War and Military Atlas

How Battles Were Fought
Military Operations

Operation Ke

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Operation Ke was the Imperial Japanese Navy's withdrawal of its remaining garrison from Guadalcanal, executed between 14 January and 8 February 1943 using repeated destroyer transport runs under Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa's 8th Fleet. Concealed by deceptive signals of a renewed offensive, the operation evacuated approximately 10,652 surviving Japanese troops from the island, ending the six-month Guadalcanal campaign.

Facts
Operation Type
Evacuation 1
Start Date
1943-01-14 1
End Date
1943-02-08 1
Location
Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 1
Participants
Imperial Japanese Navy 8th Fleet (21 destroyers) under Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa; opposed by United States Navy and ground forces under General Alexander Patch 1
Objective
Evacuate the remaining Japanese ground garrison from Guadalcanal and establish a new defensive line in the central Solomon Islands 1
Outcome
10,652 Japanese troops were evacuated at the cost of one destroyer sunk and three damaged, a tactical success despite the strategic loss of Guadalcanal 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Operation Ke
WikipediaAftermath section
Quote, Aftermath section
Only the skill in keeping their plans disguised and bold celerity in carrying them out enabled the Japanese to withdraw the remnants of the Guadalcanal garrison.
View the Source
1. Wikipedia: Operation Ke
WikipediaIn Category: Military OperationsView the Source
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