Background Carlson's patrol

1 background

1.1 guadalcanal campaign
1.2 battle henderson field
1.3 aola bay , koli point action

background
guadalcanal campaign

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.

battle henderson field

between 1 , 17 october, japanese delivered 15,000 troops guadalcanal, giving hyakutake 20,000 total troops employ planned offensive. after staff officers observed american defenses around lunga point, hyakutake decided main thrust of planned attack south of henderson field. 2nd division (augmented troops 38th division), under lieutenant general masao maruyama ordered march through jungle , attack american defenses south near east bank of lunga river. 7000-member 2nd division split 3 units; left wing unit under major general yumio nasu containing 29th infantry regiment, right wing unit under kawaguchi consisting of troops 230th infantry regiment (from 38th infantry division), , division reserve led maruyama comprising 16th infantry regiment.

map of battle, 23–26 october. while other japanese forces attack in west @ matanikau (left), maruyama s 2nd division attacks lunga perimeter south (right)

on 23 october, maruyama s forces struggled through jungle reach american lines. kawaguchi—on own initiative—began shift right wing unit east, believing american defenses weaker in area. maruyama, through 1 of staff officers, ordered kawaguchi keep original attack plan. when refused, kawaguchi relieved of command , replaced colonel toshinari shōji, commander of 230th infantry regiment. evening, after learning left , right wing forces still struggling reach american lines, hyakutake postponed attack 19:00 on 24 october. americans remained unaware of approach of maruyama s forces.

finally, late on 24 october, maruyama s forces reached u.s. lunga perimeter. on 2 consecutive nights maruyama s forces conducted numerous unsuccessful frontal assaults on positions defended troops of 1st battalion, 7th marines (1/7) under lieutenant colonel chesty puller , u.s. army s 3rd battalion, 164th infantry regiment, commanded lieutenant colonel robert hall. u.s. marine , army rifle, machine gun, mortar, artillery , direct canister fire 37 mm (1.46 in) anti-tank guns wrought terrible carnage on japanese. more 1,500 of maruyama s troops killed in attacks while americans lost 60 killed. shōji s right wing units did not participate in attacks, choosing remain in place cover nasu s right flank against possible attack in area u.s. forces never materialized.

at 08:00 on 26 october, hyakutake called off further attacks , ordered forces retreat. maruyama s left wing , division reserve survivors ordered retreat matanikau river area while right wing unit under shōji told head koli point, 13 mi (21 km) east of lunga river. shōji , troops began arriving @ koli point on november 3.

aola bay , koli point action

carlson s raiders come ashore @ aola bay on 4 november.

at 05:30 on 4 november, 2 companies 2nd marine raider battalion—commanded lieutenant colonel evans carlson, landed boat @ aola bay, 40 mi (64 km) east of lunga point. carlson s raiders—along troops u.s. army s 147th infantry regiment—were provide security 500 seabees attempted construct airfield. aola bay airfield construction effort had been approved william halsey, jr.—commander of allied forces in south pacific area—acting on recommendation rear admiral richmond k. turner, u.s. naval commander of amphibious forces south pacific.

the 2nd marine raider battalion unique unit in marine corps. battalion s original organization , tactics based around communist chinese precepts carlson had witnessed while serving observer communists during second sino-japanese war in 1937-1938. these precepts included promoting equality between officers , enlisted men , making decisions through collective consensus. unlike 1st marine raider battalion, focused on commando tactics, 2nd battalion trained operate guerrilla force. training included emphasis on infiltration tactics , involved tactical exercises conducted @ night. battalion organized 6 self-contained rifle companies , headquarters company. before landing @ guadalcanal elements of battalion had seen action part of garrison of midway atoll during battle of midway in may 1942 , near disastrous makin island raid in august.

in november, vandegrift, fearing japanese planning assault on lunga perimeter east using shōji s forces plus additional reinforcements, launched operation against japanese units @ koli point. beginning on 4 november, 2 battalions of u.s. marines , 2 battalions of u.s. army troops attacked , attempted encircle shōji s men @ gavaga creek near village of tetere in koli point area.

as american troops attempting destroy shōji s force, vandegrift ordered carlson s raiders march overland aola bay toward koli point cut off of shōji s forces escaped encirclement attempt. on 5 november, 2 transport ships headed espiritu santo pick 3 companies carlson s battalion while carlson prepared 2 companies on guadalcanal march overland towards koli point. carlson arranged rear echelon personnel @ aola resupply patrol rations every 4 days @ prearranged point on coast. patrol native carriers meet boat , manpack supplies inland carlson s patrol base.