Learning War: Naval Battles in the Solomons (Guadalcanal, Savo Island, Cape Esperance) 

Drachinifel has a series of videos on the battles at Guadalcanal. They are well worth taking time to watch. Another excellent series is "An Unauthorized History of the Pacific War."

As a Montanan, i am tremendously happy to listen to a historian who can properly pronounce the word "Helena" 👍

Admiral Willis "Ching" Lee was a member of the USNA Rifle team three times, won 7 Olympic medals for marksmanship, and received the MOH for action in Veracruz in 1914 where he out shoots several Mexican snipers while kneeling in the open.

I love shows like this where why forces originally fought the way they did and the lessons learned from reality and not just about theory.

Great show as usual Paul, kudos. Regarding the fortunate learning atmosphere the U.S. Navy allowed to flourish in that early war period; many more mundane and “housekeeping” systems that had been standard practice for many years in the Navy prior to the war were reworked and reevaluated. I understand one of these were how the U.S. Navy carried out it’s shipboard battle-stations or general quarters events. The British referred to this as “Action-Stations” I believe. Following the defeat at the battle of Savo Island this topic was brought up because of the inordinate amount of time it was taking for many of the crew to physically move to their respective stations. I also think the British had some input into this revamping of the U.S. Navy system also. Basically captains were instructed to, as much as possible locate a crewman’s berth as close to his General Quarters post as physically possible. This markedly cut down on the time it took to bring the vessel to full combat readiness.

One of the things learned is if your ships lead engineers gets a TBM Technical advisory (something I'm very familiar with), on a piece of equipment you best take serious heed and lose you own pre-cognitions, the reason South Dakota was basically dead in the water was the chief engineer physically tied down their circuit breakers as they would previously with others, even after being told specifically not to do this with the SD. Even Jon Parchall doesn't know what became of this engineer.

Lee was also a 5 time Olympic Gold Medalist for Shooting (plus a couple silvers and a Bronze). He became just as adept with big naval guns. He had a mind like very few and could calculate complex firing solutions in his head. He was the true icon of a Kentucky Sharpshooter. Starting with the Kentucky Long Rifle of Revolution fame up to today, knowing how to use a rifle is still important in Kentuckians lives.

Another excellent presentation. So great to be able to learn from these amazing historians.

Mr Hone always delivers great presentations. This is no different. Thanks for a great program!

I had heard of Arleigh Burk and how he made his name with destroyers at the Solomons but there's not a lot on the actual tactics and battles he fought. Thanks, for the enlightenment on this important naval figure.

Thank you Paul for facilitating a very good and insightful show on this topic. I find this history to be fascinating and compelling. Thanks to you and your guest, you are appreciated.

Another excellent session, Trent Hone's exceptional, detailed, logical and instructive opus on the development of USN Doctrine(s), capability and technology up to 1945 is one of the definitive references on these matters. Bravo Zulu

A continuation of this, covering all of the surface engagements up the Solomons through to Cape St. George would be great.

Superbly presented: In-depth, expansive and breathtaking details of these naval battles.

Great presentation from Trent Hone on how the US Navy learnt from experience and improved their doctrine and tactics. Hope you get him back on soon Woody!! Hope Trent talks about the development of carrier tactics & doctrine.

Woody/Trent. I have been on a holiday for two weeks and have missed my WW2TV fix! Great presentation to get back into it!! I love the naval episodes and really enjoyed this one. Than you. Bob

This is a wonderful presentation. Well done Paul.

Chief of Staff FMFPAC, Chief of NAVAL OPERATIONS directly after WW2 IN PACIFIC was Major General Merritt Austin Edson USMC. Also inked the Geneva convention for Blackjack Pershing

Wonderful show, many thanks for presenting.

Such a thorough and learning presentation, this shared knowledge and interest will only improve wider understanding of topics for a long time. Mate, your channel and guests are creating an amazing online archive of quality material and guest context contributions. Two thumbs up!

My father was a radio operator in B-25s in this area 1942. He was shot down. They had scanty air support, he said they had 50 zeros on his plane when they were shot down. He wandered around lost in the steamy malarial jungles until after the whole crew walked around avoiding japs for 18 months until they walked right into Port Moresby.

There is a saying in the military that the manuals, standard operating procedures, and regulations are written in blood. While a bit simplistic, it is an apt description of how the U.S. Navy's night combat doctrine developed out of the brutal lessons learned during the Solomons Campaign. This presentation inspires me to read Trent Hone's books to learn more of his conclusions. The battles of the Guadalcanal and Solomons Campaigns were the true turning point of the Pacific War as the attritional nature of the battles was more favorable to the Allies in the long run. Had they lost this campaign I think that they might have lost the war. Sheer determination and innovation won out in the end.

Fantastic presentation- growth from infancy of US night fighting. Outstanding and easily followed presentation. The evolution of US tactics and the CIC is fascinating!

Another phenomenal presentation!

You are a JT vet and that's why i subbed you. You walk a thin line in this area of important history. Kudos.

Longest serving us Military officer in war zone at 44 continuous months was Major General Merritt Austin Edson 1897-1955 USMC.

Thank you, superb,

Very interesting and thought provoking presentation. Many thanks

The strategy is to grind down the enemy's assets as much as possible while eventually enjoying a workable supply line which took time to be efficient.

Absolutely fantastic presentation! Keep ‘em coming! 👍🏻

Mid 43, we got it Some time is required to go from peace to war but once 2nd gen aircraft and carries started showing up they were done

Great presentation thanks Woody and Trent.

An excellent presentation. The Solomons campaign was an important, but costly, training ground.

Pacific Week, Rock on!

My father served on a USN destroyer throughout that entire campaign. He said it was the worst time of his naval service. I disagree with anyone who claims that we never came close to losing. He had great respect 🫡 for the Japanese.

Holding a pre battle conference to decide on tactics, probably would work in WWI in the Atlantic for a force based in a harbor, not so much in the Pacific thousands of miles from home on operations lasting weeks with ad hoc units. Also “individual initiative” turns into chaos when all captains weren’t trained on a clear doctrine so their cohorts know what they is expected in a given situation.

Major General Merritt Austin Edson 1897-1955 USMC was NRA DIRECTOR BEFORE AND AFTER WW2. Trained every Marine in WW2. Tulagi was the 1st landing. Using Manley class destroyers for fast attack craft. What about Tasimboko?

Just in case anyone didn’t know this delightful little factoid already, ( 40:43 ) Rear Admiral Carlton Wright was awarded the Navy Cross for his outstanding leadership, exemplary performance, and brilliant professionalism concerning his command of the American navy during that night action known as the Battle of Tassafaronga. He received the navy’s second highest award for valor for seeing to the destruction of the bulk of the remaining U.S. Navy’s heavy cruiser force in the Pacific Theater of Operations. I’ve always wondered if Army General Douglas MacArthur (who incidentally gamed himself a Congressional Medal of Honor for bungling established in-place defensive plans; losing the Philippines to Japanese, then finally fleeing; abandoning his men to savage captivity) ever got together with Admiral Wright on a social basis. They could swap stories, polish each other’s medals, and pat each other on the back for jobs well done! 🤣……, 🤮🤮🤮

US cruisers had a glass jaw. Many torpedo hits resulted in loss of the bow.

Really interesting.

Actually a PT Boat program will be very interesting, Thank you

IIRC a Long Lance torpedo was recovered on beach or mud flat. After researching the Americans finally understood what the Japanese had been firing at them.

Only 1 problem with the American destroyer tactics, in 1942 American torpedos didn't explode.

Its funny I have been reading about ww2 naval nistory on and off since since I was 15, Roskill etc. And I don't recall hearing the term doctrine until Johnathan Parshals book and talks on Midway Stetegy, tactics, command and control, leadership, But doctrine?

What happened there? This didn't show up until after it was aired. I have a whole page/tab dedicated to WW2TV so I can't see how I missed this unless it was a very late addition to the schedule.

Another Battle of Bismarck Sea expert is needed and Australian RAAF strafing aircraft and POW execution that started in Rabaul

If the Japanese had even average torpedos they would have been hammered even sooner.

Was USA using better torpedoes by November '43

There is a weird high pitched buzz. Ruins the audio for me.

Great video,thanks for posting. Can't wait for 11th airborne. My grandfather's unit.