““BATLE OF GUADALCANAL”BATLE OF GUADALCANAL”

““BATLE OF GUADALCANAL”BATLE OF GUADALCANAL”

• The The Guadalcanal CampaignGuadalcanal Campaign, also , also known as the known as the Battle of Battle of GuadalcanalGuadalcanal, was fought between , was fought between August 7, 1942 and February 9, August 7, 1942 and February 9, 19431943 on and around the island of on and around the island of GuadalcanalGuadalcanal in the in the Pacific theaterPacific theater of of World War IIWorld War II. Fiercely contested on . Fiercely contested on the ground, at sea, and in the air, the ground, at sea, and in the air, the the campaigncampaign was the first major was the first major offensive launched by offensive launched by AlliedAllied forces forces against the against the Empire of JapanEmpire of Japan..

TIME LINETIME LINE

• From August 7, 1942 to February 9, From August 7, 1942 to February 9, 19431943

• The landing at Guadalcanal was The landing at Guadalcanal was unopposed, unopposed, but it took the but it took the Americans Americans six monthssix months to defeat to defeat the Japanese in what was to turn the Japanese in what was to turn into a classic battle of into a classic battle of attrition.attrition.

PRIOR TO GUADALCANALPRIOR TO GUADALCANAL

• The Battle of MidwayThe Battle of Midway, fought in June , fought in June 19421942, must be considered one of the , must be considered one of the most decisive battles of most decisive battles of World War TwoWorld War Two. . The Battle of Midway effectively The Battle of Midway effectively destroyed Japan’s naval strength when destroyed Japan’s naval strength when the Americans destroyed four of its the Americans destroyed four of its aircraft carriers. Japan’s navy never aircraft carriers. Japan’s navy never recovered from its mauling at Midway recovered from its mauling at Midway and it was on the defensive after this and it was on the defensive after this battle.battle.

• The Japanese defeat at the The Japanese defeat at the Battle of MidwayBattle of Midway had forced planners in the had forced planners in the Imperial Army to reconsider their plans of Imperial Army to reconsider their plans of expansion and to concentrate their forces expansion and to concentrate their forces on consolidating the territory that they had on consolidating the territory that they had captured. The victory at Midway was also a captured. The victory at Midway was also a turning point for the Americans as after this turning point for the Americans as after this battle, they could think in terms of re-battle, they could think in terms of re-capturing taken Pacific islands - the first capturing taken Pacific islands - the first confrontation was to be at Guadalcanal.confrontation was to be at Guadalcanal.

Where is GuadalcanalWhere is Guadalcanal??• Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands Guadalcanal is part of the Solomon Islands

which lie to the north-eastern approaches which lie to the north-eastern approaches of Australia. Though it is a humid and of Australia. Though it is a humid and jungle-covered tropical island its position jungle-covered tropical island its position made it strategically important for both made it strategically important for both sides in the sides in the Pacific WarPacific War.. If the Japanese If the Japanese captured the island, they could cut off the captured the island, they could cut off the sea route between Australia and America. sea route between Australia and America. If the Americans controlled the island, If the Americans controlled the island, they would be better able to protect they would be better able to protect Australia from Japanese invasion and they Australia from Japanese invasion and they could also protect the Allied build-up in could also protect the Allied build-up in Australia that would act as a springboard Australia that would act as a springboard for a major assault on the Japanese. for a major assault on the Japanese. Hence Hence the importance of the island.the importance of the island.

GUADALCANAL 7 AUGUST GUADALCANAL 7 AUGUST 19421942

• The head of all US naval forces, The head of all US naval forces, Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-Admiral Ernest King, wanted a full-scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set scale attack on Guadalcanal to off-set this threat. Despite the this threat. Despite the RooseveltRoosevelt--Churchill directive that gave the Churchill directive that gave the European war zone priority, the Joint European war zone priority, the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the Chiefs-of-Staff in Washington gave the go-ahead for the first American go-ahead for the first American offensive campaign since Pearl Harbor offensive campaign since Pearl Harbor in December 1941.  in December 1941. 

• The Americans arrived at the airfield on The Americans arrived at the airfield on Guadalcanal late on August 8th. Once again, Guadalcanal late on August 8th. Once again, there were no Japanese there as they had fled there were no Japanese there as they had fled into the jungle. The news that the Marines had into the jungle. The news that the Marines had reached the airfield was greeted with joy in reached the airfield was greeted with joy in Washington and Canberra. But this joy was Washington and Canberra. But this joy was shattered on the night of August 8th/9th when a shattered on the night of August 8th/9th when a Japanese cruiser force attacked the Allied naval Japanese cruiser force attacked the Allied naval force at Guadalcanal and forced it to withdraw. force at Guadalcanal and forced it to withdraw. The Marines on Guadalcanal were on their own. The Marines on Guadalcanal were on their own. Though the landing of equipment had been Though the landing of equipment had been chaotic at times, equipment had been landed. In chaotic at times, equipment had been landed. In this sense, Vandegrift's men were not in a this sense, Vandegrift's men were not in a hopeless situation - and Vandegrift hoped that hopeless situation - and Vandegrift hoped that planes could land at the airfield that they now planes could land at the airfield that they now controlled. However, vital equipment such as controlled. However, vital equipment such as barbed wire to defend his base, anti-personnel barbed wire to defend his base, anti-personnel mines etc had not been landed in quantity.mines etc had not been landed in quantity.

• The Japanese hierarchy in Tokyo refused to The Japanese hierarchy in Tokyo refused to admit defeat and ordered yet more men to admit defeat and ordered yet more men to Guadalcanal. In mid-November 1942, planes Guadalcanal. In mid-November 1942, planes from Henderson attacked a convoy of ships from Henderson attacked a convoy of ships bringing Japanese reinforcements to bringing Japanese reinforcements to Guadalcanal. Of eleven transport ships, six Guadalcanal. Of eleven transport ships, six were sunk, one was severely damaged and four were sunk, one was severely damaged and four had to be beached. Only 2,000 men ever had to be beached. Only 2,000 men ever reached Guadalcanal - but few had any reached Guadalcanal - but few had any equipment as this had been lost at sea. On equipment as this had been lost at sea. On December 1942, the emperor ordered a December 1942, the emperor ordered a withdrawal from Guadalcanal. This withdrawal withdrawal from Guadalcanal. This withdrawal took place from January to February 1943 and took place from January to February 1943 and the Americans learned that even in defeat that the Americans learned that even in defeat that the Japanese were a force to be reckoned with. the Japanese were a force to be reckoned with. 11,000 Japanese soldiers were taken off the 11,000 Japanese soldiers were taken off the island in the so-called 'Tokyo Night Express'.island in the so-called 'Tokyo Night Express'.

• The American victory at Guadalcanal The American victory at Guadalcanal ensured that Australia was safe from ensured that Australia was safe from a Japanese invasion while the sea a Japanese invasion while the sea route from Australia to America was route from Australia to America was also protected. The role played by also protected. The role played by the US in Guadalcanal was the US in Guadalcanal was extremely important for the overall extremely important for the overall success in World War Two.success in World War Two.

““SEABEES IN SEABEES IN GUADALCANAL”GUADALCANAL”• The events that led to the participation of the Seabees The events that led to the participation of the Seabees

in the battle for Guadalcanal in World War II started in the battle for Guadalcanal in World War II started with the actions taken by with the actions taken by Rear Admiral Ben MoreellRear Admiral Ben Moreell, , Chief of Civil Engineers, and the staff of the Bureau of Chief of Civil Engineers, and the staff of the Bureau of Yards and Docks (BUDOCKS) in the early weeks of the Yards and Docks (BUDOCKS) in the early weeks of the war. Captain John N. Laycock, Civil Engineer Corps, war. Captain John N. Laycock, Civil Engineer Corps, was in charge of the planning for Seabee units and was in charge of the planning for Seabee units and expanded on the early work of Commander Walter H. expanded on the early work of Commander Walter H. Allen at the Great Lakes Naval Base who had Allen at the Great Lakes Naval Base who had pioneered the concept of construction units composed pioneered the concept of construction units composed of naval personnel. When the war began, Rear Admiral of naval personnel. When the war began, Rear Admiral Moreell expanded and acted on the planning that had Moreell expanded and acted on the planning that had taken place and began to organize several units of Civil taken place and began to organize several units of Civil Engineer Corps officers and skilled petty officers. On 5 Engineer Corps officers and skilled petty officers. On 5 January 1942, Rear Admiral Moreell's superiors January 1942, Rear Admiral Moreell's superiors directed him to begin recruiting the men that were to directed him to begin recruiting the men that were to form the Navy's new construction battalions. Seabee form the Navy's new construction battalions. Seabee enlisted men were recruited with skills needed in the enlisted men were recruited with skills needed in the battalions and came primarily from the construction battalions and came primarily from the construction industry. Civil Engineer Corps officers, many with prior industry. Civil Engineer Corps officers, many with prior military and construction experience, were military and construction experience, were commissioned to serve in the units.commissioned to serve in the units.

• Other Guadalcanal work, in addition to unit Other Guadalcanal work, in addition to unit encampments, was road construction, bridge encampments, was road construction, bridge construction, gravel and coral pit operations, construction, gravel and coral pit operations, Navy and Army docks, a Marine railway, boat Navy and Army docks, a Marine railway, boat pool anchors, gun emplacements, railways, pool anchors, gun emplacements, railways, fuel systems, pipelines and booster stations, fuel systems, pipelines and booster stations, gasoline bulk plant operations, tunnels, gasoline bulk plant operations, tunnels, buildings of all sizes and types, sawmills and buildings of all sizes and types, sawmills and logging operations, an ice plant, power logging operations, an ice plant, power generation and power distribution and radio generation and power distribution and radio stations. In addition, stevedoring work and stations. In addition, stevedoring work and salvage work on ships used Seabee labor.salvage work on ships used Seabee labor.

• The Guadalcanal Campaign provided the proving The Guadalcanal Campaign provided the proving ground for Naval Construction Battalions and their ground for Naval Construction Battalions and their need for the campaigns to follow in the Pacific. At need for the campaigns to follow in the Pacific. At its peak over 258,000 Seabees and CEC officers its peak over 258,000 Seabees and CEC officers were on duty in World War II. Eventually, 150 were on duty in World War II. Eventually, 150 Naval Construction Battalions and 41 Construction Naval Construction Battalions and 41 Construction Battalion Specials were established and served Battalion Specials were established and served around the world on all continents. One hundred around the world on all continents. One hundred thirty-five CBMUs were formed. One hundred thirty-five CBMUs were formed. One hundred eighteen Construction Detachments and five eighteen Construction Detachments and five Pontoon Assembly Detachments were also formed. Pontoon Assembly Detachments were also formed. Other services, and the rest of the Navy itself, were Other services, and the rest of the Navy itself, were lost on the distinction among the unit types. They lost on the distinction among the unit types. They all became known as Seabees all became known as Seabees

BELLIGERENTSBELLIGERENTS• ALLIED ALLIED forces:forces:

 - -United StatesUnited States - -AustraliaAustralia - -New ZealandNew Zealand - -British Solomon IslandsBritish Solomon Islands

--TongaTonga - -FijiFiji

• ENEMYENEMY --Empire of JapanEmpire of Japan

““GROUND FORCES”GROUND FORCES”

• ALLIEDALLIED FORCES FORCES • 60,000 60,000 (ground forces)(ground forces)

• ENEMYENEMY• 36,20036,200 (ground forces) (ground forces)

““GROUND FORCES”GROUND FORCES”• ALLIEDALLIED• 7,1007,100 killedkilled

44 captured captured29 29 ships lostships lost615615 aircraft lost aircraft lost

• EMPIRE OF JAPANEMPIRE OF JAPAN• 31,00031,000 killedkilled

1,0001,000 captured captured3838 ships lost ships lost683–880683–880 aircraft lost aircraft lost

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