Battle for Henderson Field October 23-26, 1942

SEOW campaign designers contributing their scenario notes, orders of battle and other useful research.
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Zoi
Posts: 268
Joined: Fri 14 Jan 2011 3:20 pm

Battle for Henderson Field October 23-26, 1942

Post by Zoi »

I'm in the process of researching for a campaign to take place on the 24th of October 1942. Below is the information I have so far. As you can see there are still lots of blank spots you can fill in. I'm especially interested in the number of U.S. artillery present.

Historical Order of Battle
Battle of Henerson Field
October 24th, 1942


Japan

Tanks

1st Independent Tank Company
Captain Maeda
10 Type 97 Medium Tanks 1st Independent Tank Company

Artillery

10th Independent Mountain Gun Regiment (3 batteries only)
Lt. Col. Kitayama
9 Type 41 75mm Mountain Guns

20th Independent Mountain Gun Battalion
Lt. Col. Kaji
6 Bofors 75mm Mountain Guns

4th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment
Col. Akamatsu
12 Type 96 15cm Howitzers

2nd Battery/7th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment
1st Lt. Tani
4 Type 92 10cm Cannons

2nd Battery/21st Independent Field Heavy Artillery Battalion
Captain Tanaka
4 Type 4 15cm Howitzers

2nd Field Artillery Regiment
Col. Ishizaki
7 Type 38-improved 75mm Field Guns 1,370 rounds

4 Type 91 10cm Howitzers
5 Bofors 75mm Mountain Guns

3 Batteries/38th Mountain Gun Regiment
5 Type 41 75mm Mountain Guns
2 Type 94 75mm Mountain Guns

Note: Artillery Rounds present

75mm Field Gun - 1,370 rounds
75mm Mountain Gun - 150 rounds
Type 91 10cm Howitzer - Unknown
Type 4 15cm Howitzer - 420 rounds
Type 96 15cm Howitzer - 709 rounds
Type 92 10cm Cannon - 742 rounds

Troops

Hyakutake
20,000 total troops

Note: After his staff officers observed the American defences around Lunga Point, Hyakutake decided that the main thrust of his planned attack would be from south of Henderson Field. His 2nd Division (augmented by troops from the 38th Division), under Lieutenant General Masao Maruyama was ordered to march through the jungle and attack the American defences from the south near the east bank of the Lunga River. The 7000-member 2nd Division was split into three units; the Left Wing Unit under Major General Yumio Nasu containing the 29th Infantry regiment, the Right Wing Unit under Kawaguchi consisting of troops from the 230th Infantry Regiment (from the 38th Infantry Division), and the division reserve led by Maruyama comprising the 16th Infantry Regiment.

Navy

First Assault Unit 3 destroyers Akatsuki, Ikazuchi, and Shiratsuyo
Second Assault Unit light cruiser Yura and five destroyers
Carriers providing support Junyo

Airforce

2nd Flying Squadron
Junyo CV Vice Admiral Kondo
20 A6M2 Zero 17 D3A2 Val 9 B5N2 Kate

11th Air Fleet

Note: Junyo on the 25th Launches six bombers and twelve fighters which attack Henderson Field at 1350, suffering no losses, but inflicting little damage.on the 26th 20/21 A6M2 Zero fighter 17/18 D3A2 Val divebomber 9/9 B5N2 Kate attack bomber capacity at commissioning 21 Zeros, and the other aircraft reduced to 12 D3As and 9 B5Ns
Hiyo on the 23rd 16 Zeros and 17 D3As flown off the accidental fire damaged Hiyo and were stationed at Rabual and flown to guadcanal as part of the battle

Note: Known to have been present at the battle of henderson field on the 24th 82 Japanese bombers and fighters from the 11th Air Fleet and from the aircraft carrier Junyo

Note: Zeros could not maneuver at full throttle for fear of ripping off their external tank and losing their ability to return to Rabaul {Air Command and Staff College}


U.S.

Tanks

M3 Stuart Light Tank

Vehicles 75mm half-tracks

Artillery

75mm pack howitzer
M1918 155mm howitzer
105mm gun
M1 40mm Antiaircraft
Oerlikon 20mm Antiaircraft
5-inch Shore batterys east and west of Lunga Point

Note: ten infantry battalions, one Raider battalion, four artillery battalions , and a tank battalion (International Encyclopedia of Military History, vol. 1, s.v. “Guadalcanal.”; Richard B. Frank)

Troops

23,000

Note: The Lunga perimeter was defended by four American regiments comprising 13 infantry battalions. The 164th Infantry Regiment guarded the easternmost sector. Extending from the 164th south and west across Edson's Ridge to the Lunga River was the 7th Marine Regiment. Covering the sector west of the Lunga to the coast were the 1st and 5th Marine Regiments. Defending the mouth of the Matanikau for the Americans were two battalions under the command of Lieutenant Colonel William J. McKelvy: the 3d Battalion, 1st Marines, and the 3d Battalion, 7th Marines. McKelvy's force was separated from the Lunga perimeter by a gap that was covered by patrols

Radar

One at Tulagi and one at Henderson Field

Airforce
B-17s
PBYs

VMF-212,121, USMC 26 F4F-4 fighters

VMSB-231 & 232, USMC 20 SDB-3 divebombers 2 TBF-1 torpedo

67th Fighter Sqdn USAAF 6 P-400 fighters 6 P-39 fighters

Note: Situation on the 25th Marines seven SBD's, twenty-nine F4F's, 67th Squadron four P-400's and two P-39's {less reliable report in italics} Airfield unusable on morning of the 25th due to heavy rains

After the Japanese shelling on the 13th five fighters flyable.11 SBDs, 6 Army planes and 1 lone photographic aircraft

Brig. Gen. Roy S. Geiger
II/JG3K.Brandle
Posts: 32
Joined: Sun 14 Jan 2007 3:32 pm
Location: North Atlantic

Post by II/JG3K.Brandle »

Very nice info.
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