The Solomons 1943-44: The Struggle for New Georgia and Bougainville

by Mark Stille, Peter Dennis (Illustrator)

Overview

Victory at Guadalcanal for the Allies in February 1943 left them a vital foothold in the Solomon Islands chain, and was the first step in an attempt to isolate and capture the key Japanese base of Rabaul on New Britain. In order to do this they had to advance up the island chain in a combined air, naval, and ground campaign. On the other hand, the Japanese were determined to shore up their defences on the Solomons, which was a vital part of their southern front, and would bitterly contest every inch of the Allied advance. The scene was set for one of the bloodiest campaigns of the Pacific War.

Fully illustrated with specially commissioned maps and artwork, this is the compelling story of the struggle for the Solomons, a key part of the Allied advance towards Japan which saw tens of thousands of casualties and so many ships lost that part of the ocean became known as "Ironbottom Sound."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472824479
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	08/21/2018
Series:	Campaign , #326
Pages:	96
Sales rank:	1,050,931
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Mark E. Stille (Commander, United States Navy, retired) received his BA in History from the University of Maryland and also holds an MA from the Naval War College. He has worked in the intelligence community for 35 years including tours on the faculty of the Naval War College, on the Joint Staff, and on US Navy ships. He is currently a senior analyst working in the Washington DC area. He is the author of numerous Osprey titles, focusing on naval history in the Pacific.

Peter Dennis was inspired by contemporary magazines such as Look and Learn, leading him to study Illustration at Liverpool Art College. Peter has since contributed to hundreds of books, predominantly on historical subjects, including many Osprey titles. A keen wargamer and modelmaker, he is based in Nottinghamshire, UK.

Table of Contents

Introduction 5

Chronology 8

Opposing Commanders 10

US Commanders

Japanese Commanders

Opposing Forces 17

American and Allied Forces

Japanese Forces

Orders of Battle

June 30, 1943

Opposing Plans 33

American Plans

Japanese Plans

The Campaign 36

Opening Moves

Yamamoto's Final Offensive-the / Operation

The Invasion of New Georgia The Battle of Kula Gulf

The Battle of Kolombangara

The Siege of Munda

The Americans Regroup The Final Attack on Munda

Invasion of Vella Lavella

The Naval Battle of Vella Gulf

The Battle off Horaniu

The Japanese Retreat from the Central Solomons

The Naval Battle of Vella Lavella The American Invasion of Bougainville Island

The Landing

The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay Expansion of the Bougainville Beachhead

The Battle of Cape St. George

The Japanese Counterattack on Bougainville

The Aftermath 92

The End on Bougainville

The Solomons Campaign-an Assessment

Bibliography 94

Index 95

Editorial Reviews

A succinct summary of the battles on the air, land, and sea and should be a welcome addition to anyone who has an interest in the war in the Pacific.” —IPMS / USA

From the Publisher