Historical Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1952
COVER PICTURE: Munda strip, prize won by XIV Corps, as seen from atop Bibilo Hill in late August 1943. In a little over a week after its capture, this strip became a base for ComAirSols planes operating against enemy installations in the Northern Solomons. Seabees, working in the foreground, soon made Munda the major operating airfield in the Solomons. Its occupation enabled South Pacific Forces to move into Bougainville before the end of the year.
Chapter | Page | ||
1. | Introduction | 1 | |
Solomon Islands Geography | 1 | ||
The Scene of Battle | 2 | ||
The Rabaul Redoubt | 3 | ||
Coastwatcher Activities | 4 | ||
Initial Strategic Situation | 6 | ||
The Concept | 9 | ||
Seizure of the Russells | 13 | ||
2. | Plans and Preliminary Operations | 17 | |
The Directive | 17 | ||
The Brisbane Decision | 18 | ||
Amphibious Scouting | 19 | ||
Intelligence Estimates | 20 | ||
Japanese Dispositions | 21 | ||
American Planning | 25 | ||
The Turner Concept | 28 | ||
Hester's Order | 32 | ||
Seizure of Segi and Viru | 36 | ||
Securing Vangunu | 44 | ||
3. | Marine Support in the Munda Drive | 52 | |
Preliminaries to the Landing | 52 | ||
Japanese Preparations | 53 | ||
Rendova: The Landing | 54 | ||
Enemy Reaction | 57 | ||
Rendova: The Second Day | 62 | ||
Rendova: D-plus 2 | 62 | ||
Preparing for the Push | 64 | ||
Fourth of July Celebration | 65 | ||
Build-up on New Georgia | 67 | ||
Queen's Gambit Declined | 69 | ||
Attack out of the Beachhead | 71 | ||
Laiana Beachhead | 74 | ||
Marine Tanks in Action | 77 | ||
Japanese Counterattack | 81 | ||
Zanana Beach Defense | 83 | ||
Reorganization Hiatus | 84 | ||
The 25 July Assault | 85 | ||
Gathering Momentum: 26-27 July | 87 | ||
Breakthrough | 90 | ||
Objective Attained | 92 | ||
End of a Phase | 94 | ||
4. | From Rice to Bairoko | 96 | |
Seizure of Rice Anchorage | 96 | ||
The Fight for Triri | 100 | ||
Attack on Enogai | 105 | ||
Battle for Bairoko | 109 | ||
Bairoko Evaluated | 118 | ||
Campaign Concluded | 120 | ||
5. | Central Solomons Mop Up | 122 | |
New Georgia Fighting Ends | 122 | ||
Battle of Vella Gulf | 123 | ||
Americans Sweep New Georgia | 123 | ||
Long Toms in the Final Phase | 125 | ||
Arundel | 127 | ||
Vella Lavella: Halsey's By-Pass | 131 | ||
A Base of Operations | 136 | ||
6. | The Role of Aviation | 140 | |
Delineation of Responsibility | 140 | ||
Preparation for the Offensive | 141 | ||
The Invasion | 142 | ||
Shipping Strikes | 144 | ||
Air-Surface Coordination | 145 | ||
ComAir New Georgia Operations | 146 | ||
Mission Completed | 148 | ||
7. | Epilogue | 150 | |
The Assessment | 150 | ||
The Big Lesson | 152 | ||
TOENAILS vs. WATCHTOWER | 152 | ||
Marine Tactics | 154 | ||
The LVT | 155 | ||
The Tanks | 155 | ||
Medical Services | 156 | ||
Naval Support | 157 | ||
Air Support | 157 | ||
Conclusion | 159 | ||
Appendices | |||
I. | Bibliography | 160 | |
II. | Chronology | 169 | |
III. | Casualties | 174 | |
IV. | Command List | 175 | |
V. | Enemy Order of Battle | 177 | |
VI. | Navy Unit Commendation | 178 | |
Index | 179 |