Location
Lunga Anchorage is located off Lunga Point on the north coast of Guadalcanal. Borders Iron Bottom Sound to the north. Also known as "Lunga Point Anchorage".

Wartime History
On August 7, 1942 U. S. Marines (USMC) landed at Red Beach, the US Coast Guard (USCG) established a Naval Operating Base (NOB) at Lunga Point, commanded by LCRD Dwight Dexter operating LCM, LCP, LCV with a force of 288 men mostly of Coast Guardsmen.

During the Battle of Guadalcanal and during the base era, this area was further developed into a staging area and base, with proximity to cargo being unloaded at Lunga anchorage and the airfields. Among the units based there was the US Army 24th Infantry, 2nd Battalion (Negro) March 1 - August 6, 1943. The Lunga Point Anchorage was used as an anchorage for Navy vessels, small ships, landing craft and as a seaplane operating area.

During 1942-1945 the Lunga Point Anchorage was used by the American forces as a major anchorage for transports and ships.

Peter Flahavin adds:
"if you drive up the road near Henderson [Honiara Airport] car park to the beach at Lunga, you come upon the remains of metal barges and wood piers of the Lunga point naval base. Just a bit to the west is Lunga lagoon."

USS John Penn (APA-23)
Sunk August 13, 1943 by Japanese B5N Kate torpedo bombers

USS Atlanta (CL-51)
Sunk during the "Naval Battle of Guadalcanal" November 12-13, 1942

USS Serpens (AK-97)
Sunk by accidental explosion January 29, 1945

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
October 23, 2019