The Battle of Savo island During this battle America suffered it's worst naval defeat they have ever had,The Battle of Savo Island. The night of August 9th 1942, the Japanese attacked the American and Australian ships. They were completely unaware that it would happen, so it caused a lot of destruction. The battle only lasted 40 minutes, but by the end of it three American and one Australian Cruiser was destroyed, and over 1,000 Australian and American Sailors died. Only one Japanese Cruiser sank. All those ships going down made the area be known as "Ironbottom Sound".
America Goes on the OffensiveBy the end of 1942 America started to get a lot more resources and help from the navy and airplanes . This made America switch from being on the defensive, by defending Henderson Field all the time ,to the offensive. The Japanese army was weakened there, so over the next few months America was attacking the Japanese while they were in that position. America Finally gained control of the island in February of 1943. The final casualties of the war were, Japan: 24,000 dead, and America: 1,752 dead. It was outstanding victory for America.
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The U.S Invades When the Americans invaded they arrived by climbing down cargo nets to landing crafts and they quickly took control of the airbase on the island with little resistance. They renamed it Henderson Field after a marine hero in the Battle of Midway. America had control of 7 miles of the 90 mile long island now.
The Americans had a major problems they had to face on the island. Battle of Bloody Ridge During September, 1942, Japan surged an attack on the Americans at Henderson Field. The battle lasted three days. Men flailed their bayonets, rifle butts, and fists blindly in the night. The ground was littered with littered with mangled bodies, Japanese and American alike. In the morning the Marines still held the ridge. It was a major victory for the Americans. 24,000 Japanese died, and 1,752 Americans died during this battle. This battle within the battle of Guadalcanal became known as the battle of bloody Ridge.
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