sea around Guadalcanal and frequently fired on the Marines. The Japanese air force bombed the airfield runway. However, Vandergrift did have one good piece of luck - the Japanese had left a number of very useful vehicles which the Marines used to repair the runway. Their work was rewarded on August 20th when 19 Wildcat fighters and 12 Dauntless bombers landed at the airfield - now known as Henderson airfield.
The Japanese had landed men on Guadalcanal on August 18th. It was here that the Americans first found out that the Japanese did not surrender and that they were willing to die for the emperor. The Japanese commander dishonored by defeat committed ritual suicide.
This became a very strategic airfield for the Allies bringing them one step closer to being able to reach Japan by air, the ultimate goal of the Allies. Japan would try three more times to retake this airfield simply because the Japanese hierarchy in Tokyo refused to admit defeat and ordered yet more men to Guadalcanal. In mid-November 1942, planes from Henderson attacked a convoy of ships bringing Japanese reinforcements to Guadalcanal. Of eleven transport ships, six were sunk, one was severely damaged and four had to be beached. Only 2,000 men ever reached Guadalcanal - but few had any equipment as this had been lost at sea. In December 1942, the emperor ordered a withdrawal from Guadalcanal. This withdrawal took place from January to February 1943 and the Americans learned that even in defeat that the Japanese were a force to be reckoned with. 11,000 Japanese soldiers were taken off the island in the so-called 'Tokyo Night Express'.
The American victory at Guadalcanal ensured that Australia was safe from a Japanese invasion while the sea route from Australia to America was also protected.