129 - Slim in Burma - Innovation, Air Power and Special Forces
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
Release Date: 05/25/2025
146 - Halsey's question for Vandegrift about Henderson Field's defence that influenced Pacific Strategy.
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode looks at the defensive and offensive planning undertaken by the IJA and the USMC. It also looks closely at Vandegrift's meeting with Halsey and the outcome of the meeting. This is a pivotal moment in the campaign. Halsey has taken over from Ghormley and he prepares to back Vandegrift with everything the Navy has to help defend Guadalcanal. How does intelligence fusion enable a commander to choose the time and place of battle? The combination of coast-watchers, aerial photography, signals intercepts, prisoner interrogation, and traffic analysis gives Vandegrift...
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145 - 973 rounds in 83 minutes. The Battleship Bombardment of Henderson Field
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This episode looks at the IJN and IJA combined planning for the assault on Henderson's Field, including the naval gunfire from the Kongo and Haruna under Rear Admiral Kurita where 973 14-inch rounds were fired in 83 minutes. We also discuss the development of the Maruyama Trail for the approach march of the 2nd Sendai Division. This episode discusses: What happens when commanders visualise terrain from a distance rather than conduct ground reconnaissance? How does poor mapping degrade operational planning? How does confirmation bias infect intelligence assessment? What is the...
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144 - Situational Awareness and the fight for Guadalcanal's Key Terrain - 3rd Battle of the Matanikau
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
USMC 1st Marine Division vs the IJA 2nd (Sendai) Division in the fight to control the Matanikau River. The 3rd Battle of the Matanikau Part II - This is the tenth episode of our with historian and author Dave Holland. This episode discusses: 1st Marine Division Combined Arms integration at the Third Battle of the Matanikau? How did the loss of the Matanikau River crossing have on planning for the assault on Henderson Field? How did Japanese command and control failures at the battalion and regimental level contribute to their defeat at the Third Matanikau? What are the tactical lessons...
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143 - Inside the Japanese OODA loop on Guadalcanal - Vandegrift and 3rd Matanikau
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
Maruyama vs Vandegrift in the fight to control the Matanikau River. The 3rd Battle of the Matanikau Part I - This is the ninth episode of our with historian and author Dave Holland. This episode discusses: How did the Japanese plan to exploit the Second Battle of the Matanikau to set up their October 1942 offensive to retake Guadalcanal? Why was the Matanikau River “key terrain” in the Guadalcanal Campaign for both the IJA and the US Marines defending Henderson Field? What was Japan’s concept for suppressing Henderson Field before the main assault? What was Vandegrift’s operational...
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Puller, Munro, and Monssen - the daring resuce of 1/7 Marines - 2nd Battle of the Matanikau Part II
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
2nd Matanikau - Guadalcanal and Pullers rescue of the 1/7th Marines. The 2nd Battle of the Matanikau Part II - This is the eighth episode of our with historian and author Dave Holland. This episode discusses: What was the plan for 27 September, and why was it inherently risky? How did a breakdown in command-and-control affect the Marines’ river-crossing plan at the Matanikau River? How did the Japanese react so fast, and what trap did they set behind Chesty Puller? Why did the Raiders get stopped short of the One Log Bridge—and what happened to Ken Bailey? What role did comms failure play...
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141 - Chesty Puller, 1/7 Marines and 2nd Matanikau, Guadalcanal
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
The 2nd Battle of the Matanikau - This is the seventh episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: - The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front. Check out the show notes for this . - if you've learnt something from this episode and you can afford it, please support the podcast at Patreon.
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140 - Battle of Edson's Ridge: How the Marines saved the Cactus Air Force
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This is the sixth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: - The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front. Check out the show notes for this . - if you've learnt something from this episode and you can afford it, please support the podcast at Patreon.
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139 - Guadalcanal - Edson and the defence of Bloody Ridge
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This is the fifth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: - The Pivotal Battles of the Matanikau Front. Check out the show notes for this .
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138 - Guadalcanal - Battle of the Tenaru: How the Marines stopped Ichiki's night assault on the Alligator Creek
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This is the fourth episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: How did the Marines employ the 37 mm gun firing canister at Alligator Creek? Why did Colonel Ichiki attack without heavy weapons— trading firepower for speed and what was the cost? What are the myths about scout Jacob Vouza? How did barbed wire obstacles and coconut-log bunkers employed for to create an engagement zone? How did pre-registered fires shape the Battle of Tenaru? What early warnings did coastwatchers and patrols provide before the assault? How did Marine tanks...
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137 - The Marines' Assault on Guadalcanal
The Principles of War - Lessons from Military History on Strategy, Tactics, Doctrine and Leadership.
This is the third episode of our Guadalcanal series with historian and author Dave Holland. This episodes discusses: How the Marines seized conducted the landing and seized Guadalcanal’s decisive terrain. Red Beach landing bypasses IJA fortifications at Lunga Point. Vandegrift prioritizes tight perimeter, airfield defense. Carriers withdraw; logistics halved, myths debunked. Japanese forces surprised and how they reacted. Combined arms landings: infantry, artillery, engineers. What really happened with the Goettge Patrol? Logistics speed amphibious resupply. Amtracs and beachmasters enable...
info_outlineHow did Field Marshall Slim innovate in the Burma Campaign? This is a look at military innovation through necessity that developed key capabilities for the 14th Army to defeat the Japanese forces in the Burma theatre.
We discuss:
Slim's innovation overcame critical resource shortages in Burma.
Developed aerial resupply, air evacuation, and improvised naval logistics.
Used teakwood barges to cross rivers with tanks.
Created monsoon-proof airfields with hessian and tar.
Strong advocate of Special Forces—mobilized Force 136 and Karen levies.
Outmanoeuvred Japanese by leveraging terrain and logistics.
Fought against Generals Aida, Mutaguchi, and Kimura.
Trained the Indian Army in combined arms warfare.
Built floating bridges across vast rivers like the Chindwin.
Crossing the Irrawaddy.
Led with humility and authenticity, known to Indian troops as “Uncle Bill.”
This interview is the third part of a 3-part series with Dr Robert Lyman, the expert on the Burma Campaign and Field Marshall Sir William Slim.
Check out the show notes for all of the information that we cover in this episode as well as the images and other details that didn't make it into the podcast.