US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Success, Then Cliff Hanging 343
toward Red Beach. They ceased fire about 0907, and the first LCVP touched
the beach at about 0910.
Since there was no hostiie fire against the landing troops in the Red Beach
area at Guadalcanal, the second part of the close support fire plan to put
800 rounds of 5-inch supporting fire to the east and west of Red Beach at
Guadalcanal, starting at plus five minutes after the first wave landed, was
cancelled.
GUNFIRE-TULAGI
The naval gunfire problem in the Tulagi area was complicated by the lay
of the land, the multiplicity and strength of known Japanese defense posi-
tions, and the fact that the islands of Tulagi, Tanambogo, and Gavutu lay
beneath promontories of the larger Florida Island just to the north and east,
where Japanese guns could be advantageously located.”
It was known from photographic data, that the southeast end of Tulagi
was more heavily defended than other Tulagi areas. However, to prepare
for and cover all the actual Marine landings on Florida and Tulagi Islands,
it was necessary to divide the modest early morning gunfire effort between
preparatory fire on the Blue Beach and the Haleta area, and the southeast
end of Tulagi where the known defenses, including antiaircraft guns, were
located.
Preparatory gunfire was also supplied for steep hilled Gavutu and Tanambogo,
with 92 rounds of close fire support from 500 yards by the destroyer
Monnen (DD-436). This gunfire was particularly effective at Tanambogo
the second day after a 200-round” five-minute bombardment from a respectable
4,OOOyards had proven ineffective the first day.47 This close fire support
by the Mcwmen was the first really “close up” use of the 5-inch naval gun
from a thin shelled naval ship to blast Japanese defenders from caves and
well-prepared defense positions.
LESSONS LEARNED
Not too much was said about ship gunfire support in the reports on the
WATCHTOWER Operation. All three of the 8-inch gun ships which had
‘e Staff Interviews.
4’USSMonssen War Diary, 7 Aug. 1942.