The Battle of Edsons Ridge during WWII - Essay Example

Edson's Ridge Edson's Ridge Titus Rock Manickam Order No. 244878 27 October 2008 Edson's Ridge Introduction The Battle of Edson's Ridge, also known as Bloody Ridge, was one of the decisive events in the conclusion of the Second World War. The determined efforts of the Japanese under Major General K. Kawaguchi to retake the ridge from the Allies met with equally powerful determination of Lieutenant Colonel Merritt Edson to quell and frustrate any such attempt. Nestling in Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, Edson's Ridge comprises two mounds and is surrounded by thick jungles. It was one of the troubled hot spots during the Second World War and the Japanese did their best to dislodge the U.S. forces stationed there. The occupation of this location would give them the means to militarily attack United States. With the ridge in their control, they would be one step away from world dominion. From the moment the Allies descended on the ridge, it was a position that the Allies had to hold on to strategically maintain their balance of power. Turning back would mean heavy sacrifice in the war scenario that even in the closing period of the war could be disastrous due to the location of the ridge and the impact it could have on anyone who controlled the region. In the circumstances, it was necessary that the ridge remained in the control of the Allies. The failure of the Japanese to retake the ridge lay on the difficulties posed by the terrain and their miscalculation about the determination of the Allies to stay put. The region was topsy-turvy and dotted with jungles. The Allies, that is, the Americans had secured the area with 12,000 men while the Japanese reckoned they would have to contend with not more than a few thousand men. The Battle It was a bloody battle between the United States' forces and the Japanese men of war. The weapons of the battle were artillery as also bayonets. There were even hand-to-hand combats. The Japanese lost men in large numbers. Given the limited nature of maneuver and resource, the Japanese could not capitalize on the elements of time and surprise to overpower the enemy. The limited supply of artillery and means to travel meant that they had to depend more on strategy of surprise and intrigue to achieve their goals (Battle of Edson's (Bloody) Bridge). On 12 September 1944 Kawaguchi divided his forces, sending a thousand strong men to attack from the east of the mound, while his force struck from the west along the ridge that led to Henderson Airfield. An attack on the Japanese base at Taivu Point by Lieutenant-Colonel Edson at this juncture successfully destroyed most of the Japanese supplies. Information secured during this raid indicated a massive attack would be coming from the southwest of the perimeter along a ridge beside the Lunga River. The attack however was short-lived and failed to yield any ground as visualized by the Japanese. The Japanese coordination failed and it was not possible to have all the men in place for the fight. Further strategies to subjugate the U.S. forces met with resistance from well-entrenched positions and the Japanese were outflanked, outnumbered and gunned down with ruthless precision. Added to the miscalculations of the Japanese about the actual strength of the U.S. forces, the jungles made coordination and attack difficult to sustain. The movements of their men could not be synchronized and their attacking strategies lacked punch and depth. They lost men in large numbers and they did not get reinforcements to compensate their lost men. It was almost as if they expected the opponents to cave in to their attacks and when this did not happen they paid for it with their lives. Such tactics spell disaster. It is not advisable even in a state of war. However a battle is full of the elements of risk and intrigue. The Japanese pursued these elements with unequivocal zeal. The strategy of surprise and intrigue normally works if the opposition is less vigilant and less pro-active. The U.S. forces under Lt Col Merritt Edson were both vigilant and pro-active. They did lose men and material. However, this was small compared to those of the Japanese. With every raid they gained information. The advantages of captured men and information provided them the necessary means to prepare for the next attack. Through captured documents, they got information about the movements of the enemy. The strength of the U.S. forces largely rested on the steely resolve of Lt Col Merritt Edson. His unyielding determination plus the intelligence to swiftly and overtly carry out raids gave the U.S. forces the ability to remain grounded in the face of persistent assaults. The bloody fight for the ridge was one-sided throughout its tenure (Warfighting). The movements of the Japanese were traced and repulsed by the U.S. forces. In terms of men and material, the losses were heavy with the Japanese taking the larger slice. The two mounds sizing 120 feet and 100 feet needing protection with jungles to the west, south and east would stay in the hands of the ones who had better idea of the jungles and maneuvered better in such terrain. The loss in terms of men and material had to be kept within limits. The Japanese losses on both counts vastly exceeded the acceptable range and they continued to attack U.S. positions in spite of these losses. The determined attacks of the Japanese were not ineffective. They revealed their preparedness to fight without fearing the consequences. It was all they could do in their attempt to steal the march over their enemies. Had they known the real strength of the U.S. forces their actions would have been more decisive and precise. However their misjudgment about the real strength of the U.S. forces coupled with their readiness to die in the venture did not leave them any alternative. Conclusion This battle will go down as one of the bloodiest in the history of the Second World War. It was an event marked by terrible confrontations and those who died did so as martyrs or as motivators in the big picture. The ones who died defending the area died as martyrs. The motivators were aggressive in their decision to capture the area. Their death can only serve as motivation in the ultimate analysis of reason. The U.S. forces stayed on in the area till the end of the Second World War. The failure of Major General K. Kawaguchi to capture Edson's Ridge was the final nail in the coffin of Japanese aggression in the region. The Japanese were busy fighting the Allies in other corners of the world. It was ultimately the atom bomb in Nagasaki that forced surrender by the Japanese. They were otherwise relentless in their pursuit of world conquest. The Japanese strategy of speed, precision and death was rather unstoppable till the end. Their actions revolved around a strategy of not looking back. The strategy of holding on to power in the pacific region was responsible for U.S. intransigence in staying put in the region. The U.S. forces stayed united under the guidance and command of Lt Col Merritt Edson. Also, it was consistent vigilance and preparedness to meet any eventuality that helped the U.S. forces to successfully counter-attack and in many instances even make direct raids on the invading enemy. There are few instances in the Second World War that equal the struggle of will and tenacity of the battle of Edson's Ridge. Sources: Battle of Edson's (Bloody) Bridge, Sunday, 26 October 2008, http://www.battlesforguadalcanal.com/Story/Battles/bloody-ridge/bloody-ridge.html Warfighting, U.S. Marine Corps, http://www.academia-research.com/files/instr/244878_mcdp1.pdf Read More