US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

460 Amphibians Came To Conquet
5-43 for the landings, code named CLEANSLATE, on 12 and 15 February
1942.5
The Russell Islands are 60 miles west-northwest of Henderson Field on
Guadalcanal. The two main islands of the Russells are Pavuvu and Banika,
the former being about twice the size of the latter which is nearest Guadalcanal.
The first named island, mainly a 1,500-foot jungled foothill in 1943,
is fanged in shape and about eight miles north and south by seven miles
east and west. The latter island is about eight miles by two miles and is
slotted by two comfortable inlets, one on its east coast, the other on its west
coast. While there is a 400-foot high knob in the southern part of Banika,
the rest of the island is low and in 1943 was clear of jungle although with
many beautiful coconut trees. It was judged suitable for an airfield.
These two main islands, separated by Sunlight Channel half a mile
wide, are surrounded by dozens of small islands extending to ten to twelve
miles off shore, particularly to the eastward. The most vivid remembrances
of those who touched stays with the Russells were of “rain, mud, and magnificent
coconuts. ”
When Commander South Pacific Area issued his final CLEANSLATE
Operation Plan, he initiated an action with a major resemblance to its prede-
cessor, the WATCHTOWER Operation, in that there was to be no long
planning period available to Rear Admiral Turner’s staff prior to the actual
landing just nine days away.
The major purposes assigned by COMSOPAC for the operation were:
1. to strengthen the defense of Guadalcanal, and
2. to establish a staging point for landing craft preliminary to further
forward movement.
The mission also included establishing an advanced motor torpedo base, an
advanced air base, and radar installations.G
Rear Admiral Turner, COMPHIBSOPAC, was named as the Commander
of the Joint Force designated Task Force 61, “with the Commanding General
43rd Division, Major General John H. Hester, U. S. Army, being the Com-
mander Landing Force.
Despite the fact that in February 1943 none of the Landing Force troops
were in the Guadalcanal area except the Army Regiment designated as Troop
Reserve, and the anti-aircraft contingent of the 1lth Marine Defense Bat-
talion, Task Force 61 was tailored for a “shore to shore” amphibious task.
5C,OMSOPAC, 282239 Jan; 060636, 070506, 112230, 150247, Feb. 1943.
‘ COMSOPAC, 070506, 112230 Feb. 1943.