Battle for Henderson Field - Pacific War #48 DOCUMENTARY

[@KingsandGenerals]

Click here tiege.com/kingsandgenerals to get 30% off your first Tiege Hanley box plus a FREE gift! Let me know what gift you chose in the comments below!

[@vincentdryllreyesgmail]

Battle Leyte gulf and surigao straight please

[@glennmandigo6069]

You are doing Santa Cruz right?

[@Wayne.J]

One thing you missed was minor skirmish of Guadalcanal between Attack Force 1 (Akatsuki group) and Trevor, Gregory while they ran away from their convoy This bought Akatsuki in range of US battery range of their artillery as the destroyer groups chased each other. US landed 2 or 3 hits. IJN sank Seminole and YP84. Japanese Army air force lost their first plane on 24th after the Dinah came down to run recon along the airfield, to see who had the airfield. Because they airfield wasn't retaken, Yura attack group fled. Yura was hit in the morning but continued on, but in the afternoon, suffered a 1000lb bomb hit that eventually sank her neat Santa Isabel island not near Guadalcanal And IJN also lost 82 planes over Guadalcanal either from AA or Wildcats, running out of fuel etc. That's a lot of planes or fire-power lost from 26th Air Flotilla

[@bigbiig2884]

Freedom balochistan freedom baloch consider Allah nazar mama Qadeer baloch freedom balochistan

[@oasis1282]

USS Hornet won't be sunk next week surely.

[@johntaylor7029]

One of my families old friends was at Henderson Field. He got wounded running across Henderson Field by a machine gun ricochet. He said he freaked out and cried, then the corpsmen essentially rolled his eyes, then flicked the bullet out, (as it was "barely skin deep".)

[@TheHypnogog]

I reckon it hurt enough to freak out a little, ha. These guys were kids. I like that he was able to survive to tell the story. Japan was stunned over these losses though- the casualty count is so unbalanced.

[@FadkinsDiet]

I'm glad he was able to tell the story, I had a relative who was there and never wanted to talk about it, and after he passed his kids didn't want to ask for his service records.

[@sodog44]

It was this battle that John Basilone earned his Medal of Honor. That guy ran back and forth all night clearing weapons, fixing them in the dark under heavy attack, ran back and forth for ammo, fought hand to hand with Japanese infiltrators, and didn't stop until the fight was done.

[@nickgraff9413]

Basilone's machine gun sections were in C Company's sector of Puller's 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. His guns wiped out the entirety of the Japanese 9th Company, 3rd Battalion in the space of around five minutes. He would spend three entire days fighting off the Japanese assaults with his machine guns, his sidearm, and a machete. By the end of the battle, Basilone and two of his men would be the only Marines still able to fight from his machine gun group. Everyone else was either dead or too heavily wounded to keep fighting.

[@rcsox]

I was surprised that Basilone wasn't mentioned.

[@theawesomeman9821]

John Basilone sounds like a cool guy. He deserves his own movie!

[@todiathink8864]

​@@nickgraff9413 they buried the dead Japanese with a bulldozer! The operators name was Dewy Mathis.

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@oldfrend cool!

[@Warmaker01]

Then-Sergeant John Basilone was one of the Marines with Puller's regiment. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions there on October 24-25, 1942. The HBO miniseries "The Pacific" had an episode covering that. The fighting for this region of WWII, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, and the subsequent Solomon Islands drew an all-arms use for both sides. Lots of men, lots of warships, and lots of planes, in a prolonged use. Only other region of the war that drew this much use of all arms for a prolonged period was the Mediterranean Theater.

[@deadeye8843]

Your coverage of the Pacific war is nothing short of phenomenal 👍

[@richardmeo2503]

If you get a chance, look for my in depth work Fatal Flaws Book 1 1914-1945. The series took 12 years, and has 200 footnotes per book.

[@wolfu597]

When the Japanese 2nd division, (also called Sendai division) withdrew, they had to walk back the same way that they came, and this time, without food. Exhaustion, jungle disease, lack of food, american firepower combined with long, ardous march through thick jungle, has taken such toll on the 2nd division that it was no longer capable of offensive operations, and would be confined to defensive actions for the remainder of the Guadalcanal campaign.

[@todiathink8864]

the Japanese called Guadalcanal 'The Island of Death' as well as "Starvation Island.' For good reason...

[@MARKINAU8]

The 2nd saw almost every major campaign of the reformed modernized IJA and until Hnederson field it was vicously sucessful but never came back to battle effetive until the end of the war

[@primarchvulkan5097]

@@MARKINAU8 it's crazy that this elite Japanese unit never knew defeat and then bam fights the US once and gets completely seal clubbed into irrelevance for the rest of the war

[@MARKINAU8]

@@primarchvulkan5097 for me it's also a mystery why a elite infantry was sent to Pacific islands since they're vastly operating in China mainland

[@Risen_Star]

@@MARKINAU8 Perhaps its because of its status of excelling at their duties, plus the japanese emphasis on Quality over Quantity as soldiers. I mean, if you want the job done, i'd get the best of the best to do that. Im sure many more factors changed as they went from China to Guadalcanal, but thats what I believe why.

[@andrewsema359]

Frightful losses in this jungle warfare. Always thought the Japanese army was invincible in the jungle until now. Thanks for an incredible history lesson K&G.

[@bubbasbigblast8563]

Some of the Japanese were trained in jungle warfare, but most weren't, and none were trained in the kind of swamp war both sides found themselves in. In truth, their early success largely came from how a lack of heavy equipment was better suited to jungle warfare than what the British troops were generally trained to do, but that also meant the Japanese often had no answer to those artillery and tanks they did face, beyond just eating WW1 levels of casualties. Not as big a problem early in the war, but it became fatal as the equipment gap widened. Worse yet, their water filtration was generally inadequate for the swamp water they often found themselves dealing with, to the point where American soldiers were told not to use Japanese equipment for the risk that the dirty filters posed. Add that to the insufficiency of the diet frontline soldiers faced if they failed to take their objectives, and the results gradually became terrible.

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

they got torn to pieces in the jungle at kohima

[@OverlordGrizzaka]

It's a huge misconception. Japan has nothing even resembling a natural jungle. The British at Singapore had low morale and only put up paltry defenses, in doing so they got big leagued and so the myth of them being hardened jungle fighters was born.

[@hypothalapotamus5293]

@@bubbasbigblast8563 Less charitable interpretation- The Japanese acquired a reputation as effective jungle fighters by striking at the rotten underbelly of Western imperialism. The British empire was near a breaking point (we should not be surprised that Burma, Malaysia, and Singapore fell as quickly as they did). Dutch imperialism was dead, but the body hadn't fallen over yet. Even the Americans were looking at a world where the Philippines would be independent in a few years and severely botched their mobilization efforts (relying on severely undertrained and under equipped reservists for most of their forces). Just having well trained troops was enough in those campaigns. If we flip things and have a well trained enemy with a lot of firepower vs the Japanese who have to move things by destroyer and then have to trudge through the jungle before fighting...

[@ricgunn1439]

​@@OverlordGrizzaka at Singapore most troops were civilian instant soldiers lead by the most incompetent general ever!!!

[@vitorpereira9515]

I remember this battle from an episode of the history channel series Dogfights. How i miss that series, and the kamikaze episode is one of the best. The USS Laffey part always give me shivers.

[@miciahwilliams4397]

The History Channel has fallen far from what it used to be.

[@vitorpereira9515]

@@miciahwilliams4397 But at least I have the memories of the golden age. Those who were born in 2005 onwards cannot say the same. I will never forget mail call with r lee ermey. I miss that staff sergeant so much 🥲

[@miciahwilliams4397]

@@vitorpereira9515 True. My all time favorite was Battle 360.

[@vitorpereira9515]

@@miciahwilliams4397 I loved that series. How many series out there has USS Enterprise as protagonist. That ship had plot armor kkk

[@wardaddyindustries4348]

The history Channel Dogfights game was fun too. Their quality is definitely nonexistent now.

[@FlukeTog]

My grandfather was with Golf company 1st Division G-2-1 they were eating rice won and fighting alone a long time with gun shots and malaria. After the canal he went to the first Scout Sniper school and back for 5 more campaigns including Iwo. God Bless & I thank their generation every day for what we have. The best of us.

[@achmadfilzasavikri7998]

I remember defend Henderson field in Medal Of Honor Pacific Assault

[@euansmith3699]

Thank you for your service.

[@gabrielschake6259]

Just finished Robert Leckies book: helmet for my pillow. So seeing the overall movements is great.

[@michaellouielim3957]

Not skipping ads to show support.

[@alexanderhamilton8585]

In 1996, me and my buddy - also a Guadalcanal fanatic - flew there for a week, naturally, with the flight landing the night of August 6th, so we could see Ironbottom sound at dawn on August 7th. What a great trip.

[@patwebster9597]

I wish these were longer :) makes waiting until the next episode feel forever. Love your stuff!

[@mikemcclure9983]

I wish he would not talk so fast.

[@plflaherty1]

Ive read about these battles a couple times, but to see them laid out is fabulous!

[@wtgardner6914]

Another excellent episode of such a great series! Your ability to dissect the battles down to company level is always appreciated and gives a sense of what was going on at the time on the ground. Love the detail, graphics, and narration.

[@culloden23]

There’s a sponsor ad for sunscreen on a video about Guadalcanal, brilliant!

[@destroyer0685]

To really go into the weeds, the grunts of 3-164th Inf were armed with the M1 Garand while the Marines still had their bolt action Springfields.

[@primarchvulkan5097]

A decent number of marines had looted m1 Garands when they raided the army for supplies but yes general issue in the Marines was still quite severely lacking in part due to the poor belief that being able to shoot more rapidly would lead to wastefulness (this belief was quite pervasive in the Germany army as well even though their own doctrine and battlefield experience assumed most combat would be under 300 meters or even more likely 100 meters)

[@destroyer0685]

@@primarchvulkan5097 good point. The issue of the semi automatic versus bolt action comes down to doctrine and culture. Both the British and American army prized marksmanship overall. Marksmanship and the use of the bayonet would alleviate the idea of wastefulness. After all, bullets cost money and the American army has a history of being miserly with small arms. German infantry is centered on the MG. This is the reason why German infantry platoons have more MG's than British or American platoons. The MG makes up the bulk of the firepower in a German platoon while the M1 makes up the bulk of the firepower in an American platoon.

[@Beezy87]

Attacking a well defended position by frontal assault after an exhausting march through the jungle wasnt the smartest idea of the Japanese. Imo the island was already lost during that time.

[@ph89787]

3:36. Adding onto that. When Halsey recovered, Nimitz’s original plan for him was to resume command of Task Force 16 and by extension the remaining carriers (Enterprise, Hornet and Saratoga). But with Enterprise still being repaired at Pearl Harbour. He went on ahead to Noumea. Where he found out on arrival that Nimitz is having him replace Ghormley. Also this reassignment was awkward for the two, as Halsey and Ghormley were close friends since their days on the Annapolis football team

[@Wayne.J]

Key thing here, well next week, is before Halsey's promotion, he was Commander in Chief of all carriers BUT had nor fought or led any force in any carrier battles to this point, with his lesser cruiser commanders Fletcher, Spruance and staff officer Fitch all been in one. Pushing Kinkaid up further than Santa Cruz Islands, as Nimitz had forbidden Ghomley from doing so (that and loiter at Torpedo Junction), AND without giving Kinkaid any intel reports of what was in front of him apart from "Strike Repeat Strike" on a ship sighting, was reckless at this point in the war and almost led to the lost of the last 2 US carriers and Kinkaid his job. All so Halsey could say he was in a carrier battle (....from land base 🙄)

[@ph89787]

@@Wayne.J I wouldn’t call Halsey completely untested as he led Task Force 8 and 16 in the Marshall Islands, Wake Island, Marcus Island and Doolittle Raids.

[@Wayne.J]

@@ph89787 Doolittle as well BUT still not a carrier battle. Different attitude and perceptions - one is firing shots at unprepared and outnumbered enemy then heat of a battle, maybe even from a lesser position and winning which Fletcher and Spruance could state they had done at Midway. Fitch could say he had sunk a carrier at Coral Sea and knocked another 2 out of next battle before it started. Halsey did put another cruiser commander in charge that is not an aviator, and left him in a vunerable position at Santa Cruz with no intel or orders, taking away his CiC at base him at Noumea (no chance of air activity) and forcing Kinkaid to select a CiC with no seagoing experience in that role. Kinkaid was handling a major fleet for the first time, and had 2 of US last carriers afloat. Halsey got very was luck Enterprise got away in the end and thanks to her crew, managed to play a decisive role in November battles.

[@sfr7916]

The attention to detail here is just superb. Thank you for this K&G Team.

[@hardtimespass9401]

This is an exceptional effort. I've studied and read about the Pacific theater for 40 years and I still learn an incredible amount every week. This series is an excellent resource for military units that have an interest in the Pacific to engage their junior leaders in professional development discussions. Two requests - can you keep the text boxes up for 1-2 seconds longer? I frequently have to pause in order to read them. 2nd - the US forces icon is kitted out for the Med & Europe - is there any way to get a Pacific US Army & Marine icons teed up for future episodes?

[@ris8084]

I live right next to the airfield, it is now our international Airport. There's a look out cave beside my house made during the war, I remember growing up we use to play in and around the cave and wud find remains from the war and such.

[@brokenbridge6316]

This video series keeps getting more dramatic as it goes a long. Great job KG.

[@isrisentoday]

Wasn't this John Basilone's famous battle? I didn't see him in the notes or perhaps I missed his item? Anyway, great video K & G. Thanks.

[@mattl5797]

I think you're right. If I recall, he was under Chesty Puller's command on Edson's ridge but I could be wrong.

[@jackson857]

Yeah I thought he would get a mention for sure.

[@baumgartnerwm]

Yes, in the action in the South he was fighting in that salient. Dissapointed he wasn't mentioned either.

[@rapter229]

He is mentioned in one of the short text blurbs

[@gurk_the_magnificent9008]

I can’t imagine what would have been worse - part of the Japanese engineering party that had to cut that road south of Mt Austen, or part of the force that had to try and move heavy equipment over it

[@TheHypnogog]

took an exceptional amount of hubris to attempt it. Never believe your own hype

[@PaulJohnson-su3mv]

Both are worse!

[@seventhson27]

My wife's uncle was one of Edson's raiders. He didn't talk much about that fight, but he did say that Okinawa was his toughest fight.

[@TheMormonPower]

Superb Work !!! Kings and Generals always means a treat to watch. You guys are first class 👌👍😁

[@mikemcclure9983]

I like this documentary a lot. it has been over 85 years since Japan started it's Imperialistic empire building and we know quite a bit more history of both sides to tell this story. I wonder what number # will be the end of the war on the USS Missouri. I toured the Missouri when it was in Subic Bay before pulling out to fight in the first Gulf War in 1990.

[@richardthornhill4630]

Very nice graphic illustrations of the troop movements and battles.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , K&G . 🐺

[@somewhere6]

0:30 "...could be the most decisive battle of the war" If the Japanese had retaken Guadacanal, it still would not have been as important or decisive as Midway. The huge increase in American carrier (and other) strength that would start to come in 1943 would still have been something the Japanese could never hope to match.

[@haskenvonbern5404]

A combined arms defeat for the US would have bad consequences, since at the time the US navy and army were arguing over whether to island hop, if Guadalcanal failed MacArthur would likely have gotten his way and a direct attack on Rabaul, which would likely have failed, even with increased US material strength

[@jcohasset23]

The Japanese retaking Guadalcanal wouldn't have been as decisive as Midway but it would have been a huge blow to the Allies in conjunction with the (spoilers) Allied defeat at the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. If nothing else the Americans would have to go on the defensive while they rebuilt their forces to attempt another landing and the Japanese would have used that time to strengthen their hold over the Solomons', likely attempt another invasion of New Guinea, and could have tried striking at the Allied bases on Vanuatu to restart the Japanese drive towards the strategic Allied islands of New Caledonia. Sure in a battle of attrition the Japanese are still going to lose as the 5th carrier battle of the Pacific (Battle of the Philippine Sea 1944) saw 9 Japanese carriers versus 15 American carriers in an overwhelming victory for the Allies but the loss of Guadalcanal would have certainly been a setback for the Allies and delayed the 1943 Allied invasion of the Gilbert Islands as a second prong attack in the Pacific.

[@bubbasbigblast8563]

Nothing was going to be as important as Midway before the submarine campaigns after the start of 1944, but Guadalcanal killed or crippled many of the remaining Japanese veteran pilots, and their loss in turn got the novice Japanese pilots slaughtered when the Japanese Army lied to the Navy about their actual ability to launch attacks against the US Navy in the Marianas. If the Japanese at least had enough decent pilots left to defend against unescorted bombers, they might have prevented parts of Japan from being reduced to literal ash before the USSR attack and nuclear bombs ended all hopes of a negotiated peace, but we'll obviously never actually know.

[@PaulJohnson-su3mv]

Any statement about which battle is more important is risky. But I wanted to remind everyone WHY the Japanese were building the Guadalcanal airfield(s), which is the same reason why the US command felt it imperative to attack. This was all about the supply lines to Australia. If the field was completed and stocked with planes, the IJN could project power all the way to New Zealand. Because ground-based Betty and Mauvis scouts did most of the spotting for IJN carriers, this would require a showdown from US carriers when they were not ready. Yes, supply ships could go far to the south getting supplies into perhaps Melbourne. But this would disjoint Aussy logistics to Port Moresby, while also straining the allied transport fleet, at a time the Germans were still sinking ships by the hundreds. The USMC was sent in to buy time IMO, not to win, something similar to the US Army in the Philipines in 1942. But our Marines refused to lose, no matter how badly armed and supported, or how intensely attacked.

[@ricgunn1439]

​@@bubbasbigblast8563 soviets only attacked after Japan surrendered Aug 15. Even Japan found that spineless!!!

[@baumgartnerwm]

I believe John Basilone earned hid Medal of Honor in that salient in the south you mention on the 24th

[@aegystierone8505]

Damnnn... so proud of the Marines!

[@minoru-kk]

Brilliant as always! Given the suffering of both armies, some may see all Japanese as fanatic nationalists or brainwashed robots. But neither, at least according to my grandfathers (cadet and student on the time). They understood that emperor was not a god but an excuse. The 1944 assassination plot against Japanese PM Tojo is prime example. K&G gave us video about young Tojo, so It would be happy if you address this in later part.

[@theawesomeman9821]

Have you learned anything new from these videos that you didn't learn from school?

[@haskenvonbern5404]

Japanese soldiers war crimes certainly show that, the systematic torture and rape of civilians in their other Asian campaigns show it wasn’t high level indoctrination but just savagery which was approved of by the army

[@minoru-kk]

I learned from the series that both sides had been messed up in their command and Japanese war crimes were disseminated in detail. Some Allied war crimes have already gone unnoticed, so we'll see in future videos if the series captures their misdeeds.

[@primarchvulkan5097]

@@theawesomeman9821 The videos are unquestionably more exciting than what I learned in school. This same series covering Australian campaigns going on concurrently taught me a lot as my training was all US centric

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@minoru-kk no nation is truly innocent but the Allies definately weren't the worst

[@andresalvarez7664]

Excellent History series! Well done!

[@user-martinpd]

I am glad this skilled speaker's taste in his delivery has improved

[@donnywolf9250]

Absolutely love this channel!!

[@AyubuKK]

The Pacific War is so much more interesting to learn than what was happening on the other side of the world at the time.

[@theawesomeman9821]

I find the battle of Gaudalcanal specifically interesting from the Pacific War. Its the only battle so far in history where, infantry, naval and air forces fought their respected counter parts at the same time.

[@wmetz1869]

@@theawesomeman9821 Same time you say?

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@wmetz1869 same battle duration

[@SelwynClydeAlojipan]

The Japanese military, both the Army and the Navy, loved their complicated and intricate plans that depended so much on delicate timing and marches from different directions. It caused them to put their men through so much hard work and effort only for small glitches and delays to unravel the plans and force them to attack piecemeal. In the end, the Japanese commanders faced, well-armed, prepared, and well-rested enemies that had spent their time improving their defenses and making themselves comfortable compared to the average Japanese grunt. Meanwhile they depended so much on guesswork and over-optimistic estimates or were easily spooked by non-existent threats. This Japanese optimism at the beginning of the war gradually resulted in fatalistic acceptance of their fate as targets of massive American firepower as the war progressed.

[@wesleyblacksher1641]

They believed the gods were with them and by divine providence they would win

[@peacemaker63604]

Remember this level from world at war and pacific assault

[@generalbooger9146]

I love when people watch Movies and Network Series like "The Pacific" or "Band of Brothers" and become instant Historians. Citing people like John Basilone or Battles like Alligator Creek.

[@eztoindajar]

The attack seems unnecessarily complicated in retrospect. It seems to be a recurring theme with the Japanese planners in WW2. They were much better on the defense.

[@SpottoBotto]

Thanks again for another fantastic video 👌

[@alexius23]

Purportedly a Marine headstone read…”and when he gets to Heaven to St. Peter he will tell ‘another soldier reporting Sir, I’ve served my time in Hell”

[@jonathanbeaulieu3630]

Medal of Honor Pacific Assault : had the battle for Henderson Field as a mission. Shooting charging Japanese soldiers from your trench and shooting down Japanese planes with AA. 2004

[@oldlifter530]

Thanks the maps help a lot in understanding what happened.

[@TOMAS-lh4er]

My father and his older brother were there , guarding the field after it was taken !!

[@-RONNIE]

Thanks for the information

[@richardmeo2503]

During the research for my books, Fatal Flaws, the Japanese decision to attack through the dense jungles was one of those flaws. I have often wondered what would have been the outcome of their large force simply attacking with OKa's forces. Puller's fight was where Sgt. Basilone fought, and was awarded the CMH.

[@jackieking1522]

For a while there I was thinking " This is so like the Imphal/Kohima battle.... did the Nips never learn?"

[@catchandeat]

Crazy that they would go in without their arty. Those howitzers and mortars really snubbed the attack. The war in Ukraine really shows how scary artillery can be and how important.

[@PaulJohnson-su3mv]

Note how the southern division was 2-3 days late in attacking, with their own right wing not even contributing. What we cannot feel as viewers, is the insanity of this dense jungle humidity, sharp rocks and mud, terrible trails and insects, plus doubt of enemy positions. Of course they left the heavy stuff behind, to hurry as much as possible, and still too late to coordinate. What I notice as the constant mistake on the IJA side is the lack of forward positioning of supplies, logistical preparation and long pausing for coordination of attacks. Also, I wonder why they did not keep up a constant naval bombardment from night through the day, to keep the airfield out of action. This would def bring the US carriers out for that decisive battle the IJN was always hoping to execute. It seems to me the IJN was too in love with their night advantage, missing opportunities to coop with a concentrated and well-timed ground attack. Rabaul command never stopped piece-meal attacking.

[@collintrytsman3353]

excellent keep up the good work

[@raindog8684]

Fantastic! Brilliant! Thank you!

[@molivroman9806]

Love the graphics. always top notch!

[@zainmudassir2964]

Solid doc. Hope you cover the chindits in Burma soon

[@johnmoffat3208]

I have very much enjoyed your detailed accounts of the Pacific war and look forward to continuing to watch them. I am surprised you did not mention John Basilone in this episode nor show his company D in your animation.

[@beachboy0505]

Excellent video 📹 👏 The trick was to make the Americans to attack heavily fortified Japanese fortifications. But the Americans were more clever.

[@haskenvonbern5404]

It seems that even a decisive naval battle probably couldn’t save the Japanese from defeat, short of complete control of the sea starving the marines into surrender. The army’s actions feel like they do the same thing over again hoping for different results

[@Tora-v8i]

You can do a battle field tour run by an Australian expat of the battle locations including Aligator creek which wasn’t the actual name of that creek but can still see the fighting pits (foxholes) on the hill overlooking Henderson Airfield with razor wire stakes still in place, some with clear mark where round hit them.

[@josephgibbons1195]

I love this series! But is has been a while since we have heard from the mainland of asia. Was anything going on there at this time, or was the entire campaign island hopping? Thanks!

[@historylover7355]

No john basilone info ?

[@thekurgan1580]

Finally something decent to watch today thanks again 🤘🙏

[@pargel2521]

Great as always ✅

[@robmckrill3134]

GG to K&G as always...awesome content 👏

[@Dantheman813]

I clicked that notification SO quick!😂😂🎉🎉

[@gaius100bc]

Awesome, I've never been this early, anywhere

[@codymills2393]

Hi dad

[@gaius100bc]

@@codymills2393 eat your vegies

[@hansfabri6906]

This series is awesome!

[@Legio__X]

This is the best

[@yefimkoza1575]

Is this the battle where John Basilogne got Medal of Honor

[@markusskram4181]

Great video as always ! 😁

[@jamescole4183]

Shoji intel was hilarious :) Ultimate trolling

[@maxkennedy8075]

The only way the Japanese would have got the Marines off the Island would be to cripple cactus entirely and allow transports to take troops to the Island again, through the conflict the Japanese would constantly cling to the idea they were fighting a few thousand marines, not a force equal to larger in size and far better serviced with heavy equipment (They were having heavy gear unloaded from proper assault transports, not from Destroyers) They did come perilously close to this with the BCs Kongo and Kirishima almost crippling the AF by destroying planes and AvGas stockpiles In the end Japan’s slow response let the USA really entrench on Guadalcanal and become a force that would never be dislodged by forces that light. It hinged on if Japan could bring lots of heavier gear to the fight, they couldn’t, so they lost

[@Inaf1987]

Was this the same battle in the TV series, "The Pacific"?

[@baumgartnerwm]

Yes, the scene when Basilone pushed the bodies to clear a path is that salient in the south on the 24th.

[@Chris-um3se]

Well done --Thanks

[@johnmcpherson1713]

Love these videos

[@petergarrone8242]

My armchair warrior conception is that the most important thing in jungle warfare is to have a good supply of ammo. The Japanese appear to be engaging in mass banzai charges against well-entrenched, well-supplied, enemy infantry.

[@bubbasbigblast8563]

The ammo was comparatively easy, since pitched battles were rare, and even irregular resupply is enough for small arms. It's the heavy equipment, safe drinking water, and adequate food that are the difficult parts: swamp water needs a lot of treatment to be wholly safe, frontline soldiers in such terrible conditions need enormous amounts of calories, and heavy equipment is simply impossible to move quickly if a path needs to be cut.

[@guimot0123]

The concept that the Japanese use Banzai charges as they main offensive plan is simply not true. They normally used it as a last ditch effort, or when they are running low in ammunition but refure to either retreat or surrender.

[@robbabcock_]

Great video!

[@jameshannagan4256]

This series made me go out and buy Axis and Allies Pacific.

[@jonbaxter2254]

Battles like this must have made the Japanese realise they don't have infinite men...

[@primarchvulkan5097]

It was also shocking for them to completely lose a battle with roughly equivalent forces. Japanese had almost exclusively been outnumbered by opponents they had beaten before this point in the war (China and Singapore campaigns come to mind)

[@vircervoteksisto5038]

Rule number one of combat: Never split your forces.

[@primarchvulkan5097]

You can if you intent to regroup with faster speed to flank, surround and ideally defeat your enemy in detail. Ironically the split Japanese forces were largely defeated in detail by the US instead

[@dragonrune6800]

First lesson in D&D- NEVER split your party!

[@HorFell]

Love your series but its such a shame you failed to mention or note GySgt John Basilone. He also was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during this action.

[@oasis1282]

Santa cruz gonna be another carrier gone (USS Hornet CV-8)

[@ph89787]

And one battered and vengeful carrier left USS Enterprise.

[@johnhammond9962]

Wow, I just subbed

[@antonindanek9294]

These, I think are the battles that were well recreated in the HBO's series Pacific. Fighting the US Marines at Guadalcanal and the Australians in New Guinea, the Japanese have truly displayed their "qualities" which ultimately became their undoing. Absence of self-preservation instinct coupled with fanatical devotion to their cause have left them easy targets for the resilient Allies. With Japanese methodical approach to offensive warfare in mind, it is mind-boggling to hear about successive charges and straight giveaways of "the Banzai charge." Straight out of ancient history. It is because of how the Axis powers have valued life - not only of the enemy but also those of their own - that they did not deserve victory in the conflict.

[@muhammadscott571]

The Germans where good at self preservation, there heavy tanks display this really well. If we are talking about respecting life the Soviets failed the biggest with themselves and the Japanese the biggest with their enemies. People on both sides are savages.

[@minoru-kk]

Medieval samurai never did banzai. Loyalty to the emperor was introduced into Japan during westernization and no one could complain when told to act in his name officially, so they charged "for him" without supply nor chance to survive (Don'task for mercy from Allies the avenger.) Later it would be used as infamous suicide actions.

[@antonindanek9294]

@@minoru-kk Thank you for the info.

[@thabettalova]

Disagree on your premise. Correct that the Japanese didn't value their own lives contributing to large losses. But the Soviets (Allies) are the far and away winners of not valuing their own lives. You can't throw the Germans into your premise of Axis not valuing own lives, as their commanders on the ground were more prudent in that regard, in comparison.

[@jameshannagan4256]

The Germans valued life just as much as the allies only it was mostly German lives they cared about.

[@vikrantsingh6881]

Alexander series next

[@melowayent]

Lovw this

[@slavicmapper2968]

I love you guys never been this late to ur documentary, but i also like history marche and sandhroman documentaries

[@MGood-ij1hi]

The fact that the Japanese would join in loud fearsome war cries during a battle which only served to let the Americans know where they were says a lot about what happens when you don't respect your enemy.

[@t5ruxlee210]

The marine created eventual victory at Guadalcanal grew out of the most mundane of "more is better" mistakes made by Japanese planners. The landed food supplies needed for all those (Korean ?) workers constructing the airfield were excessive, undefended, and lacking in any means in place for their destruction, if that became necessary. The Japanese beer and canned seafood captured intact upon landing by the marines were of vital assistance in getting past the early days of scarce American rations and drinkable water.

[@danielstarr9037]

Just here to represent 1/7 ❤️

[@aaronwgrgaming5887]

epic

[@snear3os]

I would like to see you guys do this with the European and African campaign. that would be awesome and if you already have please send me the link to the start of it. and maybe even after the Japanese campaign and the European campaign turn oddities little twists and turns of stuff that didn't really have a major effect in war but yet it did. by the way you guys are doing a great job keep it up and yes I'm a big supporter and I'm already subscribed

[@djmoh.6509]

Plz make a video about Japanese Invasion of India in ww2

[@dividednations44]

The Japanese plan was rather sound except that Maruyama's force would've been more ideal to move to the east before attacking the airfield, where the American line would probably be least defended.. but ultimately this kind of complex plan will never unfold the right way in these conditions, where several separate forces carry out dependent actions while having no communication with eachother. Also, the attack should've coincided with a strong offshore bombardment from Japanese ships, and lots of CAS from Rabaul with twin-engine bombers.

[@korbendallas5318]

18:00 "...against overwhelming odds...", while showing that they had numerical superiority.

[@primarchvulkan5097]

The Japanese were used to winning campaigns while outnumbered signifigantly. Here with roughly 1 to 1 odds and when you consider actual combat troops the Japanese had more but were still utterly beaten. US Marines shattered the myth of Japanese soldiers being individually superior

[@korbendallas5318]

@@primarchvulkan5097 So what of what you said makes this battle "against overwhelming odds"?

[@andrewallbright]

The Battle for Henderson Field is a real turtle match.

[@Preußen31]

Is this where john basilone got his medal of honor?

[@markgarin6355]

Overwhelming odds?

[@md.rs9467]

Please brother make a video about pala empire and The Kannauj Triangle or Tripartite Struggle.