Battle of the Tenaru

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The Battle of the Tenaru was an early World War II clash during the Guadalcanal Campaign in which U.S. Marines repelled a major Japanese assault near Henderson Field, marking a crucial defensive victory in the Pacific Theater.

Aliases (1)

Statements (45)
Predicate Object
instanceOf World War II battle
battle
military engagement
alsoKnownAs Battle of Alligator Creek
Battle of the Ilu River
belligerent Imperial Japanese Army
United States Marine Corps
campaignObjectiveContext protection of Allied supply and communication lines to Australia and New Zealand
casualties heavy Japanese casualties
light to moderate American casualties
commander Alexander A. Vandegrift
Kiyonao Ichiki
conflict Pacific War
World War II
countryInvolved Empire of Japan
United States
date 1942-08-21
endDate 1942-08-21
followedBy Battle of Edson's Ridge
front South Pacific
historicalImportance boosted American morale early in the Guadalcanal Campaign
demonstrated vulnerability of Japanese infantry tactics against prepared defenses
location Guadalcanal
Solomon Islands
near Henderson Field
objective defense of Henderson Field
partOf Guadalcanal Campaign
precededBy American landings on Guadalcanal
primaryTacticUsedByAmericans defensive perimeter with interlocking fields of fire
primaryTacticUsedByJapanese frontal human-wave assault
result American victory
river Ilu River
startDate 1942-08-21
strategicSignificance first major Japanese ground assault repulsed on Guadalcanal
secured the American beachhead on Guadalcanal
supportingArms U.S. Marine artillery
U.S. Marine machine guns
U.S. tanks
tacticalOutcome Japanese frontal assault destroyed
U.S. Marines maintained control of Henderson Field perimeter
theater Pacific Theater of World War II
typeOfEngagement infantry assault
night attack
unitInvolved 1st Marine Division
Ichiki Detachment

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Battle of the Tenaru ("Battle of the Ilu River")
alsoKnownAs
Henderson Field
subjectOf

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