Naval battle of guadalcanal naval history and heritage navy. Japanese troops landed on guadalcanal on july 6, 1942, and began constructing an. In early november, the japanese organized another guadalcanal convoy, embarking 7,000 troops and their equipment in another attempt to retake henderson field. Records of this campaign are fragmentary and in some cases nonexistant.
Guadalcanal secured volume 8 donald a bertke volume 8 documents the swing of battle from the axis to the allies from december 1942 thru february 1943 as naval actions forced the japanese to begin their retreat and their efforts to forestall the inevitable. The guadalcanal campaign, also known as the battle of guadalcanal and codenamed operation watchtower by american forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 august 1942 and 9 february 1943 on and around the island of guadalcanal in the pacific theater of world war ii. Guadalcanalthe world war ii battle that turned the. Obsessed with guadalcanal, hammel pays tribute to the marines spirit in his fourth book. The battle of guadalcanal was a major battle between the united states and japan in world war ii. The naval battles for guadalcanal 1942 osprey publishing. Book 2 is solely devoted to endorsements of battle actions. The battle for guadalcanal that lasted from august 1942 to february 1943 was the first major american counteroffensive against the japanese in the pacific. This section of the world war ii history info guide is devoted to the bloody fight in 1942 for guadalcanal if you would like a brief introduction to the greater context of guadalcanal, check out the tide turns in our brief history of wwii etext.
The world war ii battle of guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the allies in the pacific theater. Jameson authored this account which the office of naval intelligence published without attribution in 1944. King countered a planned japanese thrust down through the south. A battle history of the imperial japanese navy by paul s. The battle for guadalcanal that lasted from august 1942 to february 1943 was. Naval history, august, 2007 following his earlier achievements with iwo jima and pacific warriors, hammel thrusts the readers into the hell and stench of battle on this solomon island with both words and photographs, many of the most gruesome kind. Overview of guadalcanal by phd students from stanford, harvard, and berkeley guadalcanal aug 7, 1942 feb 9, 1943 in world war ii. Enterprise and the first year of the war by eugene burns, hellcats. During world war ii, the battle of guadalcanal was fought between august 7, 1942 and february 9, 1943 in the solomon islands on and around the island of guadalcanal.
Shop guadalcanal solomon islands battle of 19421943 books at alibris. In this fine book, author joseph wheelan describes the battle that turned the tide in the pacific war. Burning ships and bodies littered the field of battle off the shores of guadalcanal at dawn on november, 1942. Navy action and operational reports from world war ii, pacific. The united states marine corps at the battle of guadalcanal. The battle lasted six months from august 7, 1942 to february 9, 1943. In conjunction with their troop landings, japanese naval.
The battle of cape esperance, also known as the second battle of savo island and, in japanese sources, as the sea battle of savo island, took place on 1112 october 1942, in the pacific campaign of world war ii between the imperial japanese navy and united states navy. The fighting recounted in the books and movies detailed below mainly involves. This relatively minor place on the route from east asia to australasia was the site of one of the hardest fought battles of the second world war, one which was vital in. Fiercely contested on the ground, at sea, and in the air, the campaign was the first major offensive launched by allied forces against the empire of. I have been on a quest to look for naval battles, especially for world war ii. Variously referred to as the third and fourth battles of savo island, the battle of the. The japanese launch several air attacks against us shipping near the island, but they fail to cause much damage. This book might be considered the go to study of one of the pivotal battles of. During the 194243 campaign for the southern solomon island of guadalcanal in 194243, many naval battles were fought to cement the material advantage gained by the allies after the stunning japanese losses at the battle of midway.
Japanese casualties were approximately 31,000 killed, 1,000 captured, 38 ships, and 683880 aircraft. Dull and grace specify 14in hits, perhaps not recognized by the americans due to the unusual ammunition being used, type 3 bombardment rounds. The battle of guadalcanal was the allies the first major offensive of world war ii in the pacific and saw the island captured after a long campaign. Orders of battle second battle of guadalcanal battles of. Henderson field, guadalcanal, solomon islands november 12, 1942 on this date in 1942 in the south pacific, u. The naval battle of guadalcanal was fought november 1215, 1942, during world war ii 19391945.
With japanese troops stationed in this section of the solomon. Lippman and originally appeared in the november 1997 issue of world war ii. World war 2, volume one by martin stephen, firedrake. John demars no combat historians accompanied marine corps and army troops into guadalcanal. A superior japanese force had run smack into a smaller, outnumbered american force. Apr 19, 2010 the japanese knew that the attack on the united states of america a bad idea. The naval battle of guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the third and fourth battles of savo island, the battle of the solomons, the battle of friday the th, or, in japanese sources, the third battle of the solomon sea, daisanji soromon kaisen, took place from 1215 november 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles between allied. The guadalcanal campaign was a significant strategic combined arms victory by allied forces over. The story of americans, australians, new zealanders, and the enemy japanese in the sweltering morass of mud and dust fighting for a desperate hold on the canal. With its position in the south pacific, guadalcanal was an ideal location.
The naval battle of guadalcanal 15 november 1942 was a series of connected engagements that saw the defeat of the last major japanese attempt to bring reinforcements to guadalcanal and was the most important of the six naval battles that were fought around guadalcanal. The world war ii battle that turned the tide of war. The american landing on guadalcanal and the first convoy immediately after the americans landed on guadalcanal on august 7, 1942, the battle of savo island or the first battle of the solomon sea, as the japanese called it was fought at sea, and. The multiphase naval battle of guadalcanal consisted of a series of air and. The naval battle of guadalcanal ended the japanese hope for conquest. With the victory at guadalcanal, the strategic initiative passed to the allies for the remainder of the war. The second naval battle of guadalcanal the national wwii. The naval battle of guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the third battle of savo island or, in japanese sources, as the third battle of the solomon sea, took place november 1215, 1942, and was the decisive battle in a series of naval battles that took place between allied primarily u.
Fierce naval battle off guadalcanal world war ii day by. The low elevation of the barrels shows how the close range of the adversaries. Guadalcanal campaign in the solomon islands during world war ii. The battle of savo island on the night of 9 august 1942, saw the japanese inflict a sever defeat on the allied force, driving them away from guadalcanal and leaving the justlanded marines in a perilously exposed position. It was a brutal sixmonth campaign that cost the lives of some 7,000 americans and over 30,000 japanese. Jan 03, 2018 this campaign would also mark the change of allied operations from defense to offense during this phase of the war. Blends detailed historical records with personal accounts of many of the officers and enlisted men involved, creating an engrossing narrative of the strategy and struggle as seen by both sides. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Naval battle of guadalcanal naval history and heritage.
The guadalcanal campaign, unexcelled for sustained violence on land, sea, and in the air in world war ii, lasted for six months. Dec 14, 2017 the naval battle of guadalcanal was fought november 1215, 1942, during world war ii 19391945. Jungle, crocodiles and snipers during world war ii. Batle of guadalcanal batle of guadalcanal the guadalcanal campaign, also known as the battle of guadalcanal, was fought between august 7, 1942 and february 9, 1943 on and around the island of guadalcanal in the pacific theater of world war ii. The japanese knew that the attack on the united states of america a bad idea. Callaghan, rear admiral norman scott to be killed in a world war ii surface engagement were lost in this battle. The japanese quickly established a seaplane base there. Battle of guadalcanal, august 1942february 1943, series of world war ii land and sea clashes between allied and japanese forces on and around guadalcanal, one of the southern solomon islands, in the south pacific. The multiphase naval battle of guadalcanal consisted of a series of destructive air and sea engagements closely related to a japanese effort to reinforce land forces on the island. An ijn cruiser squadron wreaks havoc on allied naval forces around guadalcanal. It is very detailed, comprehensive and yet readable account of a world war ii. The naval battle of guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the third and fourth battles of savo. Fletcher withdraws his naval force, temporarily leaving the marines isolated. Naval battle of guadalcanal, 1215 november 1942 the five sullivan brothers onboard juneau cl52 at the time of her commissioning ceremonies at the new york navy yard, 14 february 1942.
The battle of guadalcanal campaign would last from august 7th, 1942 to february 9th, 1943. List of united states naval academy alumni wikipedia. The island of tulagi had been occupied by the japanese during the battle of the coral sea in may, 1942. Orders of battle first battle of guadalcanal battles of.
A superb depiction of the ferocious night action off the coast of guadalcanal from deck level and from both sides. Naval battle of guadalcanal mcgill university school of. Guadalcanal aug 7, 1942 feb 9, 1943 in world war ii. Blends detailed historical records with personal accounts of many of the officers and enlisted men involved, creating an engrossing narrative. However, in june the japanese began constructing a fullfledged airbase on the nearby island of guadalcanal. And after the capture of guadalcanal, they made sure of. Details the naval battle of guadalcanal in november of 1942, a crucial step toward americas victory over the japanese during wwii. On august 7th, 1942, american marines stormed ashore on guadalcanal. Masterful pacing, vivid character sketches, and gripping action blend with rigorous historical detail in samuel b. Available were 2 escort carriers, 4 battleships, 7 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, and 30 destroyers. During the campaign to take guadalcanal, the allied losses numbered around 7,100 men, 29 ships, and 615 aircraft.
This book is an excellent account of the battle on land and sea that raged from august. Mar 03, 2016 secreats revelead about one of the most important naval battles of wwii. The battle for guadalcanal is about the events and the people behind one of the most critical battles in the pacific theater of world war ii. The japanese finally sent most of the imperial fleet to expel the americans from guadalcanal. Launched on august 7, 1942, to protect allied control of the strategic south pacific islands, the guadalcanal operation was the most costly american offensive of world war ii in the history of the u. The guadalcanal campaign was a significant strategic combined arms victory by allied forces over the japanese in the. The american landing on guadalcanal and the first convoy immediately after the americans landed on guadalcanal on august 7, 1942, the battle of savo island or the first battle of the solomon sea, as. This campaign would also mark the change of allied operations from defense to offense during this phase of the war. Guadalcanal presentation guadalcanal campaign battle of. The battle at guadalcanalwhich began eight months to the day after pearl harbormarked the first american offensive of world war ii. Fierce naval battle off guadalcanal world war ii day by day. One of the most famous battles in the history of the united states marine corps, guadalcanal takes its name from a small volcanic island in the west pacific island chain. Photo taken during the naval battle of guadalcanal on november 1415, 1942, showing the u.
The naval battle of guadalcanal would primarily take place between november 12th and 15th of 1942. The naval battles extend beyond the guadalcanal campaign through the rest of the. United states marines landed on guadalcanal on august 7, 1942, beginning one of the most significant battles on the pacific front of world war ii. The second naval battle of guadalcanal spelled the difference between victory. Bruce mccandless i august 12, 1911 january 24, 1968 was an officer of united states navy who received the medal of honor during world war ii for his heroism on board uss san francisco, during the naval battle of guadalcanal, november, 1942. Having halted the japanese advance at the battle of midway in june 1942, allied forces launched their first major offensive two months later when us marines landed on guadalcanal. Secreats revelead about one of the most important naval battles of wwii. He tested every gunnerybook rule with exercises and ordered gunnery drills. Guadalcanal features 14 of these scenarios including savo islanda costly allied setback, cape esperance. The world war ii battle that turned the tide of war joseph wheelan. Detailed tactical account of the naval battle of guadalcanal. All were lost with the ship following the november 1942 naval. The naval battle of guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the third and fourth battles of savo island, the battle of the solomons, the battle of friday the th, or, in japanese sources, the third battle of the solomon sea, took place from 1215 november 1942, and was the decisive engagement in a series of naval battles between allied and imperial japanese forces during the monthslong guadalcanal campaign in the solomon islands during world war ii.
The battle at guadalcanal which began eight months to the day after pearl harbormarked the first american offensive of world war ii. Seventyfive years ago, marines, sailors, and airmen battled japanese forces in a brutal sixmonth, noquartergiven campaign for the island of guadalcanal in the solomon islands. The kirishima was the only japanese battleship in world war ii sunk in. All that was left for halseys use were two fast, new, battleships, uss south.