Though taking heavy losses the first night, American warships turned the tide on the night of November 14/15. Taking off on November 14, CAF and aircraft from USS Enterprise spotted and sunk seven of Tanaka's transports. On the night of November 12/13, the Allied covering force encountered the Japanese battleships in the opening actions of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Aware that the Japanese were moving troops to the island, the Allies planned a similar move. This convoy would be covered by a force including two battleships that would bombard Henderson Field and destroy the CAF. To aid in this, Yamamoto made available eleven transports for Tanaka to transport 7,000 men to the island. The Japanese retreated west to the Matanikau River.Īs a stalemate ensued on land, the Japanese made efforts to build up strength for an offensive in late November. Pushing forward the next day, they advanced to the Lunga River, secured the airfield, and drove off the Japanese construction troops that were in the area. The situation on Guadalcanal was different as Vandegrift landed with 11,000 men against minimal opposition. Though Japanese resistance was fierce on both Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo, the islands were secured on August 8 and 9 respectively. Edson's 1st Marine Raider Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, the Tulagi force was compelled to disembark approximately 100 yards from the beach due to submerged coral reefs. Wading ashore against no resistance, the Marines began securing the island and engaged enemy forces led by Captain Shigetoshi Miyazaki. Centered on Lieutenant Colonel Merritt A. On August 7, the landings began with 3,000 Marines assaulting the seaplane bases at Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo. Approaching the area in poor weather, the Allied fleet remained undetected by the Japanese.
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