Guadalcanal: Decision At Sea

[ccheese]

Just finished this book, "Guadalcanal: Decision At Sea", the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal November 13-15 1942, by Eric Hammell.

The Japanese Naval force, under Admirals Tanaka, Abe and Kondo had a three pronged objective during this battle: To bombard Henderson Field, to keep the Cactus Air Force on the Ground, which would enable RAdm Tanaka to bring his eleven transports and supply ships to reinforce the troops on Guadalcanal and to bring about the "decisive battle" between the US Navy and the Japanese Navy.

Neither of the three objectives were completed. The US Task force under RAdm Richmond K. Turner sank two Japanese BB's, (Hiei & Kirishima) a CA, 3 DD's and eleven transports while losing two CA's, (Atlanta & Juneau) and seven DD's. The Japanese Long Lance torpedoes did their work well.



RAdm Tanaka was only able to retrieve 13,000 of the 50,000 Japanese troops on Guadalcanal..... a tremendouse loss of life.

As an aside, the CO of USS Enterprise at this time was Capt. Osborne B. Hardison. In 1952 I had the pleasure of serving under RAdm O. B. Hardison, who was then Commander Fleet Air Jacksonville (ComFairJax).

The book is a very well written, blow-by blow account of the entire sea battle. Mr. Hammel has done his homework rather well.

Charles

[syscom3]

He has two other books about the campaign. All of them excellent.

Check out the one about the Battle for the Eastern Solomons.

[ccheese]

He has two other books about the campaign. All of them excellent.

Check out the one about the Battle for the Eastern Solomons.

Sys:

Do you have the titles ???

Charles

[wheelsup_cavu]

It seems Mr Hammell is a pretty prolific writer. Eric Hammel's Books

Looking at his list I am guessing these are the books Syscom is recommending.

1. CARRIER CLASH: The Invasion of Guadalcanal and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, August 1942
2. GUADALCANAL: Starvation Island
3. GUADALCANAL: The U.S. Marines in World War II

There looks to be several other good books by him.


Wheels

[ccheese]

Thanks, Wheels....

Charles

[vikingBerserker]

Very cool!