The Solomon Islands were the scene of the Pacific war's lengthiest and most bitterly fought naval campaign. Including the fighting in the immediate vicinity of Guadalcanal, more than a dozen battles raged in these confined waters. Most of them were night surface battles, where the weapons and tactics of the Japanese Navy were at their finest. Unfortunately, the Japanese were faced with a foe willing to accept heavy losses in order to prevail, and also one who learned from past mistakes.

(Map developed from Dull, "A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy." Original map by Donald Hoegsburg)

Legend:

= Battle
= Campaign

#1 = Battle of Eastern Solomons, August 23-25, 1942
#2 = Battle of Santa Cruz, October 25-27, 1942
#3 = Battle of the Bismarck Sea, March 3-4, 1943
#4 = Battle of Kula Gulf, July 6, 1943
#5 = Battle of Vella Gulf, August 6-7, 1943
#6 = Battle off Horaniu, August 18, 1943
#7 = Battle of Vella Lavella, October 6, 1943
#8 = Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, November 2, 1943
#9 = Carrier Raid on Rabaul, November 5, 1943
#10 = Battle of Cape St. George, November 26, 1943
G = Battles off of Guadalcanal

Aftermath

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