This is the third episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland.

This episodes discusses:

How the Marines seized conducted the landing and seized Guadalcanal’s decisive terrain.
Red Beach landing bypasses IJA fortifications at Lunga Point.
Vandegrift prioritizes tight perimeter, airfield defense.
Carriers withdraw; logistics halved, myths debunked.
Japanese forces surprised and how they reacted.
Combined arms landings: infantry, artillery, engineers.
What really happened with the Goettge Patrol?
Logistics speed amphibious resupply.
Amtracs and beachmasters enable rapid combat buildup.
Modern littoral operations: enduring risk management lessons.

Dave is an ex-Marine and was posted to Guadalcananal with the Australian Federal Police. He regularly leads battlefield study tours through the area. He is a world-leading expert on the battles of Guadalcanal and author of Guadalcanal's Longest Fight - The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front.

Check out the show notes for this episode.

This is the second episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland.

Shoestring invasion planning
Koro rehearsals fiasco
Risking the aircraft carriers vs time to unload the convoy
Crutchley’s covering cruisers
Rupertus leads Tulagi
Blue Beach landing
Fighting at “the Cut”
Improvised cave tactics
Gavutu–Tanambogo battles
Tanks combat

Dave is an ex-Marine and was posted to Guadalcananal with the Australian Federal Police. He regularly leads battlefield study tours through the area. He is a world-leading expert on the battles of Guadalcanal and author of Guadalcanal's Longest Fight - The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front.

Check out the show notes for this episode.

This is the first in a major series of podcasts looking at the Battles of Guadalcanal. This is an interview with Dave Holland.

This episode looks at:

Guadalcanal's strategic significance
Terrain and Climate of Guadalcanal
Development of Marine Amphibious Doctrine
Combat experience within the 1st Marine Division
Strength and structure of a Marine Division
US intelligence preparation before the landings
Japanese intelligence and intentions
US decision to land on Guadalcanal and Tulagi
Operation Shoestring

Dave is an ex-Marine and was posted to Guadalcananal with the Australian Federal Police. He regularly leads battlefield study tours through the area. He is a world-leading expert on the battles of Guadalcanal and author of Guadalcanal's Longest Fight - The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front.