I've finished reading a book by Richard B. Frank on the Guadalcanal Campaign, and evidently earlier in the campaign's history there were appreciable opportunities for Japan to capitalize on chances to actually win the battle here. Assuming that one of them happens (and as I'm not entirely versed in the Pacific theater, I don't have any particular one that'd be there), what would happen if Japan wins a victory in this first land battle?
There's no question that Japan is doomed by reasons of logistics and materiel if nothing else in WWII in the Pacific, but if they keep the aura of the invincible soldier for a while longer in ground combat, does this change any incidental details besides the USA putting a lot more effort into the New Guinea Campaign? And the probable sacking of Admiral King?
Edit-To make what I'm noting clearer-if the campaign turns into one of attrition then the USA, by virtue of having the airfield, is pretty much sooner or later going to bury the Japanese in Ironbottom Sound to a point even their leadership wouldn't keep the campaign going. If it, however, results in a rapid Japanese defeat of a poorly-prepared and worse-planned US offensive, then Japan *can* win but it wouldn't be the Guadalcanal Campaign so much as the Guadalcanal *battle*.