Initial landings and capture of airfield, august 78, 1942. The battle of guadalcanal began on august 7, 1942, during world war ii 19391945. The guadalcanal campaign was fought between august 7, 1942, and february 9, 1943, in the pacific theatre of world war ii. Lavishly illustrated with drawings, maps, and photographs, this fresh look at the campaign set a standard for aviation histories when first published in 1994. 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. The victory on guadalcanal can be understood only by an appreciation of the contribution of each service. It was the first major offensive by allied forces against the empire of japan. Action on the matanikau, guadalcanal, from 7 to 9 october, 1942, enabled general vandegrift to establish forward positions in that area during the balance of the campaign. Download the official battle of guadalcanal brochure for a full listing of. This uniform was subsequently worn by marines of all arms from the solomons campaign to the end of the war.
Newell 65k guadalcanal, 7 august 1942 from the guadalcanal campaign brochure by charles r. Establishment of the perimeter and battle of the tenaru pages. All projections from a sphere to a plane are distorted. The new update for armored brigade is live order of battle. This campaign was the first major offensive that the allied powers initiated against. The allied forces lost around 7,100 men during the guadalcanal campaign. It was the first major offensive by allied forces against the empire of japan on 7 august 1942, allied forces, predominantly united states.
Some of these maps are available in digital format. Prelude to the offensive the guadalcanal campaign, the first amphibious offensive operation to be launched by the united states in world war ii, was undertaken by the united states navy and marine corps in august, 1942, just eight months after the japanese had struck their initial blow at pearl harbor. Initial landings and capture of airfield, august 78, 1942 map c guadalcanal campaign. Guadalcanal campaign veterans association home facebook. This page provides a complete overview of guadalcanal, solomon islands region maps. Remembering guadalcanal, a battle without maps 1st edition. We knew only that he was moving down the island chain and that he had to be stop. Guadalcanal campaign simple english wikipedia, the free.
The allied strategy for the guadalcanal operation is also seen in maps that accompanied general douglas macarthurs reports. It was the first major offensive by allied forces against the empire of. The island is mainly covered in dense tropical rainforest and has a mountainous. The guadalcanal campaign, a monograph prepared by the historical division, headquarters, united states marine corps, is the fifth of a series of operational monographs designed to present to both the student and the casual reader complete and factually accurate narratives of the major operations in which the marine corps participated during world war ii. The page is dedicated to all those who served during the guadalcanal era. Mueller is a lieutenant colonel in the usmc reserve and the foremost expert on the guadalcanal campaign. The coastal map of guadalcanal finally adopted as official by the 1st marine division and employed, with such corrections as could later be developed, throughout the entire campaign was traced from an aerial strip map obtained by colonel goettge on his mission to australia, and, while reasonably accurate as to general outline, contained no. The americans had landed in guadalcanal to prevent the construction of a strategic japanese airbase there. First blood the guadalcanal campaign a brief history of the guadalcanal campaign. Marine maps on the east side of the lunga perimeter in the early morning hours of 21 august. The detailed maps use the mercator projection which preserves the shape of small areas better. Welcome to the guadalcanal campaign veterans association face book page.
Isatabu is the principal island in guadalcanal province of the solomon islands, located in the southwestern pacific, northeast of australia. This place is situated in sevilla, andalucia, spain, its geographical coordinates are 38 6 0 north, 5 49 0 west and its original name with diacritics is guadalcanal. We did not know how strong he was, nor did we know his plans. The guadalcanal campaign, also known as the battle of guadalcanal and codenamed operation watchtower 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. Life on guadalcanal the national wwii museum new orleans. The fighting took place on and around the island of guadalcanal in the southern. Strategic and tactical maps, 1939 1944, guadalcanal, map 2. Strategic and tactical maps, 1939 1944, guadalcanal, map 1 rg 127.
On august 7, 1942 at 0910 hrs the ramp of an american landing craft infantry banged down in the surf of beach red 6,000 yards east of lunga point on an obscure island in the solomon islands chain called guadalcanal. Vandegrift, usmc, commander of the 1st marine division, working on the flag bridge of uss mccawley ap10, at the time of the guadalcanaltulagi landings operation watchtower, august. The pacific war was the largest naval conflict in history. These maps detail various aspects of operation watchtower and provide. Guadalcanal campaign historical atlas of australasia 15. Maps of the guadalcanal campaign wikimedia commons. Guadalcanal campaign naval history and heritage navy. 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 most decisive engagement of the campaign was the air and naval battle of guadalcanal in midnovember 1942, an engagement in which neither army nor marine corps ground troops took any direct part. Americans, with some help from their australian friends, fight a bloody war of attrition to defeat japans second attempt to block the lines of communication between the united states and australia.
The japanese responded with repeated attacks on the american positions by land, air and sea from august to december. Courtesy of the united states military academy department of history. Guadalcanal campaign aug 7, 1942 feb 9, 1943 summary. The battle for guadalcanal, 7 august 1942 7 february 1943. Fantasy general ii twitch lets play series announced. 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. Guadalcanal presentation guadalcanal campaign battle. From huddled command conferences to cramped cockpits, john lundstrom guides readers though the maelstrom of air combat at guadalcanal in this impressively researched sequel to his earlier. Southwest pacific area, assigning the command to general douglas. A japanese patrol aircraft from tulagi had searched the general area the allied invasion fleet. First team and the guadalcanal campaign navy general. Rear admiral richmond kelly turner, commander of task force 61 left, and major general a.
The guadalcanal campaign centered on one island and encompassed six months. It goes into detail about the campaign between the 1st marine division and the japanese army and you get a very good feel for the campaign and its high points as well as references to how the strategic events of the pacific theater effected its outcome. The drawback of the plate carree projection is that it doesnt make an attempt to compensate for these distortions. Pacific naval battles in world war ii combined fleet. Japanese lose battleships hiei, kirishishima heavy cruisers kinguagasa, three destroyers and seven transports. Unable to prevail, japan withdrew over the first months of 1943. Nevertheless, it is important because of whytes insight into the psyche of the generation that fought ww ii and then became leaders in the 1950s. The guadalcanal campaign which was codenamed as operation watchtower by the allied powers was a naval campaign that took place between august 7, 1942 and february 9, 1943. The archives branch maintains a collection of original maps from the guadalcanal campaign, to include the overlays, appendices, and enclosures from the divisional operation plans and after action reports. With japanese troops stationed in this section of the solomon. Guadalcanal campaign 1942 1943 operation watchtower, solomon islands. World war ii maps perrycastaneda map collection ut. Another source dates this photo to 8842, an identifies the reclinin marine wi haunds behind heid as bill coggin. It was the first major land offensive by allied forces against the empire of japan.
By may 1942, japan has spread across the pacific and is threatening americas supply lines to australia after building an airf. Whyte joins the long list of guadalcanal memoirists that began with john hersey into the valley, 1943 and richard tregaskis guadalcanal diary, 1943 and has continued to martin clemens alone on guadalcanal, ch, sep98. Fought between august 7, 1942 and february 9, 1943, the battle of guadalcanal, also known as the guadalcanal campaign, was an epic, sixmonthlong effort to capture and hold the island of guadalcanalspecifically, a key air field there called henderson fieldand surrounding islands in the southern solomon islands. Charles river editors the turning points in the pacific. Unitit states marines rest in the field during the guadalcanal campaign. Accordin tae ken burns film the war, the marine in the richt backgrund is sidney phillips o mobile, alabama. The guadalcanal campaign, also known as the battle of guadalcanal and codenamed. The second echelon of the 1st marine division with its equipment and. John basilone was to be awarded the congressional medal of honor for his actions that night. In its early stages, the guadalcanal campaign was primarily a navy. Guadalcanal august 1942february 1943 rear admiral richmond kelly turner, commander of task force 61 left, and major general a. American loses heavy cruisers atlanta, san francisco, light cruisers juneau, and seven destroyers. The new uniform was issued to the flood of new recruits crowding the recruit depots in the early months of 1942 and was first worn in combat during the landings on guadalcanal in august 1942.
It is highly recommended for general or academic readers. The island was the scene of fierce fighting during the second world war. From simple outline maps to detailed map of guadalcanal. Informative map book including useful battlefield maps and archival images to. This section pertains to the initial landings on august 7, 1942, and maps related to the guadalcanal campaign. The imperial japanese army landed 31,400 men on guadalcanal, and evacuated 10,652, making the fatality total about 20,800. He has had several articles and books published on the subject, and maintains a massive collection of photos, written material and equipment relevant to the battle. There are plenty of maps in a simplistic and clear style and also plenty of photographs. The maps themselves currently cover only the fighting on guadalcanal island and not the fighting on nearby florida, tulagi and gavutu islands. Navynational archives the japanese lost a total of 24,000 men killed in the battle of guadalcanal, while the americans sustained 1,600 killed, 4,200 wounded, and several thousand dead from malaria and other. On 10 january, patch gave the signal to start the strongest american offensive yet in the guadalcanal campaign.
Preface the guadalcanal campaign, a monograph prepared by the historical division, headquarters, united states marine corps, is the fifth of a series of operational monographs designed to present to both the student and the casual reader complete and factually accurate narratives of the major operations in which the marine corps participated during world war ii. The battle of guadalcanal, august 1942february 1943 map a the solomons. It is highly recommended for general or academic readers interested in the second world war. For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st battalion, 7th marines, 1st marine division in the lunga area, guadalcanal, solomon islands, on 24. Fiercely contested on the ground, at sea, and in the air, the campaign was the first major offensive launched by allied forces against. The entire operation to capture the marianas in 1944 spanned a period of five months and comprised largescale invasions of several enemyoccupied islands. Choose from a wide range of region map types and styles. Guadalcanal features 14 of these scenarios including savo islanda costly allied setback, cape esperance. This campaign, which was a decisive and strategically important campaign of world war ii, was fought on the ground, at sea, and in the air between allied forces against imperial japanese forces. Attack on bloody ridge, september 1214, 1942 map d guadalcanal campaign. These islands were captured during the first few days of the campaign at great cost to the marine raiders and marine paratroopers, both of whom were eventually sent to guadalcanal and merged into a. With its position in the south pacific, guadalcanal was an ideal location for a. The world war ii battle of guadalcanal was the first major offensive and a decisive victory for the allies in the pacific theater.
Across the huge expanses of the pacific, the two most powerful navies. For the general view of guadalcanal, this is not a significant problem. All maps in alphabetical order just click directly on any of the links below to start downloading immediately. Guadalcanal was a campaign unlike any other in the pacific.
Tanambogo island tanambogo island under an allied bombardment during the guadalcanal campaign, august 1942. We struck at guadalcanal to halt the advance of the japanese. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Toliy has a comprehensive collection of pg2 maps and icons and other goodies.
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