CONTENTS
Forward vii
Preface ix Chapter Page I. THE STRATEGIC DECISION 1-21
Allied Organization and Missions in the Pacific Theater 1
Japanese Advances 3
The Problem of Command and Strategy 8
The Decision 16 II. PLANS FOR INVASION 22-58
Air and Naval Plans 25
Landing Force Plans 40
Final Preparations 54 III. THE INVASION 59-81
The Approach 59
The Northern Attack 61
The Invasion of Guadalcanal 67
Unloading 75
The Enemy Strikes Back 78 IV. CONSOLIDATING THE BEACHHEAD 82-104
Construction and Defense of the Airfield 83
Action on the Ilu River 90
The Battle of the Eastern Solomons 99
Supply 101 V. INCREASING AIR AND GROUND ACTION 105-134
Air Power and Supply 105
The Counteroffensive, 12-14 September 110
Reinforcements 119
Actions on the Matanikau 125 VI. THE OCTOBER COUNTEROFFENSIVE 135-169
Japanese Strategy 137
The U.S. Situation 139
Air and Naval Preparations 146
The Ground Offensive 152
The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 167 VII. DECISION AT SEA 170-189
Reinforcements 173
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 177 VIII. ADVANCES TOWARD KOKUMBONA 190-209
Operatons 1-11 November 190
Push Toward the Poha 202 IX. THE SITUATION IN DECEMBER 210-231
General Patch Takes Command 210
Troop Strength 214
Air Power 220
The American Situation on Guadalcanal 222
The Japanese Situation 227 X. THE DECEMBER OFFENSIVE 232-252
Mount Austen, 15-30 December 232
The Capture of Hill 27 246 XI. XIV CORPS' FIRST JANUARY OFFENSIVE: THE WEST FRONT 253-280
Capturing of the Galloping Horse 255
The Coastal Offensive 278 XII. XIV CORPS' FIRST JANUARY OFFENSIVE: THE SOUTH FLANK 281-305
Taking of the Sea Horse 283
Reduction of the Gifu 290 XIII. FIGHTING ON GUADALCANAL 306-318
The Americans 306
The Measure of the Enemy 311
Logistics 313 XIV. XIV CORPS' SECOND JANUARY OFFENSIVE 319-335
Plans and Preparations 322
The 25th Division's Advance to Kokumbona 325
CAM Division's Offensive 330
Final Push to the Poha 333 XV. FINAL OPERATIONS ON GUADALCANAL 336-350
Japanese Plans 336
Pursuit of the Enemy 340
Summary 349 EPILOGUE: OCCUPATION OF THE RUSSELLS 351-356
Appendix
A. Letter from General Harmon to Admiral Ghormley, 6 October 1942 357-359 B. General Patch's Letter of Instructions to General Collins, 5 January 1943 360-361 C. XIV Corps Field Order No. 1, 16 January 1943 362-364 D. A Japanese Analysis of American Combat Methods on Guadalcanal 365-368 E. U.S. Army Battle Participation List for Guadalcanal 369-371
Guide to Footnotes 372-375
Bibliographical Note 376-388 Index 389
Abbreviations * Military Map Symbols