By late January 1943, the long fight for Guadalcanal was nearly over. Marines had landed on the island the previous August and held on through months of hard fighting, disease, and exhaustion. On January 29 and 30, 1943, a U.S. Navy task force covering the relief of a long-serving Marine regiment on the island came under heavy Japanese air attack in what became known as the Battle of Rennell Island. The battle cost the Navy a heavy cruiser, but the mission it was protecting succeeded: fresh Army troops reached Guadalcanal, and the battle-weary Marines of the 2nd Marine Regiment were able to leave the island.
Quick Facts
- Battle: Battle of Rennell Island, January 29 to 30, 1943.
- Location: Waters north of Rennell Island in the Solomon Islands, south of Guadalcanal.
- U.S. force: Task Force 18 under Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen.
- Mission: Cover a convoy of transports carrying Army troops to relieve the 2nd Marine Regiment on Guadalcanal.
- Main loss: The heavy cruiser USS Chicago, sunk on the afternoon of January 30.
- Marine connection: The relief allowed the 2nd Marines, in the fight since the first landings, to finally leave Guadalcanal.
Guadalcanal: Six Months of Hard Fighting
The Guadalcanal campaign began on August 7, 1942, when the 1st Marine Division landed to seize a Japanese airfield under construction on the island. Marines completed the airfield and named it Henderson Field. For months afterward, they defended it against Japanese ground attacks, air raids, and naval bombardment. It was the first major American offensive of the Pacific War, and the outcome was uncertain for a long time.
As the campaign went on, the 1st Marine Division was relieved and sent away to recover. Units of the 2nd Marine Division and U.S. Army divisions took over the fight. By January 1943, Japanese forces on the island were weakened and short on supplies, and American commanders were working to replace Marines who had been in combat for months with fresh troops.
Relieving the 2nd Marines
The 2nd Marine Regiment had been on Guadalcanal and nearby islands since the first landings in August 1942. Admiral William F. Halsey Jr., the theater commander, was under pressure to complete their replacement. In late January, a convoy of four transports set out carrying Army troops to take their place. Task Force 18, a group of cruisers, destroyers, and two escort carriers under Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen, was assigned to cover the convoy’s approach.
The Battle of Rennell Island
On the evening of January 29, Japanese land-based torpedo bombers attacked Task Force 18 near Rennell Island. The heavy cruiser USS Chicago was struck by two torpedoes and lost most of its power. The cruiser USS Louisville took Chicago under tow, and early on January 30 the tow was handed to the fleet tug USS Navajo.
On the afternoon of January 30, Japanese bombers returned. Fighters from the carrier USS Enterprise shot down several of the attackers, and antiaircraft fire downed more, but Chicago was hit by four more torpedoes. The captain ordered the ship abandoned, and Chicago sank stern first a short time later. Sixty-two of her crew were killed. The destroyer USS La Vallette was also hit by a torpedo and lost 22 men. More than a thousand of Chicago’s sailors were rescued.
The Mission Still Succeeded
While Japanese aircraft concentrated on the warships of Task Force 18, the transports completed their run. The Army troops came ashore, and the 2nd Marines, who had been in the fight since the first day, were finally relieved.
At the same time, the Japanese were carrying out their own secret evacuation of Guadalcanal. Over several nights in early February, destroyers removed most of their surviving troops. On February 9, 1943, American commanders declared the island secure. The campaign that Marines had started six months earlier had ended in an Allied victory, and the Pacific War had begun to turn.
Why This Date Matters to Marines
Rennell Island is remembered mostly as a naval battle, and the sailors of Chicago and La Vallette paid the price on January 30. For Marines, it is tied to the relief of men who had fought since the opening day of Guadalcanal, one of the defining campaigns in Marine Corps history. It is also a reminder of how closely the Navy and Marine Corps depend on each other. Marines could not have reached Guadalcanal, held it, or left it without the ships and sailors who protected them at sea.
What This Means for Your Recruit
Guadalcanal is one of the battles recruits hear about during their Marine Corps history lessons in boot camp. It shows the endurance and teamwork the Corps expects from every Marine, qualities that drill instructors work hard to build. Your recruit will also learn that Marines and sailors are part of one naval team. Navy corpsmen serve alongside Marines, and Navy ships carry them where they need to go. When your Marine talks about the Navy-Marine Corps team, stories like the relief of the 2nd Marines in January 1943 are part of what they mean.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on January 30, 1943?
It was the second day of the Battle of Rennell Island. Japanese aircraft sank the heavy cruiser USS Chicago while Task Force 18 was covering a convoy bringing Army troops to relieve the 2nd Marine Regiment on Guadalcanal.
How were Marines involved in the Battle of Rennell Island?
The task force was protecting the convoy that carried the troops replacing the 2nd Marines. Thanks to that convoy, the 2nd Marines, who had fought since the first landings in August 1942, were relieved by fresh Army troops.
When did the Guadalcanal campaign end?
American commanders declared Guadalcanal secure on February 9, 1943, after Japanese forces evacuated their remaining troops during the first week of February.
Why is Guadalcanal important in Marine Corps history?
It was the first major American offensive of the Pacific War. Marines landed in August 1942 and held a vital airfield for months against determined attacks, helping turn the war in the Pacific.