Guadalcanal

1
Guadalcanal
World War II Pacific Theatre
7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943
2
United States
Korea
China
Japan
Shanghai
Pearl Harbor
Philippines
Guam
Wake Island
Thailand
Malaya
Dutch East Indies
North Borneo
December 7th, 1941
Australia
3
Japanese Expansion through 1942
4
South Pacific Theater
Marshall Islands
Rabaul
Major Japanese ports and air bases
New Guinea
New Britain
Lae
Bougainville
Salamaua
400 miles
Solomon Islands
650 miles
Buna
Port Moresby
Rabaul is the major base in the South Pacific.
The Japanese must establish bases at Guadalcanal
and Port Moresby.
Solomon Sea
Tulagi
Gavutu
Guadalcanal
Australia
Coral Sea
Question
5
Early May, 1942 Japanese attempt Naval invasion
of Port Moresby
Buna
Port Moresby
Skip question
Question
6
The Kokoda Trail over the Owen Stanley Mountains
7
While on a reconnaissance flight along the coast
of Guadalcanal, the American pilot spotted the
Japanese construction of an air field at Lunga
Point.
Japanese airfield on Guadalcanal under
construction.
8
Since May 1942 the Japanese had been building an
airfield.
Tulagi lacked the jungle and swamps of
Guadalcanal, one of the few islands considered
healthy enough for occupation.
2300 troops fortified Tulagi.
Florida Island
Tulagi
1400 engineers would ferry across the straits and
work the air field each day.
Air field
Guadalcanal
The Allies could not allow this foothold so near
Australia and within reach of the main sea route
from Pearl Harbor and from the western US to
Australia and New Zealand.
9
Guadalcanal was a hundred miles long by 50 miles
at the widest, it was shrouded in a dense
vegetation that thrived on the heavy rainfall
from dense clouds trapped by a mountain backbone
8,000 feet high. Except where the lower slopes
opened on meadows of razor-sharp Kunai grass, the
tropical vegetation was so dense that little
sunlight penetrated into the tangled undergrowth
where white cockatoos and mynah birds screeched
through the green twilight. A rich variety of
tropical insect life grew bloated on the rotting
vegetation that sent a heavy stench of decay
drifting out across the strait to Florida Island,
where the tiny islet of Tulagi nestled in its
blight. John Costello, The Pacific War
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Since May 1942 the Japanese had been building an
airfield.
Savo Island
Tulagi
Florida Island
The Allies planned an operation to drive the
Japanese from Guadalcanal.
Air field
Guadalcanal
11
Since May 1942 the Japanese had been building an
airfield.
Operation Watchtower August 7, 1942
Tulagi Force Smaller force of 3000 marines.
Florida Island
Tulagi
Guarding the landings would be three Australian
cruisers and five destroyers (RAdm. Sir Victor
Crutchley).
Air field
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal Force 19 transports carrying two
combat teams of the 1st Marine Division, 11,000
men (Adm. Kelly Turner) escorted by four
destroyers while a force of three cruisers and
six destroyers bombarded the enemy.
A formidable umbrella of aircover was to be
provided by three of Adm. Nimitzs four carrier
task forces.
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Air attacks
Amphibious Force
Air attacks
Carrier Force
TF 18 USS Wasp
Task Force 11 USS Saratoga
TF 16 USS Enterprise
13
Operation Watchtower Simultaneous landings at
Tulagi and the Japanese air field on Guadalcanal
Savo Island
Destroyers and cruiser fire on Tulagi
Tulagi
612 am Bombardment begins
Carrier Bombers 630am
Cape Esperance
Destroyers and cruisers shell the air field
Japanese Air Field
Carrier Bombers 630am
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Operation Watchtower Simultaneous landings at
Tulagi and the Japanese air field on Guadalcanal
Savo Island
25 miles
Tulagi
9 miles
Cape Esperance
21 miles
25 miles
Japanese Air Field
15
The opposition on Tulagi fought back for a few
hours before being annihilated.
At the Guadalcanal air field the Japanese headed
for the hills and the Marines landed unopposed.
16
In less than four hours the Japanese had launched
45 bombers and zeros.
Rabaul
Japanese Counterattack
The Japanese have fled to the hills and jungles
Tulagi
Guadalcanal
The Marines have landed.
17
Jungle Radio
Rabaul
Australian Coast-Watcher on Bougainville
The US carriers were given 45 minutes warning
from their coast-watcher on Bougainville.
Tulagi
Saratoga Wasp Enterprise
Guadalcanal
18
A near complete slaughter of
the Japanese force
Rabaul
The air battle over Guadalcanal
27 Betty bombers 18 Zero fighters
Tulagi
120 Grumman F4F Wildcats
Guadalcanal
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Despite being driven off the Air Field and the
failure of their counterattack, the Japanese must
try to regain the air field.
Rabaul
An air base on Guadalcanal is essential for the
Allies
The nearest Allied air bases to Rabaul.
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Battle of Savo Island
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Battle of Savo Island
A battle at sea analyzed
Savo Island
Tulagi

1. An example of the power of surprise.
2. Astute maneuvers by the Japanese fleet.
3. Skillful moves by the Japanese admiral.
4. Erroneous judgments by Allied commanders.
5. Erroneous assumptions by Allied commanders.
6. Allies pre-war strategy of battleships trading
   salvos in limitless sun-lit visibility.
7. Japanese expertise in night engagements.

Henderson Field
Guadalcanal
Question
22
Battle of Savo Island
Savo Island
Tulagi
Southern Task Force 3 Heavy Cruisers
4 Destroyers
Japanese strike force 5 Heavy Cruisers 2 Light
Cruisers 1 Destroyer
RAdm. Kelly Turner
Henderson Field
Guadalcanal
23
Adm Gunichi Mikawa leads his fleet at 130 am in
the dark of night towards the Allied fleet
defending the Guadalcanal landings.
130 am
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130 am
25
130 am
The Allied vessels were unalert, and their
commanders were in some cases either asleep
or away from the actual scene of the
action.
The landings on Guadalcanal were continuing as
the battle at sea began.
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The very roughly animated movements of all the
ships involved from 130am to 200am. All in
total darkness except for ship search-lights and
explosions and fires from salvos and hits.
130 am
USS Vincennes
USS Quincy
USS Astoria
USS Jarvis
HMAAS Canberra
27
Admiral Mikawa had won a spectacular, if flawed,
victory. His decision to pit his striking force
against a stronger foe backed by aircraft
carriers was stunningly aggressive. R B
Frank
The US Navy has just suffered its most
humiliating defeat at sea.
Skilled night combat with adroit maneuvers that
created surprise. Also, some luck was part of the
victory.
But..Mikawa had failed to destroy the
transports, which was the object of his mission.
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Battle of Savo
Island
Landings on Guadalcanal continue
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Admiral Turner needed 48 hours to complete
the off-loading on Guadalcanal.
Admiral Fletcher withdrew the protection of his
Carrier Force!!!!
Turner was forced to withdraw his fleet and the
loaded transports- he had unloaded only half the
supplies. The carriers headed for the Allied base
at Efate.
Fletchers withdrawal angered Adm. Turner
who, without air cover, would be sitting-ducks
for a Japanese attack.
Question
skip
skip
Question
30
The Marines
had been ABANDONED!
Abandoned
Henderson Field
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Japan will still try to retake Guadalcanal
Rabaul
The Allies will complete the landing of men and
supplies, complete the building of the air field,
transport fighters and bombers to Henderson Field.
The Japanese will continue to land troops on
Guadalcanal.
Guadalcanal
32
The battles at sea have continued during the
months of August and September. The Japanese
wanted to retake Guadalcanal.
Admiral Yamamoto wanted to draw the Allied task
forces into a sea battle they were assured of
winning.
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Savo Island
Tulagi Island
Cape Esperance
With Henderson Field restocked with men and
equipment, the Marines secure a small perimeter.
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
Patrol led by colonel Frank Goettge, 1st Marine
Division,
They were wiped out
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
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Savo Island
Tulagi Island
Cape Esperance
First Battle of the Matanikau River,
three US companies move west to find the
Japanese forces
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
Japanese are Wiped out
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
35
Savo Island
Tulagi Island
Frequent Japanese air raids on Henderson Field
Cape Esperance
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
36
Savo Island
Tulagi Island
The Japanese force is defeated with
the few survivors returning to Taivu Point.
Cape Esperance
Ichikis battalion lands at Taivu Point.
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
1000 men march 22 miles
Army General Vandegrift, unaware of Ichikis move
would wait at the perimeter.
The Battle of Tenaru River
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
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Zuikaku
Shokaku
Ryujo
Truk Islands
Yamamoto had sent a three- carrier task force
from the main Japanese base in the Pacific, Truk
, to Rabaul, from there to engage the American
carrier forces and then retake Guadalcanal.
900 miles
Rabaul
850 miles
Guadalcanal
38
The previous slide denoted Ichikis landing at
Taivu Point and Ichikis move west to the Tenaru
River where his battalion was destroyed.
Truk
Admiral Yamamoto sent the Combined Fleet
commanded by Admiral Nagumo to sortie from Truk
to Rabaul.
After resupplying and refitting, Nagumo would
head for Guadalcanal.
Rabaul
Ichikis 1000 men had gone ahead of Nagumo, and
being defeated at the Battle of Tenaru River.
landing at Taivu Point.
Guadalcanal
39
Nagumos 3 carrier Task Force
Guadalcanal
US carrier Task Force
Efate
Nuomea
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Battle of
Eastern Solomons
Japanese Advanced Force-Kondo Main
Body- Nagumo
Landing Force-Tanaka
Guadalcanal
August 23-25
US Task Force 61
Saratoga Enterprise Wasp
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Battle of Eastern
Solomons
Main Body-Adm Nagumo
177 a/c
176 a/c
Guadalcanal
42
Battle of Eastern
Solomons
2 carriers 4 battleships 16 cruisers 30
destroyers
Main Body Adm Nagumo
Zuikaku
Shokaku
Advanced Force Adm/ Kondo
Ryujo
Radm. Tanaka
Saratoga
Enterprise
Wasp
Guadalcanal
3 carriers 7 cruisers 18 destroyers
176 a/c
Question
43
RAdm. Raizo Tanaka fools Fletcher
Zuikaku
Shokaku
Ryujo
Saratoga
Wasp
Enterprise
Wasp
Guadalcanal
When Tanaka turns away from the Slot, Fletcher
believes there will be no sea battle for a few
days and sends the carrier Wasp back to Efate for
refueling.
176 a/c
44
Battle of
Eastern Solomons
Tanaka makes another 180 and heads down the slot.
Zuikaku Shokaku
Ryujo
Ryujo sent toward Guadalcanal as a decoy and to
support Tanakas landing force.
Tanaka
Guadalcanal
Carriers Saratoga and Enterprise
Carrier Wasp Sent to Efate to refuel.
45
Battle of
Eastern Solomons
Zuikaku Shokaku
Tanaka
Ryujo
Fighters hit the Ryujo
Guadalcanal
Enterprise Saratoga
Enterprise planes escape to Henderson Field
Enterprise damaged
46
Battle of
Eastern Solomons
Zuikaku Shokaku
Tanaka
Saratoga
Henderson Field
Enterprise
47
Admiral Tanaka 1 light cruiser 8 destroyers 3
troop transports
Tanaka retreats
All available planes were launched at the
Japanese landing force.
Henderson Field
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The Japanese had an opportunity for a decisive
victory and had failed to grasp it. American
carrier power in the region was diminished, but
not broken. Further, with the installation of
Enterprise's aircraft at Henderson, the American
airfield was a more prickly target than ever.
This established an operational precedent, as
Henderson would be fed a steady stream of
carrier-borne reinforcements. Because of
American airpower, the waters around Guadalcanal
would continue to be a very dangerous place
during the daylight hours.
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Savo Island
Air Battles over Henderson Field
Tulagi Island
The Japanese were slowly losing a war of
attrition in the skies above Guadalcanal.
Cape Esperance
Question
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
skip
Throughout August US aircraft and crews
continued to arrive at Guadalcanal. 1st Marine
Aircraft Wing under Brig.Gen. Roy Geiger took
command of operations. Incoming Japanese air
attacks were spotted by the coast watchers on
Bougainville.
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
50
The Tokyo Express
Japanese were forced to deliver reinforcements to
the island at night using destroyers rather
than larger, slower troop transports.
Dubbed the Tokyo Express by the Allies,
Japanese warships would depart Bases in the
Shortland Islands and make the run to Guadalcanal
and back in a single night.
Shortland Islands
Henderson Field
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Battle of Edsons Ridge
Sept.11-14 1942
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Savo Island
Tulagi Island
Night landing at Taivu Point
Cape Esperance
Japanese General Kawaguchis troops control the
village of Tasimboko.
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Kawaguchis men are driven into the jungles and
Edson destroys all Japanese supplies.
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
Marine Lt.Cl. Merritt Edson
Tasimboko
Coastwatchers inform the Marines of the
landing on Taivu. Marines under LTCl Merritt
Edson move-out toward Tasimboko.
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
53
Night fighting. Hand to hand fighting. Infiltrati
on behind enemy lines. Lines broken, companies
retreat, regroup, repair perimeters Japanese
suicide charges. Wave after wave of Japanese
charges.
Savo Island
Further intel puts 3000 men south of Henderson
Field. Edsons Marines have returned from victory
at Tasimboko. Vandegrift sends them south to
engage the Japanese at Lunga Ridge.
Tulagi Island
Edsons Marines hold- Japanese run to the
jungles.
Cape Esperance
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Tasimboko
Henderson Field
THIS is the Battle of Edsons Ridge
Tenaru .
Matanikau River
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(No Transcript)
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VAdm Gunichi Mikawa plans reinforcement
convoy for Guadalcanal.
RAdm Takatsugu Jojima 6 destroyers 2 seaplane
tenders
RAdm Aritomo Goto 3 cruisers 2
destroyers
Land troops north of Henderson Field
Shell Henderson Field
Adm Ghormley plans to reinforce Guadalcanal as
protection for future operations in the Solomons
and Santa Cruz Islands.
RAdm Norman Scott Task Force 64 4
Cruisers 5 Destroyers
VAdm Robert Ghormley 164th Infantry
to screen the landing of the troops.
to reinforce Henderson Field on Guadalcanal.
56
Battle of Cape Esperance
October 11/12, 1942
57
Gotos force to shell Henderson Field
Jojimas landing force
Battle of Cape Esperance
Fighter planes from Henderson Field
Ghormley 164th Infantry landing force
Task Force 61
Rennell Island
58
Savo Island
Henderson Field
Northern tip of Guadalcanal
30 miles
Cape Esperance
59
sunk
3 Heavy Cruisers 2 Destroyers
Savo Island
RAdm. Gotos Henderson Field Bombardment force
sunk
sunk
sunk
2345 fifteen minutes before midnight.
Radm. Jojima approaches landing area on
Guadalcanal around 2200 (10 pm).
RAdm. Scotts Task Fore 64
Guadalcanal
60
Bombardment of Henderson Field
61
Despite the US victory off Cape Esperance, the
Japanese continued with plans and preparations
for a large offensive scheduled for October.
Shortland Island
Reinforcement Convoy
6 cargo ships 8 screening destroyers 4500 troops,
naval marines, 2 batteries of hvy Artillery,
Company of tanks.
To protect the convoy Yamamoto sent a bombardment
force to shell Henderson Field
Guadalcanal
62
Savo Island
2 Battleships 1 cruiser 9 destroyers
Tulagi Island
Kongo
Bombardment Force
Haruna
Shelling of Henderson Field
Cape Esperance
For 1 ½ hrs
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
63
(No Transcript)
64
Savo Island
Haruna
Kongo
Tulagi Island
Cape Esperance
6 cargo ships 8 screening Destroyers 4500 troops,
Naval marines Artillery, tanks
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
65
(No Transcript)
66
Savo Island
Tulagi Island
The Battle of Henderson Field
Th
Cape Esperance
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
20,000 men
Henderson Field
10,000 men
10 miles
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
67
Savo Island
Tulagi Island
Gen. Harukichi Hyakutakes Plan
Cape Esperance
Major Tadashi Sumiyoshi will lead a diversion
along the coast
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
20,000 men
Point Cruz
Koli Point
Henderson Field
10,000 men
Lt Gen Masao Maruyama through the jungles, attack
from south of Henderson Field on Oct 23.
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
68
Artillery, cannon, and small arms fire repulsed
attack after attack.
Rifles, mortars, artillery, anti-tank guns
Rifles, mortars, artillery, anti-tank guns
Coastal attack with tanks.
11 days of cutting through the jungle, they reach
the Henderson perimeter.
Repeated frontal attacks, mostly at night
69
Japanese had been decimated by battle deaths,
combat injuries, malnutrition, and tropical
diseases. They were incapable of any further
offensive action and fought as a defensive force
along the coast for the rest of the campaign.
Results Japanese fail to break through the
Henderson Field perimeter. Dead 2,500
Japanese 80 Americans
70
Battle of Santa Cruz
October 25-27, 1942
71
Yamamotos second attempt to achieve naval
superiority in the area around Guadalcanal,
Shokaku and Zuikaku again formed the core of
Combined Fleet's carrier forces with the carrier
Zuiho.
TRUK
800 miles
2000 miles
Rabaul
Shortland Advanced base
650 miles
Guadalcanal
620 miles
Espiritu Santo
72
While Hyakutakes troops were attacking the
Henderson Field perimeter, Japanese carriers and
other large warships under Yamamoto moved into
psition near the Santa Cruz islands hoping to
engage and decisively defeat any US carrier force.
Rabaul
Yamamoto
Carriers Zuikaku and Shokaku
Bougainville
Tulagi
Part 1 exchange of carrier air attacks.
Guadalcanal
Santa Cruz Islands (Ndeni)
Carriers Hornet and Enterprise
Rennell Island
Bull Halsey (replaced Ghormley)
Espiritu Santo Islands
Part 3 Japanese ships retreat.
Efate
Australia
Question
73
(No Transcript)
74
(No Transcript)
75
With the Marines successes against the continued
Japanese aggression against the Henderson Field
perimeter, General Vandegrift would begin to
extend the perimeter.
More and more troops and planes are sent to
Guadalcanal. Vandegrift send out six Marine
battalions, followed by an Army battalion.
Commanded by Merritt Edson their goal was to
capture Kokumbona, west of the Matanikau River.
76
Savo Island
Tulagi Island
November Land Actions
Cape Esperance
Tassafaronga Point
Taivu Point
Lunga Point
Point Cruz
Koli Point
From Kokumbona
From Point Cruz
Under LtCol. Evans Carlsons Marines, a new
Japanese landing at Aoba Bay, east of Taivu, is
destroyed.
Henderson Field
Japanese are driven from the Matanikau River
Under Herman Hanneken, Marines drove the
Japanese from Koli Point.
Under Chesty Pullar, Marines drove the Japanese
from east Koli Point.
Tenaru river
Matanikau River
The New Henderson Field Perimeter
77
Naval Battle for Guadalcanal
Japanese Plan Once again, get more troops onto
Guadalcanal Island with the aim of regaining
control of Henderson Field.
AKA
3rd and 4th Battle of Savo Island
Tulagi
Savo Island
From Rabaul 11 Large Transports with 7000
men ammo, food, equipment Will land at Koli
Point and move west to Henderson Field.
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Koli Point
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
November 13-15, 1942
78
Yamamotos Plan
Bombard Henderson Field
and Land Troops on Guadalcanal
Tulagi
Savo Island
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Koli Point
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
November 13-15, 1942
79
Allied Plan
These two PLANS are going to collide!!!
Landing force
Japanese bombardment group
Land troops and supplies at Henderson Field and
Guard the landing ops with a Task Force
Savo Island
Tulagi
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Adm Scott landing troops
Koli Point
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
November 13-15, 1942
Nov 11,
80
Naval Battle for Guadalcanal
Tulagi
Savo Island
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
Adm Turner landing Marines and supplies.
November 13, 1942
81
Naval Battle for Guadalcanal
0130 hours
Tulagi
Savo Island
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
Adm Turner landing Marines and supplies.
November 13, 1942
82
Naval Battle for Guadalcanal
Tulagi
Savo Island
2 destroyers sunk Battleship Hiei sunk!
Abes Task Force retires
one cruiser
survive
one destroyer
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
Adm Turner landing Marines and supplies.
November 13, 1942
83
Naval Battle for Guadalcanal
Rear Admiral Dan Callaghan
Medal of Honor
Tulagi
Savo Island
The heroism of RAdm Dan Callaghan and RAdm
Norman Scott, without a chance of victory against
Abes battleships, saved the lives of Turners
Marines and all their supplies.
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Rear Admiral Norman Scott
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
Adm Turner landing Marines and supplies.
November 13, 1942
84
The Third Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Two days after the Naval Battle of
Guadalcanal on the previous slides.
Yamamoto will again try to dislodge the Americans
from Henderson Field.
Tanaka and the 11 transports resumed their
journey toward Guadalcanal.
The Japanese 8th Fleet under Vice Admiral Kondo
will bombard Henderson Field while the 11
transports will land troops near Tassafaronga
Point.
Admiral Bull Halsey will scrap together his
only operational ships to defend two new
battleships, the USS South Dakota and the USS
Washington, and 4 destroyers.
Question
Skip question
85
The Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Two days after the Naval Battle of
Guadalcanal on the previous slides.
Halsey will also use his planes from the
Enterprise and from Henderson Field.
Adm. Mikawa
Savo Island
Tulagi
Adm. Willis Ching Lee
Yamamoto will again try to dislodge the Americans
from Henderson Field.
Near Midnight
Tanaka and the 11 transports resumed their
journey toward Guadalcanal.
The Japanese 8th Fleet under Vice Admiral Kondo
will bombard Henderson Field while the 11
transports will land troops near Tassafaronga
Point.
Henderson Field
Guadalcanal
The carrier Enterprise
86
The Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Two days after the Naval Battle of
Guadalcanal on the previous slides.
Halsey will also use his planes from the
Enterprise and from Henderson Field.
Adm. Mikawa
Savo Island
Tulagi
Adm. Willis Ching Lee
The Japanese have trained for night battle and
sink the 4 American destroyers in 10 minutes!
Yamamoto will again try to dislodge the Americans
from Henderson Field.
Tanaka and the 11 transports resumed their
journey toward Guadalcanal.
The Japanese 8th Fleet under Vice Admiral Kondo
will bombard Henderson Field while the 11
transports will land troops near Tassafaronga
Point.
Henderson Field
Guadalcanal
The carrier Enterprise
87
The Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Two days after the Naval Battle of
Guadalcanal on the previous slides.
Halsey will also use his planes from the
Enterprise and from Henderson Field.
Adm. Mikawa
Savo Island
Tulagi
Adm. Willis Ching Lee
The South Dakota suffers a catastrophic
electrical breakdown is helpless to defend itself.
Yamamoto will again try to dislodge the Americans
from Henderson Field.
Tanaka and the 11 transports resumed their
journey toward Guadalcanal.
The Japanese 8th Fleet under Vice Admiral Kondo
will bombard Henderson Field while the 11
transports will land troops near Tassafaronga
Point.
Henderson Field
Guadalcanal
The carrier Enterprise
88
USS Battleship South Dakota
The Japanese Fleet of Admiral Mikawa had fully
illuminated the distressed USS South Dakota
89
USS Washington
While the South Dakota was illuminated by many
Japanese ships and taking many hits, Mikawa lost
track of the Washington who surprised the
Japanese fleet and bombarded them, saving the
South Dakota and sinking the Japanese battleship
Kirishima.
90
The Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
Two days after the Naval Battle of
Guadalcanal on the previous slides.
Adm. Mikawa
Savo Island
Tulagi
Adm. Willis Ching Lee
Yamamoto will again try to dislodge the Americans
from Henderson Field.
Four troop transports are sunk with only 3000
troops landed.
Tanaka and the 11 transports resumed their
journey toward Guadalcanal.
Japanese landings at Tassafaronga Point
The Japanese 8th Fleet under Vice Admiral Kondo
will bombard Henderson Field while the 11
transports will land troops near Tassafaronga
Point.
Henderson Field
Planes from the carrier Enterprise and from
Henderson Field attack the Japanese landings at
Tassafaronga Point.
Guadalcanal
The carrier Enterprise
91
A reminder of the big picture facing the Japanese
Marshall Islands
Rabaul
Rabaul
With many failures to resupply their troops on
Guadalcanal, the Japanese are desperate to get
food to their troops.
New Guinea
Major Japanese ports and air bases
New Britain
Lae
Bougainville
Solomon Islands
Shortlands
They will try to supply their troops with
The Slot
Solomon Sea
Tulagi
Submarines
Gavutu
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Question
Skip question
Australia
Coral Sea
92
A reminder of the big picture facing the Japanese
Marshall Islands
Rabaul
Rabaul
With many failures to resupply their troops on
Guadalcanal, the Japanese are desperate to get
food to their troops.
New Guinea
Major Japanese ports and air bases
New Britain
Lae
Bougainville
Solomon Islands
Shortlands
They will try to supply their troops with
The Slot
Solomon Sea
Tulagi
Submarines
Gavutu
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Australia
Coral Sea
93
Yamamoto, We must supply our men or lose them
to starvation!
Battle of Tassafaronga
Aka. Fourth Battle of Savo Island November 26
Tulagi
Savo Island
LtCom. Hitoshi Imamura
RAdm. Raijo Tanaka With supplies
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Task Force 67 RAdm. Carleton Wright
Replay
Next Slide
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
94
RESULTS
Battle of Tassafaronga
Tanaka was unable to deliver the supplies to
their troops on Guadalcanal.
US Northampton sunk, cruisers Minneapolis, New
Orleans, and Pensacola suffer heavy damage and
retire Tulagi for repairs.
Imamura lost only one destroyer sunk and two
damaged.
Raijo Tanaka With supplies
Tulagi
Savo Island
LtCom. Hitoshi Imamura
USS Pensacola
Task Force 67 RAdm. Carleton Wright
USS Minneapolis
USS New Orleans
Cape Esperance
Cape Tassafaronga
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field
95
The Battle of Tassafaronga was the worst defeat
of the US Navy since Pearl Harbor and the First
Battle of Savo Island.
The Japanese cancelled any further offensives!!!
AND
Despite the loss of ships sunk and damaged, the
US Navy could consider the battle a victory as
the Japanese were unable to land supplies for
their troops on Guadalcanal.
96
By 7th December 1942, Hyakutakes forces on
Guadalcanal, Tassafaronga Point, were losing
about 50 men each day from malnutrition, disease,
and Allied ground or air attacks. Further
attempts by Tanakas destroyer forces to deliver
provisions on 3rd December, 7th December, and
11th December, failed to alleviate the crisis.
On 12 December, the Japanese Navy proposed that
Guadalcanal be abandoned.
At the same time, several army staff officers at
the Imperial General Headquarters (IGH) also
suggested that further efforts to retake
Guadalcanal would be impossible.
97
After 6 months The Guadalcanal Saga
is OVER
and so is the PowerPoint
presentataion
98

• Question One What was the intent of the
  Japanese when they were intercepted by the
  American fleet at the Battle of Coral Sea?
• Invade Australia near Townsville.
• Draw the American ships into a sea battle they
  were assured they could win.
• They were headed for Port Moresby.
• They were just scouting the area and were
  completely surprised by the American ships.

Return
99
Question Australia is a target for the Japanese
but the value of Port Moresby is more than just
getting air bases within reach of Australia.
Identify the other reason for getting Port
Moresby.

1. To counter the Australian force that was
   stopping the Japanese move along the Kokota Trail
   over the Owen Stanley Mountains.
2. To be in proximity of the main supply sea route
   from the western USA to New Zealand and
   Australia.
3. They wanted total control of the island of New
   Guinea not just half.
4. They didnt want all of Australia just the
   Allies air base at Townsville.

100

• Question
• From the list, predict who won the Battle of Savo
  Island?
• The Japanese
• The Allies
• The Japanese
• A tie

B or C
Return
101

• Question
• For whom or what was Henderson Field named?
• Major Lofton Henderson, dive bomber pilot who
  lost his life at the Battle of Midway.
• The nearby river discovered by Sir Alistair
  Henderson in 1756.
• PFC Roland Henderson, the first Marine to die in
  the landing on Guadalcanal.
• The Henderson Mountain range over which the
  Australian Marines battle the natives on
  Guadalcanal in 1846.

Return
102

• Question
• Why did Adm. Fletcher withdraw his carrier
  protection of the Guadalcanal landings?
• The Japanese Fleet from the victory at the Battle
  of Savo Island were headed his way.
• He feared the loss of his carriers.
• He misinterpreted orders from Pearl Harbor, Adm.
  Nimitz, which indicated that he (Fletcher) should
  return to Efate after the battle which he
  believed to be the Battle of Savo Island, not the
  landing battle.
• Fletcher didnt want to fight.

Return
103

• Question
• What did Adm. Turner decide to do after Fletcher
  withdrew his carrier protection?
• He continued the off-loading despite the loss of
  air cover.
• He withdrew the loading force with only half the
  job completed.
• He communicated with Adm. Nimitz in Pearl Harbor
  to counterman the order Fletcher believed was for
  him to withdraw the carriers.
• He ordered the air force out of Townsville in
  northern Australia to protect the landings at
  Guadalcanal.

Return
104
Question 1 Japanese Zeros and the F4F Wildcats
would meet in dogfights over Henderson Field. All
things being equal who should win the dogfight in
the air? a. Zero b. Wildcat c. Tie d.
Not a choice
Question 2 If the Zero is the better dogfighter
and their pilots are skilled then why did they
get beaten over Guadalcanal? a. After a four
hour flight from Rabaul, the pilots were
exhausted. b. Just luck. c. A surprise, as the
Wildcats were already 1000 feet above the
approaching Zeros. d. Many Zeros were shot down
by anti-aircraft artillery on Henderson Field.
Return
105
Question If the US lost the Hornet, and the
Enterprise was heavily damaged, and all their
surface ships were retiring to the south, why
did the Japanese withdraw?

1. They had run out of aviation fuel for the planes.
2. Yamamoto had lost his aggressive edge.
3. News of Hyakutakes loss on Guadalcanal led them
   to the decision to withdraw.
4. Yamamoto had lost too many experienced pilots and
   crew and could not afford anymore losses.

Return
106
Question Why do the Americans have only one
battleship? a. The battleships are busy in the
Pearl Harbor area. b. Adm. Nimitz was planning
an attack on Rabaul and needed the
battleships. c. The Americans have no
battleships. They are at the bottom of the lagoon
at Pearl Harbor. d. Adm Turner favored the
Cruisers and destroyers for their speed.
Return
107
Question What are the Allied Cruisers chances
against the Japanese Battleships? a. None b.
None c. None d. None
NONE
Return
108
Question Did you believe all our battleships
were sunk or heavily damaged? You are
correct. Then how did the Battleships South
Dakota and Washington materialize near
Guadalcanal? a. Their construction and
outfitting was completed after Pearl Harbor was
bombed. b. They were both moored in San Diego,
safe from the Pearl Harbor bombing. c. They
were both in the Atlantic Ocean. d. After the
Pearl Harbor attack the US Navy upgraded two
heavy cruisers to battleship size.
Return
109
Question The Japanese have lost so many troop
and supply ships trying to supply their troops on
Guadalcanal that they have become desperate.
What was their plan? a. Transport planes will
drop supplies in. b. Try again with
transports, but accompany them with an
entire task force. c. Put all the supplies
on destroyers. d. Use submarines.
Return
110
Yamamoto, We must supply our men or lose them
to starvation!
Battle of Tassafaronga
Aka. Fourth Battle of Savo Island November 26
Tulagi
Savo Island
LtCom. Hitoshi Imamura
Cape Esperance
Raijo Tanaka With supplies
Cape Tassafaronga
Task Force 67 RAdm. Carleton Wright
Return
Guadalcanal
Henderson Field