Marines in the Central Solomons

by
Major John N. Rentz, USMCR

Historical Branch, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1952

COVER PICTURE: Munda strip, prize won by XIV Corps, as seen from atop Bibilo Hill in late August 1943. In a little over a week after its capture, this strip became a base for ComAirSols planes operating against enemy installations in the Northern Solomons. Seabees, working in the foreground, soon made Munda the major operating airfield in the Solomons. Its occupation enabled South Pacific Forces to move into Bougainville before the end of the year.

Chapter			Page
1.	Introduction		1
		Solomon Islands Geography	1
		The Scene of Battle	2
		The Rabaul Redoubt	3
		Coastwatcher Activities	4
		Initial Strategic Situation	6
		The Concept	9
		Seizure of the Russells	13
2.	Plans and Preliminary Operations		17
		The Directive	17
		The Brisbane Decision	18
		Amphibious Scouting	19
		Intelligence Estimates	20
		Japanese Dispositions	21
		American Planning	25
		The Turner Concept	28
		Hester's Order	32
		Seizure of Segi and Viru	36
		Securing Vangunu	44
3.	Marine Support in the Munda Drive		52
		Preliminaries to the Landing	52
		Japanese Preparations	53
		Rendova: The Landing	54
		Enemy Reaction	57
		Rendova: The Second Day	62
		Rendova: D-plus 2	62
		Preparing for the Push	64
		Fourth of July Celebration	65
		Build-up on New Georgia	67
		Queen's Gambit Declined	69
		Attack out of the Beachhead	71
		Laiana Beachhead	74
		Marine Tanks in Action	77
		Japanese Counterattack	81
		Zanana Beach Defense	83
		Reorganization Hiatus	84
		The 25 July Assault	85
		Gathering Momentum: 26-27 July	87
		Breakthrough	90
		Objective Attained	92
		End of a Phase	94
4.	From Rice to Bairoko		96
		Seizure of Rice Anchorage	96
		The Fight for Triri	100
		Attack on Enogai	105
		Battle for Bairoko	109
		Bairoko Evaluated	118
		Campaign Concluded	120
5.	Central Solomons Mop Up		122
		New Georgia Fighting Ends	122
		Battle of Vella Gulf	123
		Americans Sweep New Georgia	123
		Long Toms in the Final Phase	125
		Arundel	127
		Vella Lavella: Halsey's By-Pass	131
		A Base of Operations	136
6.	The Role of Aviation		140
		Delineation of Responsibility	140
		Preparation for the Offensive	141
		The Invasion	142
		Shipping Strikes	144
		Air-Surface Coordination	145
		ComAir New Georgia Operations	146
		Mission Completed	148
7.	Epilogue		150
		The Assessment	150
		The Big Lesson	152
		TOENAILS vs. WATCHTOWER	152
		Marine Tactics	154
		The LVT	155
		The Tanks	155
		Medical Services	156
		Naval Support	157
		Air Support	157
		Conclusion	159
Appendices
I.	Bibliography		160
II.	Chronology		169
III.	Casualties		174
IV.	Command List		175
V.	Enemy Order of Battle		177
VI.	Navy Unit Commendation		178
Index			179

Transcribed and formatted by Jerry Holden for the HyperWar Foundation

Marines in the Central Solomons

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