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Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

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Pacific Naval Surface Battles

This section lists the naval battles between the United States and Japan in chronological order during World War II. 

Image:  80-G-384160:   Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944.  Possibly USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73) receives attack by the Japanese surface units.  U.S. Navy Photograph.      

1942                                                             Naval Surface Battles

1942 January 24:                                        Battle of the Balikpanan

1942 February 4:                                        Battle of Makassar Strait

1942 February 18:                                      Battle of Badung Strait

1942 February 27:                                      Battle of the Java Sea

1942 February 28:                                      Battle of the Sunda Strait

1942 March 1:                                             Battle off Bawean Island

1942 May 4-8:                                             Battle of the Coral Sea

1942 June 4-7:                                             Battle of Midway

1942 August 9:                                            Battle of Savo Island

1942 August 24:                                          Battle of the Eastern Solomons

1942 October 11:                                        Battle of Cape Esperance

1942 October 26:                                        Battle of Santa Cruz Islands

1942 November 12-15:                              Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

1942 November 30:                                    Battle of Tassafaronga

 

1943

1943 January 29:                                         Battle of Rennell Island

1943 March 2-5:                                          Battle of the Bismarck Sea

1943 March 26:                                           Battle of the Komandorski Islands (Aleutians)

1943 July 5-6:                                               Battle of Kula Gulf

1943 July 12-13:                                           Battle of Kolombangara

1943 August 6-7:                                         Battle of Vella Gulf

1943 October 6-7:                                       Battle of Vella LaVella

1943 November 1-2:                                   Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

1943 November 25:                                    Battle of Cape St. George

 

1944

1944 June 18:                                               Battle of the Philippine Sea

1944 October 23-26:                                   Battle of Leyte Gulf

                                                                            USN Submarines at Palawan (October 23)

                                                                            Battle of Sibuyan Sea (October 24)

                                                                            Battle of Surigao Strait (October 25)

                                                                            Battle off Samar (October 25)

                                                                            Battle of Cape Engano (October 25)

                                                                            Japanese Retreat (October 26)