[dragoon500ly]

Operation Watchtower, the US Invasion of Guadalcanal took place on 7 Aug 42 and lasted until 3 Feb 43.

The 1st Marine Division (Reinforced) (Marine Landing Force, Task Force 62.8) deployed in five groups:

Guadalcanal Group
Combat Group A
5th Marines (-2nd Battalion)
1st Battalion (Combat Team 1)
3rd Battalion (Combaat Team 3)
2nd Battalion, 11th Marines (75mm Pack How) (-Battery E)
Co A, 1st Light Tank Battalion
Co A (-2nd Platoon), 1st Engineer Battalion
Co A (-2nd Platoon), 1st Pioneer Battalion
Company A, 1st Medical Battalion
Company A (-2nd Platoon), 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion
1st Platoon, Battery A, 1st Special Weapons Battalion
1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Service Battalion
1st Platoon, 1st Scout Company

Combat Group B
1st Marines
1st Battalion (Combat Team 4)
2nd Battalion (Combat Team 5)
3rd Battalion (Combat Team 6)
3rd Battalion, 11th Marines (75mm Pack How)
Company B, 1st Light Tank Battalion
Company C, 1st Engineer Battalion
Company C, 1st Pioneer Battalion
Company E, 1st Medical Battalion
Company B, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion
3rd Platoon, Battery A, 1st Special Weapons Battalion
3rd Platoon, Company A, 1st Service Battalion
3rd Platoon, 1st Scout Company

Support Group
1st Engineer Battalion (-Companies A, B and C)
11th Marines (Artillery) (-1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions)
1st Special Weapons Battalion (-1st & 3rd Platoons, Company A)
1st Pioneer Battalion (-Companies A & B)

Northern Group
Tulagi Group (seizure of Tulagi Island)
1st Raider Battalion
1st Battalion, 2nd Marines (D+1 reinforcement)
2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines (D+1 reinforcement)
2nd Battalion, 5th Marines (Combat Team 2)
Detachment, 3rd Defense Battalion (1/3 Antiaircraft elements)
2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Engineer Battalion
2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Pioneer Battalion
2nd Platoon, Company A, 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion
Platoon (-detachment), Company C, 2nd Light Tank Battalion (M-3)
Detachment, Company A, 2nd Medical Battalion
Marine Barrage Balloon Squadron 3
Gavutu-Tanambogo Group (seizure of Gavutu-Tanambogi Islands)
1st Parachute Battalion
3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines (D+1 reinforcement)
Detachment, Platoon, Company C, 2nd Tank Battalion
Florida Group (clear Florida Island)
1st Battalion, 2nd Marines (Combat Team A)

Division Reserve
2nd Marines (Reinforced) (-2nd Battalion)
3rd Battalion, 10th Marines (75mm Pack Hows)
Company C (-one platoon), 2nd Tank Battalion
Company A, 2nd Engineer Battalion
Company A, 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Company C, 2nd Service Battalion
Company D, 2nd Medical Battalion
Platoon, 2nd Special Weapons Battalion
1st Platoon, Service & Supply Company, 2nd Service Battalion
1st Band Section, 2nd Marine Division Headquarters Company.