During World War II, the Solomon Islands became the scene of a titanic struggle between Allied and Japanese forces. After their victory on Guadalcanal, Americans advanced into the New Georgia Group with horrendous casualties. Admiral Halsey then implemented an ""island hopping"" strategy, bypassing Japanese strongpoints. The first was an obscure island called ""Vella Lavella.""
This book is the first detailed examination of the struggle for Vella Lavella, covering the ground, air and sea battles and the involvement of American and New Zealand soldiers, the coastwatchers, South Pacific Scouts and the Islanders.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
One-Ordeals of Fire and Water
Two-The Battleground-Vella Lavella: The "Euphonious Island" and the Islanders
Three-The Opposing Forces
Four-The Strategic Situation in the South Pacific, 1943
Five-The Initial American Invasion-15 August 1943
Six-The Kiwis Arrive
Seven-The Problem and the Plan
Eight-The Pincers and the Execution of Potter's Plan
Nine-"Man Proposes, God Disposes"-The Isolated Platoons
Ten-The Final Push
Eleven-Consolidation and Development
Twelve-Resonance and Memory
Chronology
Appendices:
A: Naval Order of Battle, 15 August 1943
B: U.S. Order of Battle, 15 August 1943, Ground Units (Brigadier General McClure, U.S. Army)
C: U.S. Forces on Vella Lavella-1943
D: NZ Battalion Combat Teams
E: Japanese Order of Battle
Glossary
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index
