higher level map

There were fighting everywhere on Guadalcanal. Every tree, every beach, every wave was disputed. The extent of water between Guadalcanal and Tulagi gained the surname of "Ironbottom sound" due to the numerous warships that had their liquid grave there.

Having recovered from the US surprise landing, the Japanese did not spare the pains and the blood of their soldiers and sailors to push away the enemy from the disputed island. Three major land offensives will be launched and a fourth cancelled only after the decisive naval defeats off Savo Island in November.

The American stance is on the whole defensive. They must hold on the perimeter around Henderson airfield. That did not prevent them from launching ground attacks and commando raids behind the Japanese lines, wreaking havoc on the depots, painstakingly put up by the Japanese. Both side will use lavishly naval bombardments to support ground troops or to neutralize Henderson Field.

Most naval encounters around the island are small scale affairs. They are provoked by convoy movements to supply or reinforce the island. A few of them will be major battles, such as the first battle off Savo, the day after the landing; Cape Esperance, shortly before the battle of Santa Cruz; the second and third battles of Savo, which decided the whole campaign; Tassafaronga, the last Japanese success near the disputed shore, ....