US Naval Base Solomons refers to a group of United States Navy (USN) bases established in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Most of these facilities were constructed by USN Seabee units during World War II as part of the broader Pacific War.
In August 1942, the United States Armed Forces landed on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands during the Battle of Guadalcanal. Following the capture of the island, USN Seabees constructed a major installation known as Naval Base Guadalcanal. Additional naval bases were subsequently built on other islands throughout the Solomons to support Allied operations in the region.Logistics: The Heart of the Six Months Battle, August 1942–February 1943 US NavySolomon Islands pacificwrecks.comThe Solomons Campaign: Guadalcanal, August 1942–February 1943 US Navy
Naval Base Guadalcanal
One of the primary functions of Naval Base Guadalcanal was to support the construction of the airfield later known as Henderson Field. The first aircraft landed at Henderson Field on August 12, 1942. The base also supported the large number of Allied troops stationed on Guadalcanal and served as a staging area for subsequent operations.
The waters off Naval Base Guadalcanal, particularly Savo Sound, became known as Ironbottom Sound because of the numerous ships and aircraft sunk during Operation Watchtower. On July 28, 1942, the USN and the United States Marine Corps conducted a practice amphibious landing at Naval Base Fiji on Koro Island. This exercise was intended to prepare troops for the forthcoming landings on Guadalcanal, which marked their first major offensive of the war. On July 31, 1942, the invasion force departed Fiji for Guadalcanal.
The Guadalcanal invasion force lacked many of the innovations that would later be developed during the Pacific War. Notably, it did not have specialized landing vessels for deploying troops and armored vehicles onto hostile beaches, such as the LST or LCT. Instead, supplies were transferred from ship cargo holds to small landing craft, which transported them to the beaches, where they were unloaded by hand.
Prior to the Allied landings, the Empire of Japan had established a base at Tulagi, a smaller island north of Guadalcanal. After its capture, the USN repaired and expanded the facility. The Guadalcanal bases were assigned the code names Bevy and Cactus, later renamed Mainyard. The codename Ringbolt was used for the operations that captured the Florida Islands, Tulagi, Gavutu, and Tanambogo.
One of the reasons Guadalcanal was selected for amphibious landings was the discovery on June 20, 1942, of a Japanese airfield under construction near Lungga Point. An operational airfield at that location could have threatened maritime supply routes between the United States and naval bases in Australia. Establishing an Allied airbase on Guadalcanal both protected these shipping lanes and enabled attacks against Japan's major base at Rabaul in the northern Solomon Islands.
Both Allied and Japanese forces suffered from chronic supply shortages during the Guadalcanal campaign. In response, the USN improved its logistical supply system, which later contributed to the effectiveness of the island-hopping campaign.
The 6th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on Guadalcanal on August 10, 1942, from Naval Station Norfolk via Naval Base Espiritu Santo, thirteen days after the first United States Marine Corps units had landed. The Seabees discovered an unfinished 3,800-foot runway begun by Japanese forces. They extended the runway by 1,300 feet and surfaced it with Marston matting due to poor soil conditions and heavy rainfall. Construction was frequently interrupted by bombing raids, sniper fire, and artillery shelling. When enemy fire subsided, the Seabees established a camp and constructed a power station, freshwater system, and mess hall.
Supplies were initially unloaded from cargo ships into Higgins boats, tank lighters, and pontoon barges, which delivered materials directly to the beach. Later, three timber piers were constructed to facilitate unloading operations.Seabee Guadalcanal US Navy A pier was also built at Lung Lagoon and named Jennings Landing in honor of Chief Shipfitter Jennings. Roads, bridges, and fuel tank farms were constructed as the base expanded.
The 6th Naval Construction Battalion was relieved by Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 26 on January 5, 1943, and departed aboard the USS Hunter Liggett for rest and recuperation in Auckland, New Zealand. While in Auckland, the battalion worked on the Victoria Park camp and a USN mobile hospital before departing on March 12, 1943, for Naval Base Noumea.6th Seabee US Navy
Construction Battalion 26 continued to improve Naval Base Guadalcanal, building gun mounts and emplacements, tunnels, approximately 6,000 feet of railroad track, multiple docks, more than 35 miles of primary roadway, 10 bridges, and two radio stations with 150-foot transmitter towers. The battalion departed on March 2, 1944.26th Seabee US Navy
The 58th Naval Construction Battalion arrived on December 12, 1944, and conducted work on Vella Lavella and the Russell Islands before departing on March 11, 1945.58th Seabee US Navy The 14th Naval Construction Battalion operated on Guadalcanal from November 4, 1942, to November 9, 1943.14th Seabee US Navy
The Fleet Post Office for Naval Base Guadalcanal was designated FPO 145.26th NCB history, NHHC, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, California
History
Following the Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo in August 1942, naval bases were constructed throughout the Solomon Islands by the 6th and 26th Seabee units. At Tanambogo, an airfield known as Torokina Airfield was built. The Landings at Cape Torokina, designated as Operation Cherry Blossom, took place on November 1, 1943. At Tulagi, the United States Navy established a PT boat base, while a seaplane base was constructed in the Florida Islands.
The United States bases in the Solomon Islands were intended to disrupt the Tokyo Express, the Allied term for Japan's nighttime supply and reinforcement routes from Rabaul to Guadalcanal. US Navy Seabees constructed naval bases and airfields and provided support for amphibious landings across the region. Following the end of World War II and Victory over Japan Day, these bases were closed. Several of the former military airfields were later converted into civilian airports.
Except for some units retained to build, garrison, operate, and defend the base at Tulagi, most of the United States Marine Corps forces that had assaulted Tulagi and the nearby islets were soon redeployed to Guadalcanal. There, they assisted in the defense of the airfield at Lunga Point, later named Henderson Field by Allied forces.Griffith, Battle for Guadalcanal, p. 93.
Solomon Islands Bases
Naval Base Guadalcanal, Fleet Post Office (FPO) No. 145 Base at Torokina, Bougainville Island, FPO No. 158; supported Torokina Airfield and a PT boat base Naval Base Banika Island in the Russell Islands; PT boat base, FPO No. 60; constructed following Operation Cleanslate Halavo Seaplane Base Base at Cape Torokina, Bougainville; runway construction and PT boat base Base at Barakoma, Vella Lavella Island, FPO No. 338; supported Barakoma Airfield and a PT boat base Base on San Cristobal Island, FPO No. 3092; surrounding waters known as “Torpedo Alley” Base on Nissan Island, Northern Solomon Islands, FPO No. 3202; supported Nissan Island Airfield Rekata Bay Seaplane Base at Rekata Bay, Santa Isabel
Naval Base Treasury Islands
Naval Base Treasury Islands, FPO No. 811 Stirling PT boat base at Blanche HarborStirling PT Boat pacificwrecks.com Stirling Airfield (Coronus Strip), constructed by the 87th Naval Construction Battalion Treasury Islands seaplane base operated by Patrol Squadron VP-14 using Consolidated PBY Catalina aircraft
Naval Base Florida Islands
Florida Islands pacificwrecks.com Base at Tulagi, FPO No. 152; PT boat facilities and a 20-bed dispensaryTulagi pacificwrecks.com Tulagi Harbor baseTulagi Harbor base pacificwrecks.com Tulagi Seaplane Base operated by Patrol Squadron VP-14 with Consolidated PBY Catalina aircraft Base at Gavutu Harbor, Nggela Islands, FPO No. 705; seaplane baseGavutu Harbor seaplane base pacificwrecks.com Carter City base at Mbolo (Bolo), Florida Islands; large naval supply and repair depotCarter City pacificwrecks.com Makambo Island PT boat baseMakambo Island PT Boat base pacificwrecks.com Palm Island fuel tank farm
Naval Base New Georgia Islands
A number of bases were constructed in the New Georgia Islands:New Georgia pacificwrecks.com Base at Seghe, New Georgia, FPO No. 252; supported Segi Airfield Base at Munda, New Georgia, FPO No. 250; supported Munda Point Airfield Base at Rendova Island, off New Georgia, FPO No. 251; PT boat base Naval Base Lever Harbor, near Kukudu, Vaeimbu Harbour, New Georgia; PT boat facilities at Base at Viru Harbor, New Georgia, FPO No. 254 Wickham Fleet Anchorage, New Georgia, FPO No. 253, near Seghe and Vangunu Island at Wickham Fleet Anchorage pacificwrecks.com Rice Anchorage at Enogai Base on Sasavele Island in Roviana Lagoon, FPO No. 529, at Base at Sasavele Island pacificwrecks.com Base at Vila, Kolombangara Island, FPO No. 627 Base at Ondonga, FPO No. 626; supported Ondonga Airfield ** Ondonga Seaplane Base operated by Patrol Squadron VP-14 with Consolidated PBY Catalina aircraft
New Hebrides
The New Hebrides islands lie south of the Solomon Islands and are sometimes included in US Navy listings of Solomon bases: Naval Base Espiritu Santo, one of the largest Allied bases of the war
New Caledonia
The New Caledonia islands are located south of the Solomon Islands and are also sometimes included in US Navy listings: Naval Base Noumea, a major Allied naval base
Guadalcanal Airfields
The following airfields on Guadalcanal were constructed after the Battle for Henderson Field: Henderson Field (Lunga Point; also known as Bomber Field 1 and later Honiara Airport) Henderson Field Fighter 1 (Lunga); abandoned Henderson Field Fighter 2 (Kukum); abandoned Fighter Field 3, an emergency airfield near the Tenaru River; abandoned Crash Strip (also known as the "Grassy Strip"), located near Coffin Corner and the Battle of Edson's Ridge Crash Strip, Koli Point, located at Koli Point, near Carney Field and Koli Field Carney Field (Bomber Field 2), located near Koli Point and the Metapona River near Honiara Koli Field (Bomber Field 3), located near the Metapona River
Units based at Henderson Field
At Henderson Field, also known as the base of the Cactus Air Force, the United States Navy stationed the following units:Henderson Field pacificwrecks.com VF-5, equipped with Grumman F4F Wildcat VC-40, equipped with Douglas SBD Dauntless and TBF Avenger VF-26 (F4F) VF-27 (F4F) VF-28 (F4F) Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CAG-11) VF-11 (VB-11), 1943 VT-11 (TBF Avenger), 1943 VB-21 (SBD), 1943 CASU-11 (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 11), February 1943 – July 1944 VS-54 (SBD and Vought OS2U Kingfisher), June 11, 1943 – August 3, 1944
Units based at Carney Field
At Carney Field, the United States Navy stationed patrol and bombing units flying the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, designated PB4Y-1 in USN service: VD-1 VB-106 VB-101 VB-102 VB-104
New Georgia Airfield
Ondonga Airfield, located on New Georgia, was constructed following the New Georgia campaign.Ondonga Airfield pacificwrecks.com
Units based at Ondonga Airfield
At Ondonga Airfield, the United States Navy stationed the following aviation units: VF-17, equipped with the Vought F4U Corsair VF-33, equipped with the Grumman F6F Hellcat VP-12, equipped with the Consolidated PBY Catalina
Segi Airfield
At Segi Airfield, the United States Navy stationed the following units:Segi Airfield US Navy pacificwrecks.com 47th Naval Construction Battalion (47th NCB), Seabees, Company C