Battle of Guadalcanal
"We have been bombed every day by airplanes." - U.S. Marine
August 7, 1942
The Guadalcanal was part of the Solomon Islands, which were taken over very early in the war by the Japanese to cut off contact between Australia and the United States. United States Marines land on Guadalcanal August 7, 1942. It was the beginning of the first major offensive attack made by the United States in attempt to re-capture the Pacific Islands.
The First 24 Hours
There was an estimated 3,000 Japanese soldiers on the island when the first US Marine Division landed to secure the beach for other US forces. This group of US Marines had little to no combat experience. The Americans completely surprised the Japanese. The marines expected severe Japanese defenses once they landed, but there was nobody in sight. This was an opportunity to land a large amount of supplies onto the beach and take over Henderson airfield. On August 8 Americans arrived at the Guadalcanal airfield, but the Japanese had already fled into the surrounding jungle, to take cover.
The Japanese Respond
August 8, 1942 Japanese ships attack US Naval force that surrounded Guadalcanal and forced them to leave the marines on the island. By August 18 Japanese reinforcements had been sent in, but following that the Allied forces sent in relief for the marines in shore also. With new soldiers sent in, they finally engaged in combat on August 21.
Battle between US Marines and Japanese soldiers in Guadalcanal Island, Pacific Th...HD Stock Footage
Reinforcements
To avoid being shot down by American planes, the Japanese would ship their reinforcements on fast moving destroyers known as "rat-runners". In November 1942 American planes from Henderson airfield sunk 6 Japanese transport ships and severely damaged one. A total of 20,000 Japanese soldiers were sent to Guadalcannal, 23,000 Amercian soldiers. Only 2,000 Japanese reinforcements reached Guadalcannal. The American soldiers clearly had the upper hand by December 1942, with more soldiers and better positioning on the island, so the Japanese were forced to withdrawl.
Weaponry
The common gun, for American soldiers, was the machining gun at Guadalcannal.
Japanese Destroyer
This is an example of the fast-moving destroyer the Japanese used to try to get reinforcements to Guadalcannal at night.
Henderson Airfield
Airfield that gave the Allies the biggest advantage in the Battle of Guadalcannal.