Ostrov Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal
Guadacanal, which is called Isatabu by the natives, is located in the Pacific Ocean at position S 09°38'43.28" E 160°17'33.33" and belongs to the Solomon Archipelago and one of the parts of the state Solomon Islands. The island covers an area of 5,336 square meters (figures sometimes vary) and has over 109,000 permanent inhabitants.


The island was discovered in 1568 by the Álvaro Mendañal expedition. It was named after the town in Spanish Andalusia in which expedition participant Pedro de Ortega was born. Despite various forms such as Guadarcana, Guarcana, Guadalcana and Guadalcanar, the name was eventually changed to Guadalcanal by the British in 1932.


In the mid-19th century, the German Empire became interested in the Solomon Islands region and took over the protectorate over the northern Solomon Islands. Following the British-German Treaty of 1886, Britain subsequently declared a protectorate over the southern Solomon Islands(1893). The British protectorate included the island of Guadacanal.


In 1899, Germany handed over its islands to Britain. This was on the basis of the British-German-American Samoa Treaty. The British administration was interrupted in January 1942 by the Japanese invasion. In August of the same year, Allied troops attacked the island, and in February 1943 Britain regained control of it.


The 1970s saw the relaxation of the British protectorate over the Solomon Islands, and on 07.07. 1978 the entire archipelago gained full independence.


By early 1999, tensions were slowly escalating between the local (Gwale) population and migrants from the neighbouring island of Malaita. Which escalated into a civil war. This war was ended in 2003 by the UN mission RAMSI, also known as Operation Helpem Fren.


On the northern coast lies the state capital Honiara. This city includes the port of Point Cruz and the archipelago's only international airport is 8km from the city. This is the former Henderson Airport, which was renamed Honiara International Airport in November 2003 (Honiara International Airport ICAO: AGGH).


The coastline off Honiara is washed by the waters of the strait formerly known as Sealark Sound (Sealark Sound), which was renamed Ironbottom Sound (Ironbottom Sound) by the US military during World War II. This name originated from the number of ships and aircraft that rested on the bottom of the strait during the six-month battle for the island.


To the west, the Strait is joined by the Slot, which was used by the Japanese Navy as the main access route from Rabaul Harbor.


The wrecks of these ships lie on the bottom of the strait.
Japanese ships
Battleships Hiei (Kongō class), Kirishima (Kongō class)
Heavy cruisers Furutaka (Furutaka class)
Mucuki), Makigumo (Yugumo class), Takanami (Yugumo class), Teruzuki (Akizuki class)
Submarines Type A mini-submarine
Submarine Interceptors Tama Maru
Transport and cargo ships Azumasan, Hirokawa, Yamacuki Maru, Yamaura Maru, Kasi, Kinugawa Maru, Kyushu Maru, Sasako Maru, Toa Maru.


Allied ships

Heavy cruisers USS Astoria (CA-34, New Orleans class), HMAS Canberra (Kent class), USS Quincy (CA-39, tr. New Orleans), USS Northampton (CA-26, tr. Northampton), USS Vincennes(CA-44, tr. New Orleans)
Anti-aircraft cruisers USS Atlanta (CL-51, Atlanta class)
Benson), USS Blue (DD-387, Bagley class), USS Colhoun (DD-85, Wickes class), USS Cushing (DD-376, Mahan class), USS De Haven (DD-469, Fletcher class), USS Duncan (DD-485, Gleaves class), USS Gregory (DD-82, Wickes class), USS Jarvis (DD-393, Gridley class), USS Laffey (DD-459, Benson class), USS Little (DD-79, Wickes class), USS Monssen (DD-436, Gleaves class), USS Preston (DD-379, Mahan class), USS Walke (DD-416, Sims class)
Corvettes HMNZS Moa (T233, Bird class)
Dropships USS John Penn (APA-23)
Tank Landing Craft LST-342
Torpedo boats PT-37, PT-44, PT-111, PT-112, PT-123
Patrol boats YP-284
Transport ships USS George F. Elliot (AP-13, Heywood class)
Cargo ships USS Serpens (AK-97, Crater class, Liberty type)
Tankers USS Kanawha (AO-1, Kanawha/Cuyama class)
Ocean-going tugs USS Seminole (AT-65, tr. Navajo



Of interest is the bow of the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36, class New Orleans) sunk off Tulagi.


Sources:
Miloš Hubáček, Victory in the Pacific, Panorama, Prague 1986¨
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ironbottom_Sound
http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalcanal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalcanal
http://maps.google.com

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Ostrov Guadalcanal - Americký památník na ostrově

Americký památník na ostrově
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