Guadalcanal Campaign (World War II) war movies

Guadalcanal Campaign 7 August 1942

Guadalcanal Campaign started on 7 August 1942, when American forces landed on the islands of Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Florida in the southern Solomon Islands. The aim of the operation was to take over the Japanese bases that threatened the supply routes to Australia. At this point of the war Japanese still has the upper-hand and Allies were desperate to break the Japanese streak of victories. The invasion was the first step in regaining the control over Southern Pacific theatre. The second main target of the landing was to take over the airfield that Japanese were building on Guadalcanal island (later called Henderson Field by Americans) - of finished it would put Australia in the range of Japanese bombers.

Surprise landing of 11000 US marines started the campaign that lasted for 6 months. Americans managed to take over the airfield and other strategic points, Japanese made several attempts to retake Guadalcanal between August and November 1942, which includes 3 major land battles, 7 large naval battles and continual, almost daily aerial battles. The naval battle near Guadalcanal in November 1942, in which the Japanese have lost 2 battleships and 1 heavy cruiser while causing only marginal loses to US Navy, was the turning point - after that Japanese abandoned the plans to retake Guadalcanal and in February 1943 retreat all their forces.

Guadalcanal Campaign was the turning point of Pacific War Threater - it was the first major offensive of Allied forces and first major defeat for Japan. The losses were high on both sided - Americans lost 7 of 60 thousands soldiers involved, which was low comparing to Japanese losses - 31 out of 36 thousands. The air battles also caused a lot of casualties - each side lost over 600 airplanes (to compare in Battle of Britain each side lost over 1500 airplanes).

M3 Stuart

LVT-1 Alligator

F4F Wildcat

War movies about Guadalcanal Campaign

The Thin Red Line 1998

US Marines are preparing for the first big push in the Pacific - the Guadalcanal - but are they really ready for what awaits them?

The Pacific 2010

US Marines are preparing for the first offensive operation of USA in World War 2 - landing on Guadalcanal. The first night will prove them that they have just entered the hell.