Battle Summary
The Battle of Guadalcanal, or the Guadalcanal Campaign, was fought between August 7, 1942, and February 9, 1943 in the Pacific theater of
World War II. This campaign was the first campaign in which the Allied air, sea, and land forces defeated the Japanese force in the Pacific
theater; hence the campaign is often referred to as a turning point in the war. From that point on, the Allied force could perform offensive
operations while Japanese forces were forced to cease offensive operations and perform defensive operations.
On August 7, 1942, Allied forces initiated landings on the islands of Guadalcanal. Their objectives were 1) to stop Japanese forces from using the
islands as their bases to threaten supply routes between the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, and 2) to capture the islands of Guadalcanal
and Tulagi and use them as bases to support an Allied campaign to isolate the major Japanese bases on New Britain.
The Allied force that landed on Guadalcanal outnumbered Japanese defenders. They were able to capture Tulagi as well as Henderson Field.
This airfield was under construction by the Japanese on Guadalcanal. The Japanese made constant efforts to retake Henderson Field. These attempts
led to three major land battles, five naval battles, and three months of daily aircraft battles. Japanese troops in Guadalcanal, by November 1942,
were almost annihilated, repelling the Japanese attempt to recapture Henderson Field. Between December 1942 and February 1943, Japan successfully
evacuated their remaining forces from Guadalcanal. The Solomon Island was the first island that America retook to begin the Allied strategy of “island-hopping.”
Objectives
The Allied Force:
1.) Stop Japanese forces from using the islands as their bases to threaten supply routes between the United States, New Zealand, and Australia
2.) Capture the islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi and use them as bases to support an Allied campaign to isolate the major Japanese bases on New Britain.
3.) Turn the tide of the war in the Pacific theater
The Empire of Japan:
1.) Defend the islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi
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