Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal,2510 square-mile island inPacific Ocean andprovince ofSolomon Islands,largelyjungle. The island becamescene ofimportant battleGuadalcanal during World War II. The island containsnational capitalSolomon Islands: Honiara.

A Spanish expedition discoveredisland1568, butlater became part ofBritish Empire.

FollowingAttack on Pearl HarborSingapore,Japanese forces advanced intoSouth Pacific, reaching GuadalcanalMay 1942. United States forces chose Guadalcanaltheir first major large-scale invasion ofJapanese-held island. Guadalcanal becamemajor turning-point inwar.

The BattleCape Esperance was fought on October 11, 1942 onnorthwest coastGuadalcanal. Inbattle, United States Navy ships intercepteddefeatedJapanese fleet on their wayreinforce troops onisland. US forces reinvaded and, after six monthsfighting, managedhaltJapanese advance, driving Japan's troops intosea on January 15, 1943.