Gavutu-Tanambogo continued (6 ore 30 min, 7 agos 1942 anni – 12 ore 1 min, 9 agos 1942 anni)

Descrizione:

It was observed that the enemy had not been driven from the beach at Gavutu by the shelling and bombing preceding the landing. Furthermore, Tanambogo withstood two days of intermittent bombing and strafing and was not taken until a destroyer closed in to point blank range and shelled it for several minutes. It was evident that this fire was necessary to insure the capture of Tanambogo without further heavy casualties.22
Taking into account the indications that these shortcomings would be corrected in TULAGI ISLAND, framed against the background of the larger Florida Island, is fire-swept from the hits scored by American carrier dive-bombers. (USN 11649)

TANAMBOGO AND GAVUTU ISLANDS photographed immediately after a pre-landing strike by USS Enterprise planes; Gavutu is at the left across the causeway. (USN 11034)

later operations, the Marine Corps was generally satisfied with the ships' fire. "The operation did not involve a real test ... [but] nothing developed during the operation to indicate the need for any fundamental change in doctrine."23
After these three days of fighting in the Tulagi area, this side of the operation remained quiet. Enemy planes bypassed it to strike at the more tempting Guadalcanal airfield and perimeter. Surface craft shelled Tulagi occasionally but never was it subjected to the kind of bombardment that struck Guadalcanal in October. There is no record that enemy reinforcements landed either on Tulagi or on Florida Island. With this sharp fighting out of the way, the division could give all its attention to things on the larger island of Guadalcanal. There the picture was not a bright one.

Aggiunto al nastro di tempo:

Data: