Morning Star, Midnight Sun: The Early Guadalcanal-Solomons Campaign of World War II August-October 1942

The Allies launched an offensive in the Pacific to halt the Japanese forces, targeting the Solomon Islands. The US Navy had to adapt to compete with the Imperial Japanese Navy, resulting in an attritional struggle. Jeffrey R. Cox's book "Rising Sun, Falling Skies" tells the story of the first Allied offensive.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 448 pages
\n Publication date: 21 February 2019
\n Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
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The Allies launched a desperate offensive in the Pacific after the disastrous Java Sea campaign, aiming to halt the Japanese forces that were ravaging the region. With the conquest of Australia a real possibility, the stakes were high. Their target was the Japanese-held Solomon Islands, particularly the southern island of Guadalcanal. Hampered by pre-war thinking and a bureaucratic mindset, the US Navy had to adapt on the fly to compete with the mighty Imperial Japanese Navy, whose ingenuity and creativity had fostered the creation of its Pacific empire. The campaign began with the amphibious assault on Savo Island, which turned into an attritional struggle where the evenly matched foes sought to grind out a victory.

Jeffrey R. Cox, in his highly acclaimed book "Rising Sun, Falling Skies," delves into the gripping story of the first Allied offensive of the Pacific War. The Allies were determined to prevent Japan from cutting off Australia and regaining dominance in the Pacific. The campaign unfolded against a backdrop of immense strategic importance, as the Japanese forces sought to establish a foothold in the Solomon Islands and disrupt Allied supply lines to Australia.

The US Navy faced numerous challenges in this campaign. One of the key challenges was the lack of experience and expertise in amphibious warfare. The Japanese had perfected their techniques in this field, and the Allies had to learn from their mistakes and adapt quickly. Another challenge was the numerical superiority of the Japanese Navy, which outnumbered the Allies in terms of ships and aircraft.

Despite these obstacles, the Allies launched a series of successful offensive operations, including the amphibious assault on Guadalcanal. The campaign was marked by intense combat, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. However, the Allies' determination and innovative tactics ultimately led to their victory.

The campaign on Guadalcanal was a turning point in the Pacific War. It demonstrated the Allies' ability to compete with the Japanese and showed that they were not willing to surrender the Pacific to the Japanese. The victory on Guadalcanal boosted the morale of the Allies and helped to pave the way for further victories in the Pacific.

In conclusion, the Allies' offensive in the Pacific after the Java Sea campaign was a desperate attempt to halt the Japanese forces that were rampaging across the region. Despite facing numerous challenges, the Allies' determination and innovative tactics led to their victory on Guadalcanal. The campaign was a turning point in the Pacific War and helped to pave the way for further Allied victories in the region.

\n Weight: 622g\n
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 30 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781472826428\n \n