IJN Radar on Guadalcanal

[Brady]

There were two of these apparently, anyone know what unit was assigned to install and or operate these set's.

[Carl Schwamberger]

From the books on my shelf the two major Japanese units in the island when the USN arrived were: A SNLF battalion, and a construction unit. I don't see a unit ID for either. However I am guessing the radar was to be assigned to the airgroup eventually to be stationed on Guadalcanal.

[Brady]

From a Matrix Games Thread, posted by US87891 :


Near as can be determined, the early garrison of the Solomons comprised 3rd company of the Kure 3rd SNLF augmented by 1st platoon of 1st company and 1st platoon of 2nd company. The Mitsuwa AA Buntai was from 4th Base Force, by way of Palau, and was a Fleet unit supporting Yokohama Air Group, at Gavutu, and not part of the SNLF or Guard establishment. Elements of the 81st Guard Unit (Lt Yukio Endo)deployed to Lunga in order to assist in establishing the airfield. These included parts of the 85th Commo Unit (21) and 4th Meteorological Unit (7) augmented by a (combined) gun platoon and AA platoon from Weapons Company, Kure 3rd. Endo’s command (designated RXI Guard Force, 81st Guard Unit) departed Lunga for Rabaul, 2 August, leaving behind the Combined Gun Platoon under WO Tetsuzo Nakamura to augment the newly formed 84th Guard Unit. The 84th Guard Unit (Cmdr Masaaki Suzuki), was formed 1 July from elements of Kure 3rd SNLF, and other units, currently on Guadalcanal and Tulagi. The majority of Kure 3rd SNLF did not deploy to the Guadalcanal area. Rather it remained at Rabaul from where it participated in the ill fated Milne Bay Operation.

The best guestimate, from contemporary Japanese sources, as to the composition of Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Gavutu, on 7 August, 1942 is, perhaps;

Lunga: 1st Co, 84th Guard Unit (newly formed)
1st Pl, 1st Co, (newly formed on paper, no personnel listed)
2nd Pl, 1st Co, (newly formed on paper, no personnel listed)
3rd Pl, 2nd Co (46)(WO Takeuchi, Noboru) (formerly 3rd Pl, 3rd Co, Kure 3rd)
Gun Pl (WO Tetsuzo Nakamura) (2x Type 41 How, 3x Type-3, “8cm” DP)
11th Construction Unit (Capt Kanae Monzen)
13th Construction Unit (Lt Cmdr Tokunaga Okamura)
Marau Sound:
5th Pl, 2nd Co (WO Kikuo Tanaka)(38) (formerly 1st Pl, 2nd Co, Kure 3rd)

Tulagi: 2nd Co, 84th Guard Unit (formerly 3rd Co, Kure 3rd SNLF)
Command Pl, 2nd Co (WO Tsurusaburo Shigeta)
1st Pl, 2nd Co (WO Tsuneto Sakado) (formerly 1st Pl, 3rd Co, Kure 3rd)
2nd Pl, 2nd Co (WO Sadayuki Kato) (formerly 2nd Pl, 3rd Co, Kure 3rd)
4th Pl, 2nd Co (WO Yoshiharu Muranaka) (formerly 1st Pl, 1st Co, Kure 3rd)
Gun Pl (WO Obara) 3x Type-94, 37mm gun,

Gavutu:
Hama Unit, Yokohama Airgroup/Base personnel (Capt Shigetoshi Miyazaki) (142)
Hashimoto Construction Force (Shin’ya Hashimoto) (132) (from 14th Construction Unit)
Hara Construction Force (Inoure Hara) (51) (from 7th Construction Unit)
Mitsuwa Butai AA Unit (Toshichi Mitsuwa)(54) (from 4th Base Force)

There appeared to be substantial numbers of MGs, both 7.7mm and 13mm, available on Tulagi and Gavutu. These were, presumably, AA MGs along with MGs salvaged from Yokohama AG aircraft and the maintenance/armament shops. This may account for the strength of the defense, particularly given the numbers of technically non-combat personnel.

But non of these seam to be The personal who would be responsible for the radar, given it was at lunga

[Brady]

Punt