A month after landing on Guadalcanal, the Japanese attacked the American position to once again dominate Henderson Field and to destroy the American landing. In the following days, weeks and months, they repeated attempts, but gradually Americans took over the initiative and Japanese were eventually forced to evacuate from the island. This scenario involves a Japanese offensive 15th - 25th October 1942.
Article on Czech Wikipedia
Article on English Wikipedia| Scenario in dates: |
| May 27, 1942: |
South Pacific - The infantry division Americal is activated on the New Caledonia Island as the only US division built outside the United States. In spite of the fact that the US Army divisions are numbered numerically, at the request of its first commander, Major General Alexander Patch, who formed it from three individual National Guard regiments sent hurriedly from the United States after Pearl Harbor attack, accepts the name resulting from the abbreviation "American, New Caledonian Division". The division will later fight in Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and mop-up operations in the Philippines, but will be most notoriously known for the massacre in the village of My Lai during the war in Vietnam. |
| June 8, 1942: |
Solomon Islands - Japanese troops arrives on Guadalcanal to construct an air base, planned to deploy 45 fighters and 60 bombers. The would protect Japan´s major base at Rabaul, threaten Allied supply and communication lines and establish a staging area for a planned offensive against Fiji, New Caledonia and Samoa (Operation FS). |
| July 26, 1942: |
In the Pacific - About 400 miles southeast of Fiji, the American aircraft carriers USS Wasp (CV-7), USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Saratoga (CV-3) rendezvous with the invasion force for Guadalcanal. It is the most powerful force the US Navy has yet assembled in the Pacific. |
| July 29, 1942: |
Fiji - The 1st Parachute Battalion, along with the rest of the 1st USMC division, conduct landing rehearsals on Koro Island priot to prepared attack of Guadalcanal. Major General Alexander Vandegrift will describe this excersises as a "disaster". |
| July 31, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - American bombers attack targets on Tulagi and bomb the airfield the Japanese are building on Guadalcanal. |
| August 7, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - First landings on Guadalcanal. From a US naval based task force of three carriers and support ships under the command of Admiral Fletcher, an amphibious force under Admiral Turner and 1st Marine Division, General Vandergrift, land on Guadalcanal. Smaller forces are also landed on Tulagi and Gavutu. Initially the landings receive little opposition. |
| August 7, 1942: |
New Guiena - in the Gulf of Papua, a Japanese submarine Ro-33 attacks a 300-ton Australian motor vessel MV Mamutu evacuating civilians from endangered Port Moresby. The submarine carries out the attack with an onboard 3-inch gun, and survivors of the sinking vessel, including women and children, are killed by machine-gun fire. The victim is 114, surviving 28. Next sub is called in by Admiral Mikawa´s urgent radiogram to face the American landing at Guadalcanal. |
| August 8, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - The invasion of Guadalcanal continues as the remainder of the first wave of American troops come ashore. Advancing rapidly inland, they capture the Japanese airstrip intact, renaming it Henderson Field. The missions on Tulagi and Gavutu are completed and the islands captured. Due to Japanese air and submarine attacks, Admiral Fletcher decides to withdraw his carriers, leaving the cruisers and transports near the island. This action is a serious mistake. |
| August 9, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - under cover of night darkness enters Savo Sound between Savo Island and Guadalcanal, the Japanese group of cruisers commanded by Admiral Mikawa. But American patrol cruisers under Admiral Crutchleye have for night fighting as little experience and inadequate equipment, so in a conflict known as the Battle of Savo Island Americans suffered the greatest defeat in the history of the Navy, which lost four cruisers and not sink any Japanese ship. Savo Sound is later renamed the Ironbottom Sound, for a number of sunken ships, resulting in its bottom. American cargo ships unloading supplies for landed troops on Guadalcanal in the Lunga Point they are not attacked (The Japanese even at night trying to get away from the range aircraft carriers, about which they has no idea that Americans driven off), but they are ordered to withdrawal due to the threat of assault, and so the 1st Marine Division is left short of heavy equipment and with only one half of their supplies. |
| August 12, 1942: |
In the New Hebrides - Strong American forces are landed on Espiritu Santu Santo to build a supply base for the Guadalcanal campaign. |
| August 15, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the Marines prepare an airstrip and fortify the perimeter around it. They receive a small amount of supplies by sea. |
| August 17, 1942: |
Gilbert Islands - A raiding unit of the US Marine Corps, in which James Roosevelt, the eldest son of the US President, also serves, attacks the seaplane base on Makin Island, landing from submarines USS Argonaut (SM-1) and USS Nautilus (SS-168). The purpose of the raid is to get intelligence and to draw Japanese attention from Guadalcanal, but none of them succeed, and the action, on the contrary, leads to the later fortification of the Gilbert Islands by the Japanese and the American losses during their attack. However, the operation boosts morale and tests Raider tactics. The war film Gung Ho! will be made about this event during the war, with attack commander Evans Carlson as a technical advisor during production. |
| August 18, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, Japanese reinforcements are landed at Taivu and a detachment of 1,000 troops under the leadership of Colonel Ichiki starts towards the American position. The Japanese believe there are only 3,000 Americans on the Island. There are actually 10,000 and the airstrip is now ready to receive aircraft. |
| August 20, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the escort carrier USS Long Island (ACV-1, later reclassified CVE-1) delivered two squadrons of Marine aircraft to Henderson Field, one a squadron of 19 F4F Wildcats, and the other a squadron of 12 SBD Dauntlesses. The aircraft at Henderson became known as the "Cactus Air Force" (CAF) after the Allied codename for Guadalcanal. The coastwatcher scout Jacob Vouza is caught by the soldiers of Colonel Ichiki´s Japanese Corps. Although he is tortured for hours, he reveals nothing about American forces on the island, so he is eventually tied to a tree and bayoneted in both of his arms, throat, shoulder, face, and stomach, and left to die. After the captors leave, he is able to free himself and reach American troops. |
| August 21, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, in the early morning, Colonel Ichiki´s 1,000-man corps attacks the American positions across the Tenaru River (in fact, it is Aligator Creek, which is due to bad maps by American troops mistaken for the nearby parallel flowing Tenaru River, whose name will eventually remain to the battle). The Americans are warned in advance by the a Coastwatcher scout Jacob Vouza, while the Japanese are completely surprised by the number and readiness of American forces, which they grossly underestimated. The attack in several waves fails with great losses, and in the subsequent counterattack of the Marines, supported by several M3 light tanks, the entire Japanese corps is encircled and destroyed. The Marines continue to receive shipments of supplies and some reinforcements. |
| August 22, 1942: |
Guadalcanal - five U.S. Army Bell P-400 Airacobras and their pilots arrive at Henderson Field (P-400 is an export version of the P-39 Airacobra fighter originally intended for Great Britain). |
| August 23, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - In an attempt to cover the ferrying of supplies to their forces at Guadalcanal, both the Japanese and the American send major warships. |
| August 24, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - The Battle of the Eastern Solomons. US Task Force 61, commanded by Admiral Fletcher is comprised of the American aircraft carriers USS Saratoga (CV-2), USS Enterprise (CV-6) and USS Wasp (CV-7). The Japanese split their forces into two, Admiral Nagumo commanding the Zuikaku and Shokaku and Admiral Hara, the Ryujo. Both forces are attempting to cover the ferrying of supplies to the respective forces on Guadalcanal. American scout planes discover the Ryujo and Admiral Fletcher dispatches a strike force. When the other two Japanese carriers are sighted, he attempts to redirect the attack, but most of his planes do not receive the new orders and proceed to sink the Ryujo. Admiral Nagumo´s planes find the Enterprise inflicting damage, however planes can still land on the carrier. Both carrier groups disengage at the end of the day without a clear result. |
| August 28, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - At Guadalcanal, the Japanese received more reinforcements brought in by Admiral Tanaka´s 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, nicknamed the "Tokyo Express." |
| August 30, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - At Guadalcanal, the American forces receive 18 more fighters and 12 dive bombers. |
| August 31, 1942: |
In New Guinea - Stiff resistance has cost the Japanese 1,000 casualties, the first halt in the Japanese expansion in the Pacific. Japanese General Hyakutake leading 17th Army redirects the troops from Milne Bay to concentrate on Guadalcanal. |
| August 31, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Japanese General Kawaguchi lands 1200 troops on Guadalcanal. An aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3) is torpedoed by japanese submarine I-26 and has to navigate to Pearl Harbor for repairs. It will remain out of action until October. The USS Wasp (CV-7) is now the only operational US carrier in the Pacific. |
| September 4, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - At Guadalcanal, the Japanese receive additional reinforcements. Off the coast in a night battle, two older American destroyers USS Gregory (DD-82) and USS Little (DD-79) utilized as transports are sunk by Japanese destroyers Yudachi, Hatsuyuki and Murakumo. In rescuing the survivors, the black sailor Charles French is distinguished, who, with an eight-hour swim in a sea full of sharks, tows a lifeboat full on rope all the way to the coast of the American-occupied part of Guadalcanal. This act will make him famous throughout the United States. |
| September 9, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Japanese General Hyakutake, commander of the 17th Army, with elements of the 2nd Infantry Division lands at Tassafaronga as part of the Japanese build up for the attack on the main American position at Guadalcanal. |
| September 12, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, major attacks by the Japanese units, from General Kawaguchi´s 35th brigade, begin. Fighting is heavy especially around the aptly named "Bloody Ridge" or "Edson´s Ridge" according its defense commander Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Merritt A. Edson. Reinforcements of aircraft are flown to the Americans from the USS Wasp (CV-7). |
| September 13, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal - the Japanese attacks intensify. The American forces hold them off with difficulty, aided by effective artillery support. In the fighting for the approaches to Henderson Field, Major Kenneth D. Bailey is particularly distinguished. He reorganizes his marines after previous engagements and personally leads them into a fight that turns into a man-to-man fight for long hours. Although he is wounded several times, just as he was earlier during the invasion of Tulagi, he continues to fight and is a morale booster for everyone. He would be awarded the Medal of Honor for this action, however, he would be killed in an engagement on the Matanikau River two weeks later. |
| September 14, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - At Guadalcanal, General Kawaguchi´s troops suffer 1200 casualties in their initial assault. The attacks trail off and stop. |
| September 15, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Offshore at Guadalcanal, the Japanese submarine I-19, with a single torpedo salvo, sinks the USS Wasp (CV-7) with three torpedoes, also damaging the battleship USS North Carolina (BB-55) and destroyer USS O´Brien (DD-415). Destroyer will sink later. |
| September 18, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, six transports arrive bringing supplies and the US 7th Marine Regiment. The American base now has 23,000 men and adequate supplies. |
| October 5, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - American planes from the carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) attack Japanese vessels off Bougainville with little success. |
| October 7, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, US 1st Marine Division attacks toward the mouth of the Matanikau River. They are attempting to remove much of the Japanese artillery which is firing on Henderson Field airstrip. |
| October 8, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the rainy season starts. The rains do not prevent heavy fighting west of the American position along the River Matanikau. |
| October 9, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, American attacks succeed in wiping out a Japanese battalion west of the Matanikau. The attacks by the US 1st Marine Division are halted as intelligence reports of a major Japanese attack on the main American position are received. |
| October 11, 1944: |
In the Solomon Islands - The Battle of Cape Esperance. American and Japanese efforts to supply their troops fighting on Guadalcanal result in a night encounter between the escorting naval forces. The American escorts, led by Admiral Scott consists of 4 cruisers and 4 destroyers. The Japanese have 3 cruisers and 2 destroyers led by Admiral Goto. They meet at night off Cape Esperance. Despite the advantages of radar and better radio communications, the American fare as poorly as the Japanese, both at times firing on their own vessels. The Americans lose a destroyer Duncan (DD-485). The Americans lose a destroyer Duncan. An American heavy cruiser Salt Lake City (CA-25), a light cruiser Boise (CL-47) and a destroyer Farenholt (DD-491) are demaged in the fighting. The Japanese lose heavy cruiser Furutaka and destroyer Fubuki with heavy cruiser Aoba badly damaged, lihgtly demaged is destroyer Hatsuyuki and heavy cruiser Kinugasa. Despite the battle, the Japanese manage to land artillery and tanks at their positions. |
| October 12, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - The Battle of Cape Esperance. The two destroyers from the Japanese supply convoy Murakumo and Natsugumo are sunk by American planes from Henderson Field airstrip on Guadalcanal. |
| October 13, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, 3000 American troops land from the convoy which were the subject of the Battle of Cape Esperance. The Japanese bring up the battleships Kongo and Haruna to bombard the airstrip at Henderson Field during the night. 50 American planes are destroyed on the ground, about one half of the aircraft present. While the shelling is occurring, Admiral Tanaka takes advantage of the break in American air cover and lands 4500 men and large quantities of supplies at Tassafaronga. |
| October 14, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, despite the damage from the night´s shelling by the Japanese, American aircraft take off from Henderson Field. They damage three Japanese transports unloading at Tassafaronga. |
| October 15 1942: |
Solomon Islands - Japanese heavy cruisers Chokai and Kinugasa, under the command of Admiral Mikawa, bombard Henderson Field on Guadalcanal to cover the supply action of eleven cargo ships under the protection of six destroyers at Cape Tassafaronga. USS Meredith (DD-434) destroyer is sunk by Japanese aircraft from carrier Zuikaku off San Cristobal island. |
| October 16, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Near Guadalcanal, American aircraft from the carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) raid supply bases on Santa Isabel. On Guadalcanal, the Japanese increase their bombardment of American positions in preparation for a major attack. While leading a reinforcement flight from Espirito Santo to Guadalcanal, lieutenant colone Harold W. "Joe" Bauer is about to land at Henderson Field when he notices a squadron of Japanese planes attacking the USS McFarland (AVD-14) offshore. Though the long flight from Espirito Santo had almost exhausted his fuel and he knows no friendly planes are able to assist him, he immediately proceeds alone to attack the enemy and succeeds in destroying four of them before lack of gasoline forces him to return to Henderson Field. It is one of his exemplary actions during his distinguished service in command of VMF-212 Squadron, for which he will be awarded the Medal of Honor. |
| October 21, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the Japanese forces, mainly 2nd Infantry Division, under General Maruyama now number 20,000. The plan for the attack on the main American position involves simultaneous attacks to be made northward in the area between the Lunga and Tenaru Rivers, while secondary attacks are made on the American western outposts along the Matanika River. The Japanese lack accurate intelligence concerning the numbers and dispositions of the American troops. In air combat with F4F Wildcat fighters, Toshi Ota, one of Japan´s top fifhter aces, is shot down and killed in his A6M Zero over the island. |
| October 23, 1942: |
Solomon Islands - Guadalcanal, the ground Battle of Henderson Field begins. Due to communication difficulties, Japanese forces of Major General Sumiyoshi launch a premature attack across the Matanikau River. They are thrown back with heavy losses due mainly to the effectiveness of the American artillery. On the beach at the mouth of the river, all nine attacking Type 79 Chi-Ha tanks are destroyed. |
| October 24, 1942: |
Solomon Islands - Guadalcanal, the Americans send reinforcements from the Henderson Field to their force attacked the previous day on the river Matanikau, which are then deployed against the spotted Japanese units attempting to infiltrate the jungle and to bypass of the American positions. During the day, the core of the Japanese force deploys to initial positions for attack. The main operation against the south of the American perimeter begins at dusk and continues throughout the night. With great effort and heavy losses, it is repulsed, which is largely due to machine gun platoon of Sergeant John Basilone, who will be awarded the Medal of Honor for the action on the Bloody Ridge. A radiomessage is mistakenly broadcast from Guadalcanal to Japanese headquarters in Rabaul that the American airfield has fallen into Japanese hands. |
| October 25, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the Japanese army again attempt attacks on the southern perimeter of the American positions. They are thrown back with heavy losses. The attack south of the Matanikau River also fails, with heroism of Platoon Sergeant Mitchell Paige, later receiving the Medal of Honor for this action. Meanwhile, the Japanese navy mounts a major operation to support the offensive on Guadalcanal. The Japanese have four battleships and the carriers Shokaku, Zuikaku, Zuiho and Junyo as well as numerous cruisers and destroyers. The carriers contain aircraft for use at Henderson Field airstrip when the Japanese capture it. A report to that effect has brought the carriers this close to the islands. The Americans have two carriers in the area, USS Hornet (CV-8) and USS Enterprise (CV-6), with an attending battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57) close enough to provide anti-aircraft cover. The Japanese force is split into four for the operation. Numerically the number of planes are close, the Japanese have 212, the Americans have 171. The Americans discover the Japanese force first launching an attack which doesn´t find the Japanese ships. After repeated raids by groups of SBD, P-39, F4F and B-17 aircraft, off Savo Island, has been sunk Japanese light cruiser Jura from a group that gives up the task of direct bombardment of Guadalcanal. |
| October 26, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - The Battle of Santa Cruz. Both American and Japanese forces launch at dawn. Two hours later the Japanese attack reach and seriously damages the USS Hornet (CV-8). Both attacks have been launched at the extreme edge of the aircraft´s range and the Japanese have the advantage as their range is longer. When the American planes find part of the Japanese force, there is not enough fuel left for an organized attack, however, the cruiser Chikuma of Admiral Abe´s Vanguard Group is damaged. The remainder of the planes attack the carrier Shokaku and damage it heavily. A second wave of Japanese attackers severely damages the USS Enterprise (CV-6) but many of the planes are shot down by the antiaircraft guns of the USS South Dakota (BB-57). The third wave of Japanese planes from the Junyo suffer the same fate. Enough though the Enterprise is made partially operational, Admiral Kinkaid decides to withdraw. The battle is considered a Japanese victory. The damaged Enterprise is now the only American carrier in the Pacific. However, the victory is costly as again loss of Japanese aircrew is high and the lost of aircraft has removed the effectiveness of the undamaged aircraft carrier Zuikaku. The loss of planes and crew also mean that no attack on Henderson Field airstrip is possible. |
| October 27, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - At Guadalcanal, the Japanese halt the offensive. They have suffered 3500 casualties with entire units being destroyed. Both sides are exhaustive by the heavy day and night fighting, but the initiative has passed to the Americans. |
| October 29, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the Japanese, stung by their heavy losses begin withdrawals from the coast to the west of the American beachhead. The Americans begin preparing to occupy this area. |
| November 1, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, two Marine regiments begin an attack west across the Matanikau River. American engineers have built bridges to aid supplying the attacks. There is heavy fighting. East of the American positions, American troops advance toward Koli Point to preempt an expected Japanese landing. |
| November 2, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the "Tokyo Express," the flotilla of Japanese destroyers supplying their forces, begins to be very active. The American advance in the west continues slowly with some successes. |
| November 3, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the expected Japanese landing at Koli Point occurs with a force of 1500 landing to the east of the point. The American forces engage, but soon must pull back. The Americans then halt their advances to the west, to supply reinforcements against the landings. |
| November 4, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, American forces land in regimental strength at Aola, 25 miles east of the main American position. They bring engineers to attempt to build a second airstrip on the island. This idea has been dismissed as futile by local commanders because of the difficult terrain. They are correct. Beachhead is evacuated but Raiders from this landing move out in an attempt to connect with the main position. |
| November 5, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Admiral Tanaka takes command of the "Toyko Express," the destroyer flotilla supplying Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. |
| November 7, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, American Marines, begin attacks to the east toward Koli Point. The Japanese stage landings after dark to the west of American holdings bringing elements of the 38th Infantry Division to shore. |
| November 9, 1942: |
Guadalcanal - The destroyers of the "Tokyo Express" land another part of the 38th Division and its commander, General Sanoa, on Guadalcanal. The American area commander, Admiral Halsey, based on intelligence information that the enemy is preparing a new massive attack on the island for 11-13 November, immediately sends another convoy of reinforcements to Guadalcanal. From Espiritu Santo sail about 3 transport ships, a light cruiser and 4 destroyers under command hero from Guadalcanal Admiral Scott. |
| November 10, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the Japanese forces around Koli Point are dispersed by the American attacks. American attacks to the west are renewed. |
| November 11, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the American attacks to the west are halted when news of Japanese supply convoys comes in. |
| November 12, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Near Guadalcanal, a large American convoy carrying supplies and reinforcements retreats upon the approach of a large Japanese naval force. The Japanese carry out air attacks on the American land positions as well as their shipping. |
| November 13, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Off the coast of Guadalcanal, a Japanese convoy of 11 transports carrying 7,000 men and equipment escorted by Admiral Tanaka´s "Tokyo Express" approaches the island. Admiral Abe command two battleships, light cruiser and 11 destroyers to give cover and to bombard Henderson Field airstrip to prevent American attacks. American Admiral Callaghan, commanding a force of five cruisers and eight destroyers plots an interception course. In the early morning hours, Admiral Callaghan´s force comes upon the Japanese force led by Admiral Abe. In an action lasting about half an hour, two Japanese destroyers are sunk and almost all other vessels suffer damage. The Americans lose light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-51) and four destroyers. The Japanese transport convoy turns back. After the battle, criticism concerning the effective use of the American radar is leveled. Problems are blamed on mismatched equipment and poor communication between the ships. |
| November 13, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Later in the day, the battleship Hiei, already badly damaged in night battle off Guadalcanal, is attacked by a lot of American aircrafts and scuttled. In addition, during the retreat from the battlefield, the USS Juneau (CL-52) cruiser was sunk by the Japanese submarine I-26, where he had lost all five brothers Sullivans who served on it. This tragedy has led to changes in the rules of family members displacement in the United States Armed Forces. The new Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537) will be named in honor of the brothers. |
| November 14, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Off the coast of Guadalcanal, Admiral Mikawa reaches Guadalcanal at night, heavy cruisers Suzuja and Maya are shelling Henderson field, with low effect. At dawn, Mikawa´s retreating forces comes under heavy air attacks from Henderson Field, Espiritu Santo and planes from the USS Enterprise (CV-6). Mikawa loses heavy cruiser Kinugasa with many ships demaged. Also six of the transports of admiral Tanaka convoy are lost. The Japanese covering force supporting the convoy, led by Admiral Kondo, reach Guadalcanal in the evening. |
| November 15, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - The second battle of Guadalcanal gets underway shortly before midnight. The Japanese covering force supporting the Tanaka´s convoy, led by Admiral Kondo (with the battleship Kirishima, four cruisers and nine destroyers), encounters US Task Force 64, under the command of Admiral Lee (with the battleships USS Washington (BB-56) and USS South Dakota (BB-57) and four destroyers). The battle begins with damage to the USS South Dakota. It is forced from the battle. A seven minute burst of fire from the USS Washington sinks the Kirishima. Control of the seas around Guadalcanal is passing to the Americans. But, admiral Tanaka continues his advance throughout the night and manages to sail his remaining transports to Tassafaronga. However, more of the Japanese troops are killed by air attack while disembarking. Supply problems are mounting for the Japanese, who will now be forced to make considerable use of submarines to transport supplies. Already many of the Japanese troops are ill and hungry. |
| November 18, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, US forces once again begin moving west with reduced opposition. |
| November 30, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - The Battle of Tassafaronga. American attempts to stop the regular night supply run of the "Tokyo Express" under Admiral Tanaka again develops into a major battle. Tanaka has 8 destroyers and Admiral Wright has 5 heavy cruisers and 7 destroyers. Wright uses radar to find the Japanese force and fire the first salvo. However, the American attack is ineffective with only one hit on a Japanese destroyer Takanami which sinks later. The Japanese sink heavy cruiser Northampton and damage USS Minneapolis (CA-36), USS New Orleans (CA-32) and Pensacola (CA-24) very seriously. Despite this success, Admiral Tanaka is reprimanded for failing to deliver the supplies needed by the starving Japanese forces on the island. |
| December 1, 1942: |
Guadalcanal - In the morning, American destroyers USS Fletcher (DD-445) and USS Drayton (DD-366) rescue 773 survivors from the heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) sunk in the night battle of Tassafaronga. Among the rescued castaways is radioman Jason Robards, who will serve on the light cruiser USS Nashville (CL-43) for the rest of the war and become an actor after the end of the war, when his breakthrough role will be the character of the sympathetic desperado Cheyenne in the legendary western Once Upon a Time in the West and the first Oscar he will win for role of Editor-in-Chief Bradlee alongside Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford in the journalistic drama All the President´s Men. He will contribute to the filmography of the Pacific War, in which he fought himself, in the role of General Short, the commander of the Army forces in Pearl Harbor in the war film Tora, tora, tora! |
| December 3, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Rear Admiral Tanaka leads 10 destroyers in a supply operation to bring food to the desperate Japanese soldiers on Guadalcanal. To avoid air attacks, the cargo is dropped not landed. Only about 300 of the 1500 containers reach the Japanese forces. |
| December 4, 1942: |
Guadalcanal - Carlson´s patrol (2nd Marine Raiders), a special guerilla unit operating for 29 days guided by native scouts in the Japanese rear, reaches US positions at Lunga Point. During the mission unit killed nearly 500 enemies and one field gun delivering harassing fire on Henderson Field, with loses 17 killed and 19 wounded. |
| December 7, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - American PT Boats force a Japanese supply convoy to turn back before landing their supplies on Guadalcanal. The convoy is escorted by 7 destroyers led by Captain Sato. |
| December 9, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, General Patch´s XIV Corps relieves the exhausted Marines. The Marines leave for Australia |
| December 11, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Japanese Admiral Tanaka´s "Tokyo Express" again attempts the delivery of supplies to the Japanese forces on Guadalcanal. The force is stroken byh US torpedo boats PT. The PT-44 sinks, which is the first American loss of the PT, but is more than offset by the sinking of the destroyer Teruzuki, Tanaka´s flagship. Admiral Tanaka is rescued from the sea by the Japanese and the cargo from the ships is dropped overboard. Only 1/4 of it arrives to the soldiers on the coast, a large part of the cargo is sunk by machine gun fire of PT boats. For Admiral Tanaka this action becomes the last combat mission, after healing the wound, the brilliant commander will spend the rest of the war by shore duty behind the desk. |
| December 12, 1942: |
Japan - Given the supply situation on Guadalcanal, the Imperial Japanese Navy recommends that the island be abandoned. |
| December 15, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Admiral Tanaka´s supply flotilla begins missions to aid the building of an airfield on New Georgia to support the Japanese positions on Guadalcanal. |
| December 16, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - Admiral Tanaka´s supply run is attacked again, US dive bombers sink the destroyer Kagero off Guadalcanal. On land, US troops move on Mount Austen. |
| December 19, 1942: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, US forces on Mount Austen meet heavy resistance. |
| December 25, 1942: |
In New Britain - The Japanese base at Rabaul is attacked by bombers from Guadalcanal. |
| December 27, 1942: |
In the Solomon Island - On Guadalcanal, US attacks on Mount Austen renew. Attacking troops from the 132nd Infantry regiment, suffer heavy loses and make no real gains despite a heavy artillery barrage prior to the attack. |
| December 31, 1942: |
In Tokyo - The Japanese High Command decides to evacuate Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. |
| January 2 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, Americans mount another attack on Japanese held Mount Austen. Some progress is made. The Gifu strongpoint remains controlled by the Japanese. |
| January 5, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal the Japanese begin their planned withdrawal. US forces fail to take note of the evacuation. Japanese resistance on Mount Austen is maintained despite growing American pressure. |
| January 7, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, fresh American troops mount an assault on Mount Austen. |
| January 10, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, an new American offensive begins with heavy air and artillery bombardment. The Japanese-held Gifu strongpoint is attacked by the US 35th Infantry Regiment. The Americans have over 50,000 troops on the island; the Japanese have less than 15,000 ill-supplied troops defending. During the night eight Japanese destroyers attempt to deliver supplies. One of the destroyers (Hatsukaze) is damaged by American PT boats, however PT-43 and PT-112 are sunk. |
| January 11, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, US forces take the "Sea Horse" position. The Japanese Gifu strongpoint continues to resist American pressure. |
| January 13, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, the American offensive widens with advances westward along the north coast as well as attacking parallel to this, further inland. |
| January 14, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - A small number of Japanese reinforcements land on Guadalcanal near Cape Esperance to prepare positions to cover the planned evacuation. |
| January 15, 1943: |
Over Guadalcanal - Captain Joseph Jacob "Joe" Foss, american F4F fighter ace, matches as first WW2 US pilot Eddie Rickenbacker´s WW1 record of 26 planes destroyed. |
| January 16, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, American forces advance west and southwest of their perimeter. Japanese positions overlooking the upper part of the Matanikau River are captured. |
| January 20, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, Japanese resistance on Mount Austen weakens. Likewise, the Japanese Gifu strongpoint has suffered heavily from artillery fire. |
| January 22, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, American attacks are renewed. There is progress toward Kokumbona. |
| January 23, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, American forces begin to make rapid gains because of the Japanese withdrawal toward the Cape Esperance positions. The Americans fail to realize the significance. The Gifu strongpoint falls. |
| January 24, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - a US naval task force attacks Kolombangara Island in the New Georgia group of islands. On Guadalcanal, American forces push west of Kokumbona. |
| January 27, 1943: |
Australia - In an attempt to divert attention away from the evacuation of Guadalcanal, the Japanese submarine I-165 shells by deck gun coastal village of Port Gregory at night. The attack does not cause any damage, and the Allied Navy command will only learn about it a week later from the captured and decrypted Japanese message. The submarine will not damage any allied vessel during the voyage, and the event is a graphic example of the poor planning and inadequate doctrine so common in the Japanese submarine force throughout the Pacific War. |
| January 29, 1943: |
Guadalcanal - in the evening, a large Japanese submarine I-1 (approx. 2,200 t) is attacked off the coast of the island by two small New Zealand minesweepers Kiwi and Moa (approx. 600 t). After heavy damage from depth charges, the submarine emerges in an emergency and the brave Japanese crew continues with heavy losses in the fight with Allied vessels using onboard weapons. While trying to beach, the Kiwi is ramming the submarine three times in total and a Japanese navigatior tries unsuccessfully to board Kiwi just with the katana sword during the collision, but is thrown back. After hitting the shore, the rest of the crew manages to reach Guadalcanal by swimming, from where they get as part of the ongoing evacuation. Later, despite Japanese efforts to destroy the wreck, American divers will be able to pick up coding books and other intelligence-relevant material from I-1. |
| January 29, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - US Task Force 18, under the command of Admiral Giffen, is attacked by Japanese torpedo bombers G4M Betty off Rennel Island while providing covering escort to a supply operation to Guadalcanal. Heavy cruisers USS Wichita (CA-45) and USS Louisville (CA-28) are hit, but torpedoes do not explode, while the heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) is damaged by two torpedoes and taken up. |
| January 30, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal American forces continue to advance against Japanese resistance. There is heavy fighting along the River Bonegi. Off Rennel Island, the Japanese G4M Betty torpedo bombers damages the destroyer USS La Vallette (DD-448) and sinks a heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) damaged the previous day. |
| February 1, 1944: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, US forces land at Verahue near Cape Esperance where the Japanese evacuation begins. The Americans are aware of Japanese naval activity but they believe it to be Japanese reinforcements arriving for a new offensive. In fact, 20 Japanese destroyers remove about 5000 troops. Japanese destroyer Makigumo is sunk after she struck a mine. |
| February 2, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal the American coastal advance crosses the Bonegi River. |
| February 3, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal the Americans consolidate their front running inland from Tassafaronga. US patrols penetrate much closer to Cape Esperance. |
| February 4, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal, about 5000 more Japanese troops are evacuated by a squadron (led by Admiral Koyanagi) consisting of one cruiser and 22 destroyers. Four of the ships are damaged. Meanwhile, the US 147th Regiment advances west of Tassafaronga. |
| February 7, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal the US 161st Regiment continues a cautious advance. The Japanese proceed with their evacuation. |
| February 8, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - The last 2000 Japanese troops are evacuated from Guadalcanal by 18 destroyers. |
| February 9, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal the US 161st and 132nd Regiments link up at Tenaro, too late to prevent the Japanese evacuation. The Japanese have lost 10,000 killed and the Americans have lost 1600 killed. Losses in ships and planes have been about equal. Guadalcanal has be a strategic defeat for the Japanese. |
| February 12, 1942: |
Guadalcanal - The first 12 new F4U-1 Corsair fighters arrive on Henderson Field. Due to the current difficulties in operating on aircraft carriers, aircrafts of this type are assigned to the Marine Corps for land based operations. |
| February 19, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - On Guadalcanal American reinforcements arrive as part of the buildup for the next offensive move to the Russell Islands. These islands are now reported abandoned by the Japanese. |
| April 1, 1943: |
United States - Calvin Graham, the youngest U.S. serviceman to serve and fight during World War II, is released from the US Navy. Graham served in the Pacific on the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57) as a loader for 40mm anti-aircraft guns and attended Battle of Santa Cruz, but after his wounds in the Second Battle of Guadalcanal, he was found to have lied about his age in the conscription, in fact he was only 12 years. |
| April 7, 1943: |
In the Solomon Islands - In an effort to disrupt the American buildup, Japanese Admiral Yamamoto mounts an air offensive known as Operation I. The Japanese 11th Air Fleet, based on Rabaul, Kavieng and Buin is reinforced by pilots and aircraft of the carriers Zuikaku, Zuiho, Junyo and Hiyo. This leaves the Imperial Navy with almost no trained pilots. The attacks begin with a raid against Guadalcanal and Tulagi by 180 planes in which a destroyer USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) and two other vessels are sunk. |
| September 30, 1943: |
In the United States - The new Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD-537) is commissioned. The ship was named in honor of the five Sullivan brothers (George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert) aged 20 to 27 who lost their lives when their ship, USS Juneau (CL-52), was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942. This was the greatest military loss by any one American family during World War II. The Sullivans is the first ship commissioned in the Navy that honored more than one person and will become float museum after retirement. In 2022 she will partially sank from a severe hull breach. |
| November 5, 1943: |
The United States - just a year away from the events, the movie Guadalcanal Diary is released. Film is based on the book of the same name by war journalist Richard Tregaskis, who experienced a struggle on the island in August and September 1942. |
| February 3, 1944: |
United States - the biographical film The Sullivans directed by Lloyd Bacon premieres in American cinemas. The film describes the life of five Irish-American brothers in Iowa during the Great Depression and their subsequent service together in the United States Navy in the Pacific War. The brothers became well known for their joint death in the sinking of the light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52) in Solomons area. |
| May 2, 1944: |
United States - A new John C. Butler-class escort destroyer enters service, the USS McCoy Reynolds (DE-440), named in honor of Marine Private McCoy Reynolds, who was killed on Guadalcanal on October 25, 1942 in defense of Henderson Field. |
| February 19, 1945: |
In the Volcano Islands - On Iwo Jima, 2 divisions of the US V Amphibious Corps are landed in Operation Detachment. Before the landing the bombardment groups already deployed are joined by 2 battleships, several cruisers and destroyers from US Task Force 58. The initial assault forces are from US 4th and 5th Marine Divisions with 3rd Marines in reserve. They are carried transported by TF53 (Admiral Hill) and land on the southeast of the island. About 30,000 men go ashore on the first day. The Japanese garrison of about 21,000 troops, commanded by General Kuribayashi, have prepared exceptionally elaborate and tough defenses so that the eight square miles of the island is completely fortified. In the first hours of furious fighting, John Basilone, the hero of Battle of Guadalcanal and the holder of the Medal of Honor, is killed in action. The Americans realize that the island is well defended since it is part of metropolitan Japan. However, the island is strategically important because it is within fighter range of Tokyo. By controlling the airfields here, American B-29 bombers flying from the Mariana Islands can be escorted. |
| November 21, 1945: |
United States - General Alexander "Sandy" Patch dies in Texas. He already participated in the First World War and was one of only two American officers (besides Lucian Truscott) who in the Second World War successively commanded a division, corps and then field army. His health having been ravaged during his time on Guadalcanal, where he commanded the Americal Division and then the XIV Corps. Thanks to his extraordinary competence and experience, he was selected to command the 7th US Army in Europe, which he began with the landings in southern France. |
| December 29, 1945: |
United States - Discharged Navy Lieutenant James A. Michener returns to San Francisco aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kwajalein (CVE-98) as part of a repatriation cruise. During the war, he traveled throughout the South Pacific Ocean on various assignments, and at its end was employed by the Navy as a naval historian. Although he never took part in the fighting, thanks to his perceptive, cognitive and literary abilities, he got to know and at the same time describe the war, its participants, the local environment, life and local residents like few others. Now he has more than a year of struggle to publish his book Tales of the South Pacific, which will soon be awarded the prestigious Pulitzer Prize and even filmed twice, in 1958 and in 2001. Although he will publish his first work at the age of 40, it will be the beginning of a rich writing career full of quality bestsellers. |
| 31 December 1945: |
In the Solomon Islands - On the island of Guadalcanal, two large American tank landing ships USS LST-273 and USS LST 275 with repatriated Japanese prisoners from the New Zealand camp Featherston stop here. In the Featherston POW camp were mostly placed Japanese captured during the Guadalcanal campaign. After ceremony to remember their dead companions they continue to Japan. |
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