Guadalcanal campaign Carlson's patrol

on 7 august 1942, allied forces (primarily u.s. marines) landed on guadalcanal, tulagi, , florida islands in solomon islands. mission deny japanese use of islands bases threatening supply routes between u.s. , australia, , secure islands starting points campaign isolate major japanese base @ rabaul while supporting allied new guinea campaign. landings initiated six-month-long guadalcanal campaign.

the japanese taken surprise, , nightfall on 8 august 11,000 allied troops—under command of lieutenant general alexander vandegrift—secured tulagi , nearby small islands airfield under construction @ lunga point on guadalcanal. allies later renamed airfield henderson field. protect airfield, u.s. marines established perimeter defense around lunga point. additional reinforcements on next 2 months later increased number of u.s. troops @ lunga point more 20,000.

in response allied landings on guadalcanal, japanese imperial general headquarters assigned imperial japanese army s 17th army—a corps-sized command based @ rabaul , under command of lieutenant-general harukichi hyakutake—with task of retaking guadalcanal. units of 17th army began arrive on guadalcanal on 19 august drive allied forces island.

map of guadalcanal , nearby islands. lunga point , koli point areas in north (upper center) of island.

the first japanese attempt recapture henderson field failed when 917-man force defeated on 21 august in battle of tenaru. next attempt took place 12–14 september, ending in defeat of 6,000 soldiers under command of major general kiyotake kawaguchi @ battle of edson s ridge. kawaguchi , surviving japanese troops regrouped west of matanikau river on guadalcanal.