Guadalcanal Campain

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In August 1942 a powerful fleet comprising 48 combat ships, including the US Aircraft Carriers Wasp, Saratoga and Enterprise and the new battleship North Carolina, began to assemble for the invasion of the Solomon Islands. The Royal Australian Navy was represented by the cruisers Australia (Captain H. B. Farncomb); Canberra (Captain F. E. Getting and Hobart (Captain H. A. Showers). Commanding the Australian cruisers and five American cruisers was Rear-Admiral Victor Crutchley RN, who in June had succeeded the Australian born Rear-Admiral Crace RN, as the commander of the Australian Squadron. He was responsible for the safe arrival in the combat area of the troopships carrying the assault force of some 16000 US marines. Australian ground forces were at this time busy holding the Japs back on the Kokoda Trek in New Guinea.
The invaders achieved complete surprise as they approached the shores of Guadalcanal over a smooth sea and under a clear sky. HMAS Australia and USS Quincy opened fire at 6.13 a.rn. and at 6.23 a.m. and shortly afterwards at dawn on 7 August, the first waves of US Marines landed at Guadalcanal and Tulagi, and soon secured the sites. The first wave of marines went ashore near Lunga Point without opposition and next day the marines occupied the airstrip. Opposition at Tulagi was strong but was soon crushed
The Japanese reaction was immediate. Hastily organising a surface strike force of seven cruisers and a destroyer, they began to attack the Allied force without delay. It was a bold decision as it involved steaming in broad daylight down the length of 'The Slot' between the Solomons. Incredibly, the sole sighting of the approaching enemy force - by an RAAF Catalina - was not passed on to Allied leaders. The Americans had split their forces into three groups. Two were guarding the channels on either side of Savo Island. AUSTRALIA in company with CANBERRA, CHICAGO and two destroyers, patrolled the southern channel, while...