Naval War, Guadalcanal

Battleship Hiei

bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Japan > South & SW Pacific > Naval War, Guadalcanal, © 2024 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 25 Mar 2024.
In these numerous sea battles in the South Pacific in 1942 and 1943, the United States Navy was supporting amphibious landings and subsequent land offensives in the Solomon Islands.

The Securing Australia webpages:

Securing Australia
The Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, August 1942–February 1943
The Solomons Naval War, Guadalcanal
Southeast New Guinea, Papua, July 1942–January 1943

I view WWII conflict in the Solomon Islands as consisting of three stages:

The Guadalcanal Island area, August 1942 - February 1943.
The New Georgia Island area, mid 1943.
The Bougainville Island area, beginning in October 1943. Unlike earlier Solomon Islands operations, Japanese forces remained on Bougainville Island until WWII ended.

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 during the same period, 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.

Part 1 - The Guadalcanal Island Area

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

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 - 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

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 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 to 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 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

††††††† 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 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.

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 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.

Part 2 - Naval Battles Associated with the New Georgia Campaign, March - October 1943

The naval battles in the New Georgia Campaign differed from those in the earlier Guadalcanal Campaign in several respects.

They were smaller, with battleships and aircraft carriers not being involved.
US forces performed better.

The New Georgia Island Group in the Solomon Islands

Battle of Blackett Strait, 6 March 1943:

Off south end of Kula Gulf, between New Georgia & Kolombangara.
US force planning to shell Vila on Kolombangara encountered Japanese force bring supplies to Vila.
no US dead.
two Japanese destroyers sunk.

†† Operation I-Go, 1-16 April 1943:

This was a Japanese land-based 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, the planner of the Pearl Harbor attack, died when his aircraft was shot down by US Army Air Force aircraft.

US Mine laying in Blackett Strait, 7 May 1943:

Three Japanese destroyers were damaged by mines on 8 May. One sank, the other two were finished off by US aircraft.

† Battle of Kula Gulf, 6 July 1943:

off east coast of Kolombangara.
USS Helena (CL-50) sunk; 168 US dead.
one Japanese cruiser sunk.

† Battle of Kolombangara, 12-13 July 1943:

off NE coast of Kolombangara.
USS Gwin (DD-433) scuttled, three light cruisers damaged; 89 US dead.
one Japanese cruiser sunk.

PT-Boat Action of 1-2 August 1943:

off west coast of Kolombangara.
15 PT-Boats from Rendova fire 30 torpedoes at Japanese destroyers returning from supply mission to Vila.
John Kennedy's PT-109 cut in two by destroyer Amagiri; two dead.
no Japanese damage or casualties.

Battle of Vella Gulf, 6-7 August 1943:

east of Vella Lavella.
no US dead.
three Japanese destroyers sunk.

†† Battle of Vella Lavella, 6-7 October 1943:

north of Vella Lavella.
USS Chevalier (DD-451) sunk, USS Selfridge (DD-357) & USS O'Bannon (DD-450) badly damaged; 103 US dead.
one Japanese destroyer sunk.

Part 3 - Naval Battles Associated with the Bougainville Campaign, November 1943

The Third Marine Division landed on the west coast of Bougainville on 1 November 1943, just north of Cape Torokina at the north end of Empress Augusta Bay.

Three naval battles pursuant to the landing are noted below. All three were US victories, incurred without major US losses.

The Bougainville Area

† Treasury Islands Invasion, 27 October 1943:

The Treasury Islands, Mono and Stirling, appear on the bottom of the previous map.
The Treasury Islands were seized by New Zealand and US forces for use during the pending Bougainville invasion.
Japanese air attacks late on the 27th damaged the USS Cony (DD-508).

Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, 2 November 1943:

Fought before dawn west of Cape Torokina, Bougainville.
Japanese forces from Rabaul attempted to attack the Bougainville landing.
19 US dead.
one Japanese cruiser and one Japanese destroyer sunk.

Carrier air attack on Rabaul's Simpson Harbor, 5 November 1943:

97 aircraft from carriers Saratoga and Princeton.
Disabled four of the seven Japanese heavy cruisers from the rear Japanese base at Truk that were preparing for a larger attack on US Bougainville forces.
Land-based US aircraft from New Guinea staged multiple attacks on Rabaul during this period.

Battle of Cape St. George, 25 November 1943:

Fought at night off Cape St, George on the southern tip of New Ireland Is.
US destroyer force attacked Japanese destroyers transferring personnel between Rabaul and Buka Is. just north of Bougainville.
No US losses.
Three Japanese destroyers sunk.

Sources for Big Pigeon's South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War webpage:

The webpage header photo, Imperial Japanese Navy Battleship Hiei, is courtesy of clickorlando.com. The Hiei was the first Japanese battleship sunk in WW II, on 14 Nov 1942 during the Naval Battle(s) of Guadalcanal.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ie=UTF8&t=h&oe=UTF8&msa=0&mid=1O-ln4_TfaVp76jRzZxwDgcfgqXU&ll=25.103266747572718%2C143.31372999999996&z=2, an interactive map showing 131 Pacific area military operations.
The US Guadalcanal Landings, Sea Battle of Savo Island, and Battle of Cape Esperance maps - C/O The Map Archive.
The Solomons Carrier Battles map - C/O http://ahoy.tk-jk.net/macslog/NavalBattlesintheSolomon.html.
The Battle of Santa Cruz Islands map
The Guadalcanal Area Physical Map is courtesy of the Warfare History Network.
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal -13 Nov map is courtesy of The Map Archive.
The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - 14-15 Nov map is courtesy of usswashington.com.
The Battle of Tassafaronga map is courtesy of wikipedia.org.
The New Georgia Island Group map was found at https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/II/maps/USMC-II-II.jpg.
The Bougainville Area map is courtesy of geology.com.

Pottawattamie Area WWII Dead - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War:

Taken from the bigpigeon.us WWII Dead module.

05-01 - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War: (21 dead, updated 6 Aug 2023)
† 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; First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Briggs, Orval Pershing, SN 321-39-62, US Navy, Montgomery Co.

USS Atlanta (CL-51); KIA 13 Nov 1942 Ironbottom Sound N of Guadalcanal; ship 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; First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Bradley, Donald James, SN 648-39-86, US Navy, Pott. Co.

Attack Transport USS McCawley (APA-4); KIA 30 Jun 1943 off Rendova, Solomon Is.; McCawley disabled by Japanese aircraft torpedo and then abandoned, 15 dead; McCawley accidentally sunk that night by US PT boats; South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Butts, Amos Albert, SN 816-85-59, US Navy, Fremont Co.

Destroyer USS Selfridge (DD-357); KIA 6 Oct 1943 off Vella Levella Is., Solomon Is.; Selfridge damaged by enemy torpedo; 49 dead; Battle of Vella Levella - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War.

† 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.
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; Battle of Tassafaronga - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War.

† 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; First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Denton, Claude Ballentine, SN 648-65-29, US Navy, Pott. Co.

Destroyer USS Cony (DD 508); KIA 27 Oct 1943, during US/New Zealand invasion of Treasury Is., S. of Bougainville, Solomon Is.; Cony damaged by Japanese air attack, eight dead; Treasury Is. Invasion - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War.

† 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; South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† 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; First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† 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 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 & casualties during the attack; South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War.

† Knapp, Rexford James “Rex”, SN 3163572, US Navy, Shelby Co.

Cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36); KIA 30 Nov 1942 in Ironbottom Sound off Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; Minneapolis torpedoed by Japanese destroyer & heavily damaged; Battle of Tassafaronga - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War.

† Lueth, Walter August William, SN 3109352, US Navy, Pott. Co.

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; aftermath of First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† McLaren, William McAllister, SN 385-91-42, US Navy, Crawford Co. & Pierce Co., WA

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; Battle of Savo Island - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Miller, Max Miles, SN 321-51-16, US Navy, Shelby Co.

Destroyer USS Chevalier (DD-451); KIA 6 Oct 1943 off Vella Lavella Is., central Solomon Is.; Chevalier torpedoed & abandoned & scuttled early the following day, 54 dead; Sea Battle of Vella Lavella - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Muller, Newton Bruce, SN 321-03-84, US Navy, Cass Co.

served on USS California (BB-44) during first enlistment & on 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; Operation I-Go - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† 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); 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; The Meredith and the Vireo - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Sales, Orville W., SN 316-49-53, US Navy, Pott. Co.

Destroyer USS Gwin (DD-433); KIA 13 Jul 1943 in Kula Gulf, N of New Georgia Is., Solomon Is.; Gwin hit by destroyer torpedo & scuttled, 61 dead, 214 survivors; Battle of Kolombangara - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† Turner, Floyd Vernon, SN 620-75-72, US Navy, Cass Co.

Light cruiser USS Helena (CL-50); KIA 6 Jul 1943 Kula Gulf between New Georgia & Kolombangara Is., Solomon Is.; Helena sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedoes, 168 dead; Battle of Kula Gulf - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† 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; Operation I-Go - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† 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, then exploded & sank; 59 dead, 186 survivors; First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.

† 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, N of Guadalcanal, Solomon Is.; San Francisco hit by multiple Japanese shells, ~100 died; First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal - South & SW Pacific > Solomons Naval War; BNR.