The Struggle for Guadalcanal

by Morison, Samuel Eliot

• ISBN13: 9780785813064
• ISBN10: 0785813063
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Book Sales

Summary

Volume V of this series of devoted entirely to the Guadalcanal campaign, in which the United States Navy experienced more fighting than in any three previous wars. After a brief description of the Solomon Islands, the author launches forth into the Battle of Savo Island. The full story of this severe defeat to the United States is told here for the first time.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Abbreviations	xxi
King Solomon's Isles, 1567--1942	3	(14)
The Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942	17	(48)
The Setup, 7--8 August	17	(18)
The Battle South of Savo, 0054--0150	35	(5)
The Battle East and North of Savo, 0143--0230	40	(14)
Picking up the Pieces, 9--10 August	54	(11)
Three Weeks on Guadalcanal, 9 August-1 September 1942	65	(14)
The Marines' Problem and Initial Skirmishes	65	(4)
Battle of the Tenaru River, 21 August	69	(4)
Henderson Field and the Seabees	73	(6)
The Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 24 August 1942	79	(29)
Storm's Eye	79	(5)
Composition of Forces	84	(3)
Japanese
United States
The Battle Joined, 24 August	87	(17)
Storm's Wake, 25--29 August	104	(4)
Attrition Tacties, 28 August--5 September 1942	108	(15)
Colhoun Sunk, ``Sara'' Smacked	108	(5)
Situation and Speculation, 1--6 September	113	(4)
Little and Gregory Lost, 5 September	117	(6)
The September Crisis	123	(17)
Raid on Tasimboko, 7--8 September	123	(2)
The Battle of the Bloody Ridge, 12--14 September	125	(5)
Wap's Sacrifice, 15 September	130	(8)
Chipping Away, 25 September--2 October	138	(2)
Fighting along the Matanikau, 23 September--9 October 1942	140	(7)
The Battle of Cape Esperance, 11--12 October 1942	147	(25)
Looking for a Fight	147	(4)
Crossing the ``T,'' 2100--2400	151	(12)
Flareback, 0000--0245	163	(3)
Loss of Duncan	166	(2)
Scott's Score	168	(4)
Mid--October Misery, 13--17 October 1942	172	(16)
``The Bombardment,'' 14 October	172	(3)
Rebound, 14--15 October	175	(3)
Supply-train Sufferings	178	(4)
Enter Halsey	182	(3)
Cras Ingens Iterabimus Aequor	185	(3)
The Battle for Henderson Field, 19--26 October 1942	188	(11)
The Japanese Plan and the Matanikau Drive	188	(3)
Coffin Corner, 24--25 October	191	(3)
Skirmishes in the Sound and the Strait, 25 October	194	(5)
The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26--27 October 1942	199	(26)
Preliminary Maneuvers, 23--25 October	199	(5)
Composition of Forces	204	(3)
United States
Japanese
The Carrier Plane Battle, 26 October	207	(12)
Hornet Abandoned; All Hands Retire	219	(6)
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12--15 November 1942	225	(63)
Great Expectations	225	(6)
Composition of Forces	231	(4)
United States
Japanese
Prologue, 12 November	235	(4)
The Night Action of Friday the Thirteenth	239	(20)
Mutual Surprise
General Melee
Exeunt Fighting
Daylight Disasters
Kinkaid Moves Up, Nishimura Bombards, 13 November	259	(4)
Smacking the Transports, 14 November	263	(7)
Joust of Giants, 14--15 November	270	(15)
The Encounter South of Savo
Destroyers' Slaughter
Battlewagon Duel
Washington Wins
Survivors' Holiday
Fork in the Road	285	(3)
The Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942	288	(28)
Point Cruz and Alchiba, 15--29 November	288	(5)
The Scratch Team	293	(4)
Wright Attacks, 2225--2325	297	(4)
Tanaka Strikes Back, 2320--2348	301	(6)
Saving Cripples	307	(6)
Post-mortem	313	(3)
Securing Guadalcanal, 1 December 1942--29 January 1943	316	(35)
The Emperor Is Troubled	316	(5)
Munda Built, Bombed and Bombarded	321	(9)
``Black Cats'' and ``Dumbo''	330	(3)
December Doings Ashore	333	(4)
PTs Heckle Tanaka, 5--15 January 1943	337	(3)
Patch's Push, 10--26 January	340	(4)
Vila Bombardment, 23--24 January	344	(4)
Submarines pro and con	348	(3)
The Battle of Rennell Island, 29--30 January 1943	351	(13)
Big Reinforcement	351	(3)
Twilight Torpedo Attack	354	(5)
Loss of Chicago	359	(5)
Guadalcanal Evacuated, 1--9 February 1943	364	(10)
Operation ``KE''	364	(7)
The Cost and the Return	371	(3)
Appendix	374	(3)
Index	377