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bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War © 2026 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 29 Dec 2025
​
​In these numerous sea battles in the South Pacific in 1942 and early 1943, the United States Navy was supporting amphibious landings and subsequent land offensives in the Solomon Islands.
In the long run, the United States and Imperial Japanese navies suffered large and approximately equal losses as a result of the desperately-fought South Pacific area battles outlined below.  However, in earlier battles the Japanese navy generally prevailed, partly because of lack of US training in naval night fighting techniques and superior Japanese torpedoes.

In the Southwest Pacific Area off New Guinea, the only naval action of note was the March 1943 Battle of the Bismarck Sea, in which US losses were minimal. 

Only in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944 and in the Okinawa Campaign in mid 1945 would the US Navy suffer losses of the magnitude as experienced in the Solomon Islands.

In some of these actions, the US was joined by Australian or New Zealand forces.
The Early Solomon Islands Surface Battles
We begin with two night battles fought between surface ships off of Guadalcanal near Savo Island.
  • Battle of Savo Island
  • Battle of Cape Esperance

† Battle of Savo Island, before dawn on 9 Aug 1942
  • Japanese naval forces responding to the 7 August US landings on Tulagi, and Guadalcanal Islands precipitated the nighttime Battle of Savo Island, shown to the right.
  • ​ Excepting the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, The Battle of Savo Island is thought to be the most lop-sided defeat in US Navy history. Our Navy had no training in nighttime combat. This brief battle cost three cruisers (Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes), while the Australian Navy lost the cruiser Canberra. Japanese ships suffered only light damage. The US Navy lost over 1,000 men. 
  • These were the first of many ships lost in what later was called Ironbottom Sound.

Battle of Cape Esperance, 11-12 Oct 1942
  • This battle was fought west of Savo Island between US and Japanese warships, each escorting reinforcements to Guadalcanal.
  • The US warships were escorting the Americal Division's 164th Infantry Regiment from New Caledonia to Guadalcanal.
  • The Japanese traveled down The Slot from their advance base at the Shortland Islands anchorage on the south end of Bougainville.
  • The US lost the destroyer USS Duncan (DD-485), the Japanese a cruiser and a destroyer. The USS Boise (CL-47) was damaged and the US lost 163 killed.
  • Both fleets successfully delivered their reinforcements and then withdrew.
US Guadalcanal Landings and the Sea Battle of Savo Island
US Guadalcanal Landings and the Sea Battle of Savo Island
Battle of Cape Esperance
Battle of Cape Esperance
The Solomon Islands Carrier Battles
We now turn to two naval battles fought solely by naval aviation in the Pacific Ocean east of Guadalcanal as shown on the accompanying map.
  • Battle of the Eastern Solomons
  • Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 24-25 Aug 1942: 
  • The Japanese Navy sent a large force from Truk in the Caroline Islands in the north and from Rabaul on New Britain to the northwest to engage and destroy US Naval forces, to bombard Henderson Field at Guadalcanal, and to land reinforcements on Guadalcanal.
  • The Japanese advanced element was met by a US naval force including the carriers Enterprise and Saratoga. At the cost of moderate damage to the Enterprise, a small Japanese carrier was sunk. Both fleets then broke off combat and returned to their bases. 
  • This was a strategic victory for the United States.
Solomons Carrier Battles
Solomons Carrier Battles - East Solomons & Battle of Santa Cruz Is.
 Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26-27 Oct 1942

The Japanese task force's intent was to damage the US fleet to the extent that it could no longer protect the land and air operations on Guadalcanal.

The aircraft carrier Hornet was lost from repeated Japanese torpedo plane attacks; the destroyer USS Porter was lost.

​Two Japanese carriers were badly damaged.
The Battle of Santa Cruz Islands
The Battle of Santa Cruz Islands
Interdiction of US Supply Lines
Bases in the Noumea area in New Caledonia north of New Zealand and further north in the New Hebrides provided support for land, sea and air operations in the Guadalcanal area. Supplies and personnel needed to be transported by great distances over water -- Guadalcanal was 900 miles north of New Caledonia. Japanese forces did their best to disrupt resupply and reinforcement.

The attack of Japanese Submarine I-19, 15 September 1942:
A Task Force 18 convoy carrying the 7th Marine Regiment to Guadalcanal was attacked southeast of Guadalcanal. With one spread of six torpedoes, the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine I-19:
  • crippled the aircraft carrier Wasp (CV-7), which was scuttled later that day.
  • damaged the destroyer O'Brien (DD-415), which sank from structural damage on 19 October en route to the US for repairs. 
  • damaged the battleship North Carolina (BB-55).

† The attack on the destroyer Meredith (DD-434) and tug Vireo (AM-52), 15 October 1942:
  • Six US Navy ships, each towing a barge loaded with gasoline and bombs, left Espirtu Santo in the New Hebrides bound for Guadalcanal. They were discovered by Japanese Japanese aircraft on 15 October. All but the Meredith and Vireo turned back. After later word that Japanese warships were in the area, the Meredith took on the crew of the slow Vireo, intending a quick retreat. Unfortunately Japanese aircraft soon arrived and sank the Meredith, leaving the Vireo undamaged. Most personnel died; some survivors took refuge on the Vireo, which was later retrieved and restored to service.

The Battle of Rennell Island, 29-30 January 1943:
  • Cruiser Chicago (CA-29), part of Task Force 18 which was escorting a troop convoy to Guadalcanal, sunk by aerial torpedoes south of Guadalcanal.
 Naval Battles of Guadalcanal, 13-15 Nov 1942 
These were the climatic naval battles in the Solomons. In mid-November, Japan attempted a major reinforcement and resupply of their army on Guadalcanal. This was to be coupled with a crippling sea bombardment of Henderson Field. The US had advance warning of Japanese plans.

What ensued were two brief and brutal nighttime surface engagements between US and Japanese naval forces near Savo Island. During these engagements, the majority of US ships involved were sunk or damaged. However, Japan also suffered heavy losses, including two battleships, failed in its goals, and never again sent a large fleet into the Solomons. Thus the US won a strategic victory.
Guadalcanal Area Physical Map
Guadalcanal Area Physical Map
††††††† First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal:
The US naval force, Task Group 67.4, was commanded by Admiral Daniel Callaghan on the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco. This group had been protecting a convoy resupplying US forces on Guadalcanal.
  • Losses shown on the accompanying map: destroyers Barton, Cushing, Laffey and Monssen.
  • Also lost: light cruiser Atlanta: towed SE to Lunga Pt., then scuttled.
  • Also lost: light cruiser Juneau: withdrew to southeast with other damaged ships; torpedoed and sunk later in the day.
Low points of this battle:
  • The inexperienced task group commander apparently made several errors in managing his group. Nevertheless he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, as the US Navy was wont to do with very senior officers who died during combat.
  • The San Francisco fired on the Atlanta, killing the second-in-command, Admiral Scott.
  • After the Juneau was torpedoed and sunk, the 100 or so survivors were left in the water for several days. Eventually the 11 still surviving were rescued.​
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
The First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - 13 Nov

​High point of this battle:
  • The Japanese battleship Hiei was crippled, torpedoed by US aircraft the following afternoon, and then scuttled; this was the first Japanese battleship loss of WW II.
Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal:

Anxious to prevent the remaining Japanese fleet from bombarding Guadalcanal, the US Navy improvised a group of two battleships and four destroyers which had been protecting aircraft carriers in the area and thus not been engaged the previous night. This fleet, commanded by Admiral Ching Lee on the Washington, steamed west through Ironbottom Sound, again engaging Japanese forces near Savo Island.

Of the four destroyers in the van, Walke and Preston were soon sunk, while the Benham and Gwin were disabled. The battleship South Dakota suffered a series of electrical failures and contributed little to the battle except for diverting Japanese attention from the Washington. The Washington engaged and sank the battleship Ayanami and a destroyer.
Picture
The Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - 14-15 Nov
Last Naval Battles of the Guadalcanal Campaign
†† Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 Nov 1942 

In this night battle southeast of Savo Island, a United States cruiser-destroyer force attacked a force of Japanese destroyers delivering supplies to Guadalcanal. Japanese destroyers, using their superior torpedoes, sank one cruiser, the Northampton, and badly damaged three, the Minneapolis, New Orleans, and Pensacola.

The US sank one destroyer by gunfire.

This battle was a decisive Japanese victory. Moreover, one year into WW II, the US Navy had not yet dealt with its defective torpedoes. 
Battle of Tassafaronga
Battle of Tassafaronga
Battle of Rennell Island, 29-30 January 1943

This battle, near Rennell Island. south of Guadalcanal, consisted of extended Japanese air torpedo attacks on a large US naval force bringing replacements to Guadalcanal. The cruiser Chicago (CA-29) was damaged on the 29th and sunk on the 30th.  US forces suffered 85 dead.
†† Operation I-Go, 1–16 April 1943:
  • a Japanese air counteroffensive, launched against Allied installations in New Guinea and the Guadalcanal area.
  • on 7 April, air attacks in the Guadalcanal area sank the destroyer USS Aaron Ward (DD-483) in Ironbound Sound and the oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1) in Tulagi anchorage.
  • on 18 April, while traveling to the I-Go awards ceremony, Admiral Yamamoto, who planned the Pearl Harbor attack, died when his aircraft was shot down by US Army Air Force aircraft.
​Sources for Big Pigeon's WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War webpage: ​Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War:​05-01 - WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War:  (15 dead, updated 4 Dec 2025)
† Beckendorf, Orville Leroy, SN 316-41-64, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • destroyer USS Laffey (DD-459); KIA 13 Nov 1942 in Ironbottom Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Laffey hit by 14” shell from Japanese battleship Hiei & torpedo, then exploded & sank; 59 dead, 186 survivors.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 
† Briggs, Orval Pershing, SN 321-39-62, US Navy, Montgomery Co.
  • light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-51); KIA 13 Nov 1942 Ironbottom Sound N of Guadalcanal; Atlanta scuttled after extensive damage during nighttime action from a Japanese torpedo, Japanese gunfire and friendly fire from the USS San Francisco; 172 crew members plus an unknown number of Admiral Scott's staff died.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
† Christiansen, Peter Elmer, SN 321-47-30, US Navy,  ​Audubon Co.
  • b. 9 Sep 1918 Kimballton, Audubon Co. s/o Christian T. Christiansen & Emma Larsen; entered service 17 Sep 1940 from Kimballton; bur. Bethany Luth. Cem., Kimballton.
  • heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (CA-32); KIA 1 Dec 1942 Ironbottom Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; New Orleans torpedoed by Japanese destroyer & heavily damaged.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ Battle of Tassafaronga
† Crawford, William Frank Jr., SN 620-07-89, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • destroyer USS Barton (DD 599) ; KIA 13 Nov 1942 in Ironbottom Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Barton sunk by two Japanese Long Lance torpedoes; 164 died, 68 survived.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
† Dixon, Cletus Hugh, SN 620-16-09, US Navy, Woodbury Co.
  • destroyer USS De Haven (DD-469); KIA 1 Feb 1943 in Ironbottom Sound, E of Savo Is., Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; De Haven sunk by Japanese bombs; 167 died, 146 survived.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War
† Jenkins, Clair Raymond, SN 321-46-48, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • heavy Cruiser USS San Francisco (CA-38); KIA 13 Nov 1942 Ironbottom Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; San Francisco hit by multiple Japanese shells, ~100 died.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, attack on USS San Francisco
† Jensen, Herluf Valdemar, SN 848-30-51, US Navy, Audubon Co.
  • 6th Naval Construction Bn. (Seabees), based near Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; KIA 16 Oct 1942 off Lunga Pt., Guadalcanal; a 17-man detail was unloading gasoline from the auxiliary seaplane tender USS McFarland onto a pontoon barge when the McFarland was attacked by nine Japanese dive bombers; nine seabees died from a direct hit on the barge; the McFarland also suffered damage & 11dead during the attack.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War
† Knapp, Rexford James “Rex”, SN 3163572, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36); KIA 30 Nov 1942 in Ironbottom Sound off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Minneapolis torpedoed by Japanese destroyer & heavily damaged.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ Battle of Tassafaronga
† Lueth, Walter August William, SN 3109352, US Navy, Pott. Co.
  • light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52); KIA 13 Nov 1942 SE of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Juneau torpedoed & sunk by Japanese submarine I-26; 687 dead including the five Sullivan brothers, ten survived.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ aftermath of First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
† McLaren, William McAllister, SN 385-91-42, US Navy, Crawford Co. & Pierce Co., WA
  • heavy cruiser USS Astoria (CA-34), KIA 9 Aug 1942 in Ironbottom Sound off Savo Is., Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Astoria sunk in night action, 219 dead, ~ 680 survivors.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ Battle of Savo Island
† Muller, Newton Bruce, SN 321-03-84, US Navy, Cass Co.
  • served on USS California (BB-44) during first enlistment & on replenishment oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1) during second enlistment; KIA 7 Apr 1943 Tulagi anchorage, near Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Kanawha attacked by Japanese dive bombers and sank the following day; 19 dead.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ Operation I-Go
† Querry, Miles Junior, SN 316-85-21, US Navy, Harrison Co.
  • fleet tug USS Vireo (AM-52); KIA 15 Oct 1942 off San Cristobal, SE of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Japanese air attack on Vireo and  destroyer USS Meredith (DD-434) while towing barges from the New Hebrides to the Guadalcanal beachhead; Vireo damaged and crew transferred to Meredith; Meredith sank; 237 crew from Meredith and Vireo died; the abandoned Vireo survived intact and was later retrieved.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ the attack on the Meredith and Vireo
† Weihs, Alfred Peter, SN 620-39-83, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • destroyer USS Aaron Ward (DD 483); KIA 7 Apr 1943 in Ironbottom Sound near Tulagi, Solomon Is.; Aaron Ward sunk by Japanese bombs while escorting LST-449; 27 dead.
  • WWII ​Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ Operation I-Go
† Wunder, Edmund Earl, SN 321-17-95, US Navy, Shelby Co.
  • destroyer USS Laffey (DD-459); KIA 13 Nov 1942 in Ironbottom Sound, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Laffey hit by 14” shell from Japanese battleship Hiei & torpedo, exploded, and sank; 59 dead, 186 survivors.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 
† Zaiger, Albert Charles, SN 620-04-88, US Navy, Audubon Co. (St. Paul's)
  • heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (CA-38); KIA 13 Nov 1942 Ironbottom Sound, north of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; San Francisco hit by multiple Japanese shells, ~100 died.
  • WWII Japan > Solomons > Guadalcanal Naval War @ First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, attack on USS San Francisco