The victory ended japanese attempts to reinforce their troops on guadalcanal. Prior to guadalcanal the battle of midway, fought in june 1942, must be considered one of the most decisive battles of world war two. Morison, history of united states naval operations in world war ii, vol. Time out for entertainment, november 2007 a richly illustrated tribute to the first u. Navy action and operational reports from world war ii. Guadalcanal diary the national wwii museum new orleans. Marine aircraft from the new airfield on guadalcanal and army aircraft operating from the airfield at. Told with an amazing attention to detail that makes you feel the muck on your feet and smell the rot of the jungle, author eric hammel succeeds in adding a new wrinkle to the story of the battle through rare photos and firsthand accounts. For webquest or practice, print a copy of this quiz at the world war ii battle of guadalcanal webquest print page. Secreats revelead about one of the most important naval battles of wwii. His previous book, morning star, rising sun, had found the us navy at its absolute nadir and the fate of the enterprise, the last operational us aircraft carrier at this point in the war, unknown. An ijn cruiser squadron wreaks havoc on allied naval forces around guadalcanal. Commencing on 11 november 1942, it lasted for five days and consisted of three phases. With the victory at guadalcanal, the strategic initiative passed to the allies for the remainder of the war.
Hydrick a microfilm project of university publications of america an imprint of cis. The solomon islands campaign was a major campaign of the pacific war of world war ii. A superior japanese force had run smack into a smaller, outnumbered american force. In early november, the japanese organized another guadalcanal convoy, embarking 7,000 troops and their equipment in another attempt to retake henderson field. On the sea, the americans and japanese slugged it out at savo island, as well as the great naval battles of november, 1942. Battle of guadalcanal 5 naval history and heritage navy.
In conjunction with their troop landings, japanese naval. It was a brutal sixmonth campaign that cost the lives of some 7,000 americans and over 30,000 japanese. The japanese occupied these locations and began the construction of several naval and air bases with the goals of. It is a province of the solomon islands, an independent island state located northeast of australia in the pacific ocean. World war ii was waged on land, on sea, and in the air over several. The bureau of naval personnels official list of the navy s world war ii casualties resulting from enemy action is a 1947 ibm printout arranged chronologically by the campaigns as listed in the secretary of the navy s navy and marine corps awards manual. Navy action and operational reports from world war ii pacific theater part 1. Japanese snlf and engineers land on the island off guadalcanal in order to establish a seaplane base there. The guadalcanal campaign was a significant strategic combined arms victory by allied forces over the japanese in the. Craven and cate, the army air forces in world war ii, 91.
The bureau of naval personnels official list of the navy s world war ii casualties resulting from enemy action is a 1947 ibm printout arranged chronologically by the campaigns as listed in the secretary of the navy s navy. Beginning with the daring attack on scapa flow by a german uboat and concluding with the japanese surrender in tokyo bay, this fine book covers every major naval encounter of the war. Clash for supremacy in the pacific by mark stille nihon kaigun web site. Guadalcanal solomon islands battle of 19421943 books alibris. Shop guadalcanal solomon islands battle of 19421943 books at alibris. Cactus air force refers to the ensemble of allied air power assigned to the island of guadalcanal from august 1942 until december 1942 during the early stages of the guadalcanal campaign, particularly those operating from henderson field.
The departments of war and the navy created lists of casualties during world war ii. Navy fought six major engagements in waters surrounding guadalcanal, more bitter and bloody than any naval battle in american history since 1814. I strongly recommend it for anyone who is fan of the navy or any person interested in the history of world war ii. Second battle of guadalcanal third savo 1415 november 1942 contributed by richard worth. Sources of information on us navy casualties in world war ii. In the months after the attack on pearl harbor, allied forces suffered a string of reverses as hong kong, singapore, and the philippines were lost and the japanese swept through the pacific. Navy aircraft carrier uss wasp cv7 burning and listing after she was torpedoed by the japanese submarine i19, on sept. Navy action and operational reports from world war ii, pacific. The early guadalcanal solomons campaign of world war ii augustoctober 1942 hardcover february 20, 2018. It also assisted the british royal navy in the naval war against germany and italy. Samuel eliot morison, history of united states naval operations in world war ii, vol. 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. Abdacom gave the allies valuable experience in coalition warfare and combined.
The first objective of what would become the battle of guadalcanal was to prevent the japanese from interrupting the communication and supply transport between the u. This is an incredible recounting of the naval actions around guadalcanal that prevented imperial japan from succeeding in that struggle. He was seriously wounded there and evacuated back to the states where he spent a year in a naval hospital. Army troops committed to guadalcanal came under command of maj. Orders of battle first battle of guadalcanal battles of. As viewed from the perspective of the concentration of forces tatsushi saito 1. Callaghan, rear admiral norman scott to be killed in a world war ii surface engagement were lost in this battle. Thus, the naval battle of guadalcanal was the last major attempt by the japanese to seize control of the seas around guadalcanal or to retake the island. The world war ii battle of guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the allies in the pacific theater.
The battle for guadalcanal that lasted from august 1942 to february 1943 was the first major american counteroffensive against the japanese in the pacific. A superb depiction of the ferocious night action off the coast of guadalcanal from deck level and from both sides. The battle of guadalcanal was a major battle between the united states and japan in world war ii. World war ii is a significant period in the colonial history of solomon. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Naval battle of guadalcanal project gutenberg self. It was the first major land offensive by allied forces against the empire of japan. Lee commanded the american ships during the second night of the naval battle of guadalcanal november 1415, 1942 and turned back a japanese invasion force headed for the island. The naval battles for guadalcanal 1942 osprey publishing. The battle marked the first time since entering the war that the united states had gone on the offensive and attacked the japanese. Navys first offensive amphibious operation in the pacific. The naval battle of guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the third and fourth battles of savo. Best books on the pacific war for reasons big and small, understandable and unjustified, the war in the pacific during world war ii has largely been overshadowed by the allies war against hitler. Introduction guadalcanal was an important island for the americans, since the securing of its airfield would be a necessary first step towards an assault on rabaul.
Most of the attention around guadalcanal focuses on the marines, but it was fundamentally a naval battle. National archives and records administration 700 pennsylvania avenue, nw washington, dc 204080001. Cox comes this insightful new history of the critical guadalcanal and solomons campaign at the height of world war ii. 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. Orders of battle battles of the pacific world war ii.
To date, the only coast guardsman recipient of the medal of honor is signalman 1st class douglas albert munro, awarded posthumously for his extraordinary heroism on 27 september 1942 at point cruz, guadalcanal. My father served in the united states marine corps during world war 2 and fought in the first offensive battle by the us during the war, the battle for the island of guadalcanal. And after the capture of guadalcanal, they made sure of. Pacific islands year book, and reports of the british navy and colonial office. Second world war, military world war ii, history military world war ii, history military war, history. Moore will discuss his recent book the battle for hells island. 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. The battle of midway effectively destroyed japans naval strength when the americans destroyed four of its aircraft carriers. The term cactus comes from the allied code name for the island. 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. In support of a major ground offensive by the imperial japanese army, japanese carriers and other large warships were positioned near the southern solomons in the hope of drawing out and decisively defeating allied naval forces. Craig symonds has written a tremendous onevolume account of the global war at sea in world war ii. 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.
The united states navy grew rapidly during world war ii from 194145, and played a central role in the war against japan. A battle history of the imperial japanese navy by paul s. It was to turn into a sixmonthlong seesaw campaign that pitted ships and aircraft of the u. The campaign began with japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the british solomon islands and bougainville, in the territory of new guinea, during the first six months of 1942. In my opinion, what makes guadalcanal diary stand out, and thus stand the test of time, is the clear and factual manner in which it conveys the new, different feeling of warfare in the pacific for americans. Overview the 78 august 1942 landings on the eastern solomons islands of guadalcanal and tulagi were the u. Foreword this book, the second in a projected fivevolume series, continues the comprehensive history of marine corps operations in world war ii. The landing is part of the overall operations that result in the battle of the coral sea off to the west. The second naval battle of guadalcanal the national wwii.
Decision at sea, the naval battle of guadalcanal, november 15, 1942 by hammel, eric m. Enterprise and the first year of the war by eugene burns, hellcats. Burning ships and bodies littered the field of battle off the shores of guadalcanal at dawn on november, 1942. History of the united states naval operations in world war ii that could be. With japanese troops stationed in this section of the solomon. In 1943 the cactus air force was subsumed into airsols, a joint command of allied air units. The battle at guadalcanal which began eight months to the day after pearl harbormarked the first american offensive of world war ii. The naval battle of guadalcanal was the most complex naval engagement of the arduous. 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. August 1942february 1943 history of united states naval operations in world war ii. Naval battle of guadalcanal mcgill university school of. Japanese casualties were approximately 31,000 killed, 1,000 captured, 38 ships, and 683880 aircraft. Jan 03, 2018 on august 7, 1942 mostly american allied forces landed on the island of guadalcanal and soon after on tulagi and florida. The japanese knew that the attack on the united states of america a bad idea.
The battle lasted six months from august 7, 1942 to february 9, 1943. All the questions on this quiz are based on information that can be found on the page at world war ii battle of guadalcanal. It was the first major offensive by allied forces against the empire of. Orders of battle second battle of guadalcanal battles. During world war ii, gonzalez made a series of posters for the us. Orders of battle second battle of guadalcanal battles of. The struggle for guadalcanal, august 1942february 1943, the u. Commanderinchief pacific area command project editor robert e. Naval battle of guadalcanal naval history and heritage navy. Guadalcanal features 14 of these scenarios including savo islanda costly allied setback, cape esperance.
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. During the campaign to take guadalcanal, the allied losses numbered around 7,100 men, 29 ships, and 615 aircraft. From the solomon islands campaigns to the courageous action of edsons raiders at the battle of the bloody ridge, from the great threeday. Navy and ground and air units of the marine corps and army against tenacious japanese resistance by land and sea. Guadalcanal, as most historians know, was the scene of a bloody, sixmonth struggle by the marines and later, the army to take a trio of islands in the pacifics solomon. Japanese troops landed on guadalcanal on july 6, 1942, and began constructing an. The previous night, american and japanese ships had clashed in arguably the most unorganized and chaotic naval battle of world war ii. Photo taken during the naval battle of guadalcanal on november 1415, 1942, showing the u. This volume, ten years in the writing, recounts the full story of the critical campaign for guadalcanal and is based on firsttime. The naval battle of guadalcanal was the most complex naval engagement of the arduous guadalcanal campaign. Battle 360 episode 1 chronicling the activities of the world war ii carrier uss enterprise, one of the most revered ships in u.
Throughout the book, the reader learns about all phases of the guadalcanal campaign, including the battles of alligator creek and bloody ridge. Hartman, chief of the world war ii group of the historical divi. 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 national archives scanned those lists and they are available on naras website in the online catalog at. Guadalcanal solomon islands battle of 19421943 books. 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 japanese launch several air attacks against us shipping near the island, but they fail to cause much damage. Fletcher withdraws his naval force, temporarily leaving the marines isolated.
The battle of guadalcanal began on august 7, 1942, during world war ii 19391945. The deadliest naval battle of world war ii and the men who fought it by. May 11, 1888 august 25, 1945 was a vice admiral of the united states navy during world war ii. 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. Navy admirals to be killed in a surface engagement in the war were lost. 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. 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.
Apr 19, 2010 the japanese knew that the attack on the united states of america a bad idea. Foreword this book is the fourth in the fivevolume history of marine corps operations in world war ii. 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. Masterful pacing, vivid character sketches, and gripping action blend with rigorous historical detail in samuel b. August 1942february 1943 history of united states naval operations in world war ii, volume 5 morison, samuel eliot on. The realities of what it meant to fight in tall, razorlike grass, to visually search trees in the jungle for snipers, to eat cold food, to. Guadalcanal is a large mountainous island with tropical rainforests and sandy beaches. Navy grew slowly in the years prior to world war ii, due in part to international limitations on naval operations in the 1920s. Book 3 also contains material on the solomon islands campaign. Aug 15, 2007 guadalcanal is truly an outstanding effort to document the sacrifice and struggle in americas first steppingstone on the path to victory over japan.
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