Tenaru
The Battle of Tenaru, also known as the Battle of the Ilu River, took place on August 21, 1942, during the Guadalcanal Campaign in World War II. It was one of the first significant land battles between U.S. Marines and Japanese forces on the island of Guadalcanal. Japanese troops, under Colonel Kiyonao Ichiki, attempted to recapture the American-held Henderson Field airfield by launching a frontal assault on the Marine defenses at the Ilu River.
The Japanese underestimated the strength and preparedness of the U.S. forces. The Marines, entrenched and equipped with machine guns and artillery, successfully repelled the attack, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese. By dawn, most of the Japanese attackers had been killed, with the Marines suffering relatively few losses. The battle demonstrated that U.S. forces could hold their ground against Japanese forces and marked a key moment in the campaign to secure Guadalcanal and its strategic airfield.
6 VP’s
Card Balance:
5 – 5
Complexity:
3
Conditions:
Jungle
Location:
Guadalcanal
Year:
1942
Theater:
Pacific
Campaign
Codename
Summary:
Objectives:
6 VP’s
Battlefield:
The primary strategic elements to consider in the Tenaru scenario is the navigable river going across the battlefield, and the beach hexes along one flank which allows for rapid troop movement. But the most formidable element of this scenario are the two American artillery units on the beach section.
Troops:
Allies – 9 Infantry, 1 Armor, 2 Artillery
Axis – 12 Infantry
Allied Strategy
Axis Strategy:
1. The Japanese must destroy the American artillery near the beach. They are too powerful to ignore. Fortunately, the beach allows for rapid progress of the Japanese infantry to its objectives.
Battle Reports
(percentage of Allied victories):
Author:
Link:
