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Title
Guadalcanal
Description
Japanese commander Kawaguchi planned to retake Henderson Field by moving his main force through the jungle and advancing from the south. But Col. "Red Mike” Edson had received reports of Kawaguchi's movement and positioned his troops in the jungle and …
Subject
Publisher
Date
1942-09-12
Scenario#
19384
Scenario Description
Japanese commander Kawaguchi planned to retake Henderson Field by moving his main force through the jungle and advancing from the south. But Col. "Red Mike” Edson had received reports of Kawaguchi's movement and positioned his troops in the jungle and along a series of grassy ridges south of Henderson Field. The Japanese attack with a bombardment, followed by a powerful thrust that pushed the Marines back onto the ridge. The next day an attempt to drive the Japanese forces back failed. A strong effort by Major General Kawaguchi's infantry on the second night drove the Marines back further. The Japanese onslaught was finally stopped by close range artillery fire. Kawaguchi forces were defeated just short of their objective of Henderson Field and while Kawaguchi was attacking Edson on ‘Bloody ridge', two other attacks were also in progress. The second unit attacked the Marine positions along Alligator Creek and Colonel Oka's command struck the Marines defending the upper Lunga River. These attacks were also repulsed.
Location
Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
Battle Name
Battle Narrative
The Guadalcanal campaign, also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal and codenamed Operation Watchtower by American forces, was a military campaign fought between 7 August 1942 and 9 February 1943 on and around the island of Guadalcanal in the Pacific theater of World War II. It was the first major land offensive by Allied forces against the Empire of Japan. On 7 August 1942, Allied forces, predominantly United States Marines, landed on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida in the southern Solomon Islands, with the objective of using Guadalcanal and Tulagi as bases in supporting a campaign to eventually capture or neutralize the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. The Japanese defenders, who had occupied those islands since May 1942, were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the Allies, who captured Tulagi and Florida, as well as the airfield, later named Henderson Field, that was under construction on Guadalcanal. Surprised by the Allied offensive, the Japanese made several attempts between August and November to retake Henderson Field. Three major land battles, seven large naval battles (five nighttime surface actions and two carrier battles), and almost daily aerial battles culminated in the decisive Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in early November, with the defeat of the last Japanese attempt to bombard Henderson Field from the sea and to land enough troops to retake it. In December, the Japanese abandoned their efforts to retake Guadalcanal, and evacuated their remaining forces by 7 February 1943, in the face of an offensive by the U.S. Army's XIV Corps, with the Battle of Rennell Island, the last major naval engagement, serving to secure protection for the Japanese troops to evacuate safely.
Narrative Source
Combatants
Japanese
American
Additional Information
Game Type: Overlord
Board Type: Countryside
Website Access: Unavailable

Geolocation