Battlefield - Guadalcanal

The attack on Pearl Harbour was supposed to obviate the need for the grinding attritional battle that was the hallmark for the bloody fighting of Guadalcanal. The capture of this strategically crucial island in the Solomans - during which more than 25,000 Japanese lost their lives - was the key to the US victory in the Philippines and paved the way for the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the final defeat of Japan. This is a brand new episode from the landmark television series Battlefield. Featuring fascinating archive footage from all over the world the programme includes a review of the political and military situation before the battle, portraits of leaders and commanders, an explanation of weapons and tactics and the story of the battle itself. Vivid graphics place the battle into the context of the war as a whole.

Chapters:

1. Introduction
2. The Prelude
3. The Commanders
4. The Weapons
5. The Landings
6. Progress at a Price
7. Closing in on Japan
8. The Ultimate Weapon