New mission Carlson's patrol

japanese gun captured raiders

on 28 november, companies b , d patrolled across lunga river , bivouacked in mount austen area, southwest of lunga perimeter. same day, companies , f patrolled further south between lunga , tenaru. on 30 november, raiders found japanese 75 mm mountain gun , 37 mm (1.46 in) anti-tank gun emplaced on ridge 4 mi (6.4 km) south of lunga perimeter. 1 squad of 6 marines company f patrolled near guns discovered, entered hidden japanese camp , found among 100 japanese soldiers resting under shelters weapons stacked around trees in center of camp. in resulting melee, raider squad killed 75 of japanese. rest escaped.

the raiders rested on 1 december , received provisions airdrop. on 2 december, carlson fanned out patrols around lunga river. company b discovered 10 japanese camped river , killed of them. none of other companies encountered japanese, 1 discovered 75 mm mountain gun. late in day, carlson received orders terminate patrol , take troops lunga perimeter next day.

on 3 december, carlson sent companies c, d, , e east towards tenaru river while companies a, b, , f headed west towards mount austen. companies c, d, , e reached lower tenaru , entered friendly lines @ lunga point without incident. companies a, b, , f, however, encountered japanese patrol near summit of mount austen. in close-quarters fight in jungle, 25 japanese killed , 4 marines wounded, 1 of whom died later.

the next day, companies a, b, , f set out intention of entering lunga perimeter near matanikau river. along way, marine column ambushed japanese machinegun team killed 4 raiders. 7 japanese killed in skirmish. patrol encountered no further opposition , entered friendly lines @ lunga point mid-afternoon.