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| Location The Battle for Henderson Field between October 23, 1942 until October 26, 1942 was a battle between the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), 17th Army against southern edge of the U.S. perimeter defended by U.S. Marine Corps at Bloody Ridge near Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. between October 23, 1942 until October 26, 1942 at the southern edge of the U.S. perimeter around Henderson Field and Lunga Point on Guadalcanal. Also known as the Battle of Guadalcanal. Known to the Japanese as the Battle of Lunga Point. During late October 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA), 17th Army under Lt. General Harukichi Hyakutake including the 2nd Division (Sendai) under the command of General Masao Maruyama plus the 230th Infantry Regiment from 38th Division. The force trekked by foot along a rough trail in dense jungle dubbed the Maruyama Road (Maruyama Trail) to positions south of the U.S. perimeter to launch a counteroffensive to capture Henderson Field. The Japanese incorrectly believed there were 10,000 Americans on Guadalcanal when in fact there were 23,000. The attack was originally scheduled commence on October 22, 1942 at 6:00pm. Defending the U.S. perimeter (Lunga perimeter) were four U.S. regiments comprised of thirteen battalions. The U.S Army, 164th Infantry Regiment (164th IR) guarded the easternmost sector. Extending to the south and west across Bloody Ridge to the Lunga River was the 7th Marine Regiment under Colonel Amor L. Sims. Covering the sector west of the Lunga to the north coast was the 1st Marine Regiment and 5th Marine Regiment. Defending the mouth of the Matanikau River and separated from the U.S. perimeter was the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, and the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines under Lieutenant Colonel William J. McKelvy. As the Japanese advanced, the American forces were unaware of their approach or planned offensive. On October 18, 1942 Japanese 150mm howitzers began shelling Henderson Field. On October 19, 1942 a diversionary attack by five battalions of infantry under Major General Tadashi Sumiyoshi assembled to attack the western perimeter. The force included the 4th Infantry Regiment under Colonel Nomasu Nakaguma near Point Cruz and the 124th Infantry Regiment under Colonel Akinosuka Oka advanced from inland to cross the Matanikau River and began advancing up the eastern bank. On October 21, 1942 by evening it was clear to General Maruyama that his units would not be in position and delayed the attack to until October 23, 1942 and put the soldiers on half rations to conserve their remaining food. On October 22, 1942 by evening, the Japanese were still behind schedule with many still on the Maruyama Road but General Maruyama refused to delay further. For the attack, the 2nd Division (Sendai) was divided into three units: Left Wing, Right Wing and reserves. The Left Wing Unit under Major General Yumio Nasu containing the 29th Infantry Regiment. The Right Wing Unit under Major General Kiyotake Kawaguchi consisting of the 230th Infantry Regiment under Colonel Toshinari Shōji. The reserve under General Maruyama comprised of the 16th Infantry Regiment. On October 23, 1942 Kawaguchi, on his own initiative, began to shift his right wing unit to the east, believing that the American defenses were weaker in that area but was ordered to keep the original plan. When he refused, Kawaguchi was relieved of command and replaced by Colonel Toshinari Shōji. By evening, when commanding General Hyakutake learned the left wing and right wing were still not in position, he delayed the attack until the next day at 7:00pm. Meanwhile, the Americans were still unaware of the approaching Japanese. On October 24, 1942 at 2:00pm Maruyama's left and right wing units began to deploy for their attacks. Maruyama's troops had very little artillery or mortar support for their assault, as they were forced to abandon most of their artillery during the jungle trek. Heavy rain fell between 16:00 and 21:00 further delaying the Japanese approach and causing "chaos" in the Japanese formations, already exhausted from the long jungle march. Shoji's right wing force accidentally turned parallel to the Marine lines, and all but one battalion failed to make contact with the Marine defenses. Shoji's 1st Battalion, 230th Infantry Regiment "stumbled" into Puller's lines about 22:00 and were driven off. For unknown reasons, Maruyama's staff reported to Lt. General Hyakutake that Shoji's men had overrun Henderson Field. Hyakutake's staff relayed the message to headquarters "A little before 23:00 the right wing captured the airfield", which was incorrect. On October 25, 1942 around 12:50am, the left wing under the command of General Yumio Nasu began to reach the Marine line. At 12:30 the 3rd Battalion, 11th Company (Nasu) under the command of Captain Jiro Katsumata found and attacked Company A of Puller's battalion but was impeded by barbed wire in front of the line and faced withering machine gun, mortar, and artillery fire. By 1:00am Marine gunfire had killed most of the company. At 1:15am, furtherest to the west, 3rd Battalion, 9th Company (Nasu) charged straight into Puller's Company C east of Hill 80. Within five minutes, Marine .30 caliber machine gun positions led by Sgt John Basilone opened fire killing nearly all the attackers. By 1:25am, Marine artillery fire was impacting their assembly areas and advance routes, breaking the attack and causing further casualties. At 3:45am, Puller requested reinforcements. By dawn, the U.S. Army 164th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion commanded by Lt. Colonel Robert Hall being held in reserve joined the line. Before dawn, 29th Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel Masajiro Furimiya, with two companies from his 3rd Battalion plus his headquarters staff, was able to penetrate the Marine artillery fire and reach the American line around 3:30am. Most of Furimiya's troops were killed during their assault, but about 100 broke through the American defenses and carved a salient 150 yards by 100 yards deep into the line. After sunrise, Furimiya's 2nd Battalion joined in the assault on Puller, but were thrown back. At 7:30am, Nasu decided to withdraw the remainder of his troops back into the jungle and prepare for a night attack. During the day, Puller's men attacked and eradicated a salient and eliminated 104 Japanese infiltrators. At 04:30, Lt. General Hyakutake rescinded the message announcing the capture of the airfield, but at 7:00am declared that the results of Maruyama's attack were unknown but had in fact failed. Finally on October 26, 1942 at 8:00am Lt. General Hyakutake called off any further attacks and ordered his remaining forces to retreat. This was the last Japanese attack against the U.S. perimeter in the Bloody Ridge area. Contribute Information Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated May 14, 2026 |
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