Guadalcanal was the first major land battle of the Southern Pacific campaign. The attack on Pearl Harbour was supposed to obviate the need for the grinding attritional battle that was the hallmark for the bloody fighting of Guadalcanal. The capture of this strategically crucial island in the Solomons--during which more than 25,000 Japanese lost their lives--was the key to the US victory in the Philippines. It also paved the way for the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the final defeat of Japan.

Originally broadcast as an episode of Battlefield on the Discovery Channel in 2001. Special features: Ask the experts [interactive video feature]; Test your knowledge [interactive text feature]; Excerpts from other titles in the series [previews].

Introduction -- Prelude -- Commanders -- Weapons -- Landings -- Progress at a price -- Closing in on Japan -- Ultimate weapon.