Check out the show notes for the Guadalcanal series.
145 - 973 rounds in 83 minutes. The Battleship Bombardment of Henderson Field
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode looks at the IJN and IJA combined planning for the assault on Henderson's Field, including the naval gunfire from the Kongo and Haruna under Rear Admiral Kurita where 973 14-inch rounds were fired in 83 minutes. We also discuss the development of the Maruyama Trail for the approach march of the 2nd Sendai Division.
This episode discusses:
What happens when commanders visualise terrain from a distance rather than conduct ground reconnaissance?
How does poor mapping degrade operational planning?
How does confirmation bias infect intelligence assessment?
What is the relationship between terrain and combat power?
What munition selection tells us about the limits of naval gunfire support against land targets?
How do you maximise the effect of a fire support mission through observation planning?
What does the Henderson Field bombardment teach us about fire saturation and its psychological effects?
How does loss of aviation fuel translate directly into loss of air superiority?
What is the danger of planning based on the timeline you want rather than the timeline the terrain imposes?
Dave Holland is an ex-Marine and was posted to Guadalcanal with the Australian Federal Police. He regularly leads battlefield study tours through the area. He is a world-leading expert on the battles of Guadalcanal and author of Guadalcanal's Longest Fight - The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front.
https://www.patreon.com/cw/principlesofwar - if you've learnt something from this episode and you can afford it, please support the podcast at Patreon.
Great Professional Military Education for your Unit. This episode covers the Command and Control and generating combined arms.
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
Hosted by James Eling, The Principles of War-Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership is a deep dive into the timeless patterns of conflict. This isn't just a recitation of dates and troop movements. Instead, each episode takes a pivotal historic battle and examines it through the lens of enduring military principles, extracting practical insights on strategy, combined arms, and command. The discussions are structured to serve as a resource for professional military education, condensing complex analyses into focused, thirty-minute sessions. You'll hear how decisions made centuries ago still resonate within modern doctrine, offering lessons on leadership and tactical execution that are applicable far beyond the battlefield. The aim is to provide these lessons in a compelling narrative format, moving beyond dry after-action reports. For anyone fascinated by how history informs present-day thinking in governance, organizational leadership, and strategic planning, this podcast functions as a regular, thought-provoking seminar. Tune in to explore the fundamental concepts that have shaped outcomes throughout military history and continue to define success in high-stakes environments.
Podcast Episodes
149 - Why did the Marines stop 1,000 yards short of victory at 4th Matanikau - Guadalcanal
After the defeat at Henderson Field, Japanese 17th Army headquarters remained confident — fresh divisions and hundreds of aircraft were promised within weeks. But Vandegrift had no intention of letting them regroup. This…
148 - The Battle of Henderson Field - Guadalcanal 1942
This episode is the 14th episode in our Guadalcanal series. We look at the Battle of Henderson Field, which is the decisive terrain for the campaign. Had the airfield been lost, it is likely that the US would not have be…
147 - The Japanese tank attack in the Battle of Henderson Field - Guadalcanal
This episode looks at the Sumiyoshi's tank attack across the Matanikau - an attempt to draw defenders away from the perimeter of Henderson Field. We also discuss why Muryama coundn;t synchronise his forces and the dysfun…
146 - Halsey's question for Vandegrift about Henderson Field's defence that influenced Pacific Strategy.
This episode looks at the defensive and offensive planning undertaken by the IJA and the USMC. It also looks closely at Vandegrift's meeting with Halsey and the outcome of the meeting. This is a pivotal moment in the cam…
144 - Situational Awareness and the fight for Guadalcanal's Key Terrain - 3rd Battle of the Matanikau
USMC 1st Marine Division vs the IJA 2nd (Sendai) Division in the fight to control the Matanikau River. The 3rd Battle of the Matanikau Part II - This is the tenth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and auth…
143 - Inside the Japanese OODA loop on Guadalcanal - Vandegrift and 3rd Matanikau
Maruyama vs Vandegrift in the fight to control the Matanikau River. The 3rd Battle of the Matanikau Part I - This is the ninth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episode discus…
Puller, Munro, and Monssen - the daring resuce of 1/7 Marines - 2nd Battle of the Matanikau Part II
2nd Matanikau - Guadalcanal and Pullers rescue of the 1/7th Marines. The 2nd Battle of the Matanikau Part II - This is the eighth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episode dis…
141 - Chesty Puller, 1/7 Marines and 2nd Matanikau, Guadalcanal
The 2nd Battle of the Matanikau - This is the seventh episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: How did the arrival of the 7th Marines transform Vandegrift's Guada…
140 - Battle of Edson's Ridge: How the Marines saved the Cactus Air Force
This is the sixth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: How close did Japanese forces come to capturing Henderson Field in September 1942? Why was Edson's Ridg…
139 - Guadalcanal - Edson and the defence of Bloody Ridge
This is the fifth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: Why was Henderson Field the single piece of decisive terrain on Guadalcanal? How did Edson know the mai…
