Almost mid-way between the new Allied bases in the New Hebrides and New Caledonia and the Japanese-held, highly fortified port of Rabaul, Guadalcanal was in the initial process of development as a land-based airfield by the Japanese which, with a concurrent occupation of Port Moresby, would have given them a significant stronghold for their thrust toward Australia then New Zealand. 

Taking Guadalcanal from the Japanese would provide a jumping off point for the march across the Pacific. To make this initial amphibious landing in the Pacific Theater of Operations, Vice Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, who commanded aircraft carrier forces in both Coral Sea and Midway battles, was selected to take tactical command of the Expeditionary Force. Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner took command of the Amphibious Force, the first of what would be a pivotal function that he provided from Guadalcanal to Okinawa. And for this first landing, the 1st Marine Division commanded by Major General Alexander A. Vandegrift would make the assault. 

With the three aircraft carriers - SARATOGA, ENTERPRISE, and WASP - and their cruisers and other escorts the morning of 7 August 1942 was a sole battleship, NORTH CAROLINA. While the landing on Guadalcanal was relatively unopposed that day, the landings nearby at Tulagi and Tanambogo-Gavutu were more difficult. The real opposition to the landings, both surface and air, began in earnest on the 8th. Thereafter began a series of surface, subsurface, air and land battles that were marked by tenacity, determination, ferocity and, luck amongst changing tactics due to the advent of radar and the technological advances in aircraft, ships and weapons. 

In August 1942 was the surface action in the Battle of Savo Island on the 9th, the Marines in the Battle of the Tenaru River on the 21st and the aircraft carrier Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 - 25. The Battle of the Eastern Solomons was the Battleship NORTH CAROLINA's baptism of fire. In defense of the aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE, the Battleship proved that the new classes of fast battleships would be a formidable defender of the critically-needed aircraft carriers. In her first engagement of the war, the withering fire from NORTH CAROLINA recorded seven confirmed Japanese aircraft shot down. The smoke from her antiaircraft batteries was so dense that ENTERPRISE called on a tactical radio frequency to inquire if the ship had been damaged. On the 31st a Japanese submarine fired a torpedo that damaged the aircraft carrier SARATOGA so severely that it required stateside repair. 

In September was the land Battle of Bloody Ridge 12 -14. During that same period, while operating in support of the land action on Guadalcanal, the Japanese submarine I-19 attacked the aircraft carrier WASP with a spread of six straight-running Long Lance torpedoes. Three torpedoes struck the WASP, and she was ultimately abandoned and sunk to prevent her capture. The three remaining torpedoes passed beyond the WASP formation and into the HORNET formation that was operating in close proximity. One torpedo ran to fuel exhaustion, one struck the destroyer O'BRIEN which sank the next day, and the last struck NORTH CAROLINA. The torpedo struck below the armor belt alongside Turret 1, creating an 18 by 32 foot hole. In testimony to the strength and resiliency of her design, the Battleship briefly slowed to assess damage and to counterflood to bring her back to an even keel, then increased speed to 25 knots to regain her station to protect HORNET. Five sailors were killed in the torpedoing. After temporary repairs in New Caledonia, the ship proceeded to Pearl Harbor to be dry docked for a month for repairs to her hull and to receive more antiaircraft armament. 

In October was the surface Battle of Cape Esperance on 11 - 12, the land Battle of Henderson Field on 23 - 26 and the aircraft carrier Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on the 26th.

In November was a cruiser night action off Guadalcanal on 12 - 13, a battleship night action on 14 - 15 and the night surface Battle of Tassafaronga on the 30th.

Finally, on 9 February 1943 Guadalcanal was declared secured.