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Solomon Islands Campaign: X

Operations in the New Georgia Area 21 June – 5 August 1943


cover - Solomon Islands Campaign X Operations in the New Georgia Area

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Copy No. 2 COMBAT NARRATIVES

 

Solomon Islands Campaign: X

 

Operations in the New Georgia Area

21 June – 5 August 1943

 

“COMBAT NARRATIVES were written to fill a temporary requirement before the appearance of official and semiofficial complete histories. Due to hastily gathered and oftentimes incomplete information there are certain inaccuracies.”

CONFIDENTIAL

[DECLASSIFIED]

 

Office of Naval Intelligence

U. S. Navy

NAVY DEPARTMENT

Office of Naval Intelligence

Washington, D. C.

                                                                                                                                October 1943.

    Combat Narratives are confidential publications issued under a directive of the Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet, and Chief of Naval Operations, for the information of commissioned officers of the U. S. Navy only.

    Information printed herein should be guarded (a) in circulation and by custody measures for confidential publications as set forth in Articles 75 ½ and 76 of Navy Regulations and (b) in avoiding discussion of this material within the hearing of any but commissioned officers. Combat Narratives are not to be removed from the ship or station for which they are provided. Reproduction of this material in any form is not authorized except by specific approval of the Director of Naval Intelligence.

    Officers who have participated in the operations recounted herein are invited to forward to the Director of Naval Intelligence, via their commanding officers, accounts of personal experiences and observations which they esteem to have value for historical and instructional purposes. It is hoped that such contributions will increase the value of render ever more authoritative such new editions of these publications as may be promulgated to the service in the future.

    When the copies provided have served their purpose, they may be destroyed by burning. However, reports acknowledging receipt or destruction of these publications need not be made.

 

[SIGNATURE]

REAR ADMIRAL, U.S.N.,

Director of Naval Intelligence.

CONFIDENTIAL

[DECLASSIFIED] 

II 

Foreword

8 January 1943.

 

    Combat Narratives have been prepared by the Publication Branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence for the information of the officers of the United States Navy.

    The data on which these studies are based are those official documents which are suitable for a confidential publication. This material has been collated and presented in chronological order.

    In perusing these narratives, the reader should bear in mind that while they recount in considerable detail the engagements in which our forces participated, certain underlying aspects of these operations must be kept in a secret category until after the end of the war.

    It should be remembered also that the observations of men in battle are sometimes at variance. As a result, the reports of commanding officers may differ although they participated in the same action and shared a common purpose. In general, Combat Narratives represent a reasoned interpretation of these discrepancies. In those instances where views cannot be reconciled, extracts from the conflicting evidence are reprinted.

    Thus, an effort has been made to provide accurate and, within the above-mentioned limitations, complete narratives with charts covering raids, combats, joint operations, and battles in which our Fleets have engaged in the current war. It is hoped that these narratives will afford a clear view of what has occurred, and form a basis for a broader understanding which will result in ever more successful operations.

 

 

[SIGNATURE]

ADMIRAL, U.S.N.,

Commander in Chief, U. S. Fleet, and Chief of Naval Operations.

 

III 

Charts and Illustrations

    Facing page 
Chart: The Solomon Islands Area                                                                         VI 
Chart: The New Georgia Group     
Illustration: Night Bombardment of Munda 11-12 july                 I  
Chart: The Landing on Rendova                10 
Chart: Attack by Japanese Torpedo Planes                11 
Chart: Japanese Positions in the Kula Gulf Area    on page                   18 
Diagram: Battle of Kula Gulf, Disposition at Opening fire    on page              22 
Chart: Battle of Kula Gulf, First and Second Phases     
Illustration: The Helena                26 
Chart: The Battle of Kolombangara     
Illustration: The Nicholas at Kolombangara                27 
Chart: The Battle of Kula Gulf, Third Phase                28 
Diagram: Battle of Kolombangara, Disposition at Opening Fire    on page             37 
Diagram: Battle of Kolombangara, Situation at 0206    on page             41 
Illustrations   between pages             58-59 

    Photographic squadron landing at Rendova

    Coming ashore at Rendova

    Crossing the beach at Rendova

    A supply echelon approaches Rendova

    Unloading an LST at Rendova

    Loading a Marine batter on an LCT

    A coral pier at Rendova

    Unloading small craft at Kokurana Island

    Supplies on the beach at Rendova

    Airdome at Segi Point

    Aerial view of Viru Harbor

    The Honolulu at the Battle of Kula Gulf

    The Helena at the Battle of Kula Gulf

    Japanese ships burning during the Battle of Kula Gulf

    The Radford arriving at Tulagi with survivors of the Helena

    The Nicholas firing during the Battle of Kolombangara

 

IV 

Contents

  Page              
Introduction                                                                                                1 
Preliminary Bombardments of Munda    2 
The Occupationof the Russell Islands, 21 February 1943    2 
Logistic Preparations    3 
Estimates of Enemy Strength    4 
Plan of Attack    4 
Task Frce Organization    5 
Preliminary Movements    6 
The Landing at Segi Point, 21 June 1943    9 
The Landing on Rendova, 30 June 1943    15 
Other Landing in the New Georgia Area    15 
     Onaiavisi, 30 June 1943    15 
     Wickham Anchorage, 30 June 1943    16 
     Viru, 1 July 1943    17 
     Rice Anchorage, 5 July 1943    19 
Battle of Kula Gulf, Night of 5-6 July 1943    23 
     The Approach    23 
     First Phase    24 
     Second Phase    25 
     Third Phase    27 
     Comments and Conclusions    29 
Naval Bombardments of Munda    31 
       Bombardment, Night of 8-9 July 1943    31 
       Bombardment, Night 11-12 July 1943    32 
Battle of Kolombangara, Night of 12-13 July 1943    34 
       Introduction    34 
       The Approach    36 
       First Phase    39 
       Second Phase    39 
       Third Phase    42 

 

V 

  Page        

Battle of Kolombangara--Continued                                                                                        

 
       The Retirement         43 
       Comments and Conclusions         44 
Rescue of the Helena Survivors, 16 July 1943         46 
Destroyer Operations in Kula Gulf, Night 17-18 July 1943         48 
Bombardment of Bairoko, Night of 23-24 July 1943         49 
Bombardment of Lambeti Plantation, Night of 24-25 July 1943         51 
PT Boat Operations, 23 July-5 August 1943         55 
Air Operations During the Munda Campaign         57 
The Fall of Munda         58 
Appendix I: Task Force Organization         60 
Appendix II: Ground Force Organization         66 
Appendix III: Symbols of U.S. Naval aircraft         67 
Appendix IV: Designation of U.S. Naval aircraft         69 
Appendix V: List of published Combat Narratives         72 

VI 


Night bombardment of Munda, 11-12 July 1943

Operations in the New Georgia Area

21 June – 5 August 1943 

The final offensive to clear the Japanese from the New Georgia area, which opened on 30 June, was the first continued land, sea, and air effort undertaken by our forces in the Solomons since the capture of Guadalcanal.

The New Georgia group, lying 200 miles northwest of Guadalcanal, extends in a northwesterly-southeasterly direction for a distance of 150 miles. Most of the islands are mountainous and are of volcanic origin. Off their coasts barrier islands and reefs have formed lagoons which in times past were the habitat of a people known throughout Melanesia for their maritime aggressiveness.

As early as August 1942 there were reports of Japanese activity in this area. At first the Japanese made use of numerous hideouts and dispersal anchorages and established staging points in the vicinity for the purpose of ferrying troops and supplies to Guadalcanal. Later, after their failure to gain command of the air over Guadalcanal in November 1942, they began to construct an airdrome near Munda Point on the southwest coast of New Georgia Island. The location of Munda Point is such as to render it almost immune to invasion from the sea. There are only two approaches; one from the north through Diamond Narrows, a deep but very narrow channel; the other from the west across Munda Bar, which has only two fathoms of water and is therefore dangerous during a heavy sea or a swell.

So cleverly did the Japanese conceal the construction of their airdrome that our reconnaissance failed to detect any signs of activity there until the project was well under way. The Japanese strung heavy wire cables between the tops of the palm trees in such a way as to form a net. The trunks were then cut out from under the branches, which remained in place supported by the cables. After the runway was completed, this

camouflage was rolled back, and further attempts at concealment were abandoned. Shortly before the completion of the Munda airfield on 29 December, the Japanese began to build a second air base near the mouth of the Vila River on the southern tip of Kolombangara Island. 

PRELIMINARY BOMBARDMENTS OF MUNDA 1

The threat offered by these bases to our position on Guadalcanal was obvious. Beginning with 3 December (the day the Munda field was discovered), aircraft from Guadalcanal made repeated attacks, bombing and strafing gun emplacements, buildings, and runways. During the ensuing three months, our fliers conducted more than 80 raids. Some of these promised spectacular success; yet none interrupted Japanese use of the installations for more than a day or two.

On the night of 4 January, a task group of cruisers and destroyers left Guadalcanal and stood up toward Rendova Island in the first of a series of naval bombardments of Munda. Shortly after midnight, they opened fire on predetermined targets. Observers agreed that the bombardment was the most destructive that had been delivered against the Japanese up to that time. It was disappointing subsequently to learn that the shelling had proved little more effective than the bombings which had preceded it. On the afternoon of 5 January, less than 18 hours afterward, hostile aircraft were operating from the field again.

Subsequent bombardments of enemy air bases in the New Georgia Islands were hardly more successful. The Vila-Stanmore district on Kolombangara was shelled by a task group on the night of 23-24 January. On the nights of 5-6 March and 12-13 May, there were simultaneous surface bombardments of Munda and Vila-Stanmore. The chief value of these operations was in neutralizing airdromes and destroying enemy supplies and personnel. 

THE OCCUPATION OF THE RUSSELL ISLANDS

After their evacuation of Guadalcanal, early in February, 1943, the Japanese continued to strengthen their positions in the Solomons-Bismarcks area and in New Guinea but displayed no intention of resuming the offensive. Immediately after the fall of Guadalcanal, however, Ad- 

-------------------

 1 See Combat Narrative “Bombardments of Munda and Vila-Stanmore, January-May 1943” (Solomon Islands Campaign: IX).

miral Halsey set in motion plans for occupying the Russell Islands 2  so that they might be used as a staging point for our advance into New Georgia. Supported by a strong covering force (Cruiser Division 12 and attached destroyers) the first echelons made unopposed landings at three different points in the Russells at about dawn on 21 February and proceeded at once to begin construction of a radar station, a PT-boat base, and an air strip. A steady stream of men, supplies, and equipment was brought in nightly; by the end of February we had more than 9,000 men in the Russells, made up principally of units of the 43rd Division, the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion, the 10th Marine Defense Battalion, the 35th Construction Battalion, and other Naval Base personnel operating under Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner as ComAmphibForSoPac. 

LOGISTIC PREPARATIONS

    Even before the Japanese had been driven out of Guadalcanal, Naval construction battalions were at work on additional fighter strips to improve dispersion and relieve congestion on Henderson Field. Other units were constructing an additional bomber field on Koli Point. By the time that preparations had been completed for the final assault against Munda,we had available four airfields on Guadalcanal and two in the Russells, 3 all completely staffed and with maintenance units attached.

    After the Japanese were expelled from Guadalcanal our situation was improved by the establishment of bulk gasoline stowage facilities and tank farms and the construction of a submarine fill line, which brought aviation gasoline direct from tankers moored off Koli Point to the tank farm. By July there were thirty-five 1,000 barrel tanks and one 10,000 barrel tank for aviation gasoline in seven groupings at Koli Point and stowage facilities of somewhat smaller proportions at Lunga Point. At the airfields and close by were additional stores of motor gasoline and diesel oil.

    Fueling and ship-repair equipment at Tulagi and Port Purvis was also improved. In the Tulagi area a seaplane base was developed at Halavo; 

----------------------------

 2 A small group of islands situated about 30 miles northwest of Guadalcanal.

  3The four airfields at Guadacanal were: (1) Henderson Field, a base for all light and some heavy bombers and most short range search planes, (2) Fighter No. 1, the main base for fighter aircraft (principally Marine and Navy fighter planes), (3) Fighter No. 2, the main base for Army and New Zealand fighter planes, (4) Carney Field, used principally for heavy and medium bombers and long range search planes.

    North Field in the Russells was used as a base for both light bombers and fighters; South Field was limited to fighters.

a PT operating base at Sasapi (Tulagi Island), Calvertville (Florida Island), and Makambo Island; an LCT repair base at Carter City (Florida Island); and an amphibious boat pool at Turner City (Florida Island). During June 1943 supplies for the New Georgia campaign were moved up to the Russell Islands from the stock piles in the Guadalcanal area. 4 The primary bases for the invasion were located, however, at Noumea in New Caledonia and Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. 

ESTIMATES OF ENEMY STRENGTH 

    Enemy naval forces in the Solomons area were estimated at two destroyer divisions, one submarine division, and twelve non-combatant ships. Available forces in the Bismarck Archipelago were believed to consist of one light cruiser, five destroyers, seven submarines, and twenty-five non-combatant ships. Most of the Japanese naval strength was concentrated at Rabaul and brought into the Solomons by way of anchorages in the Shortlands and advanced bases on Bougainville.

    Enemy ground strength in the Solomons was placed at 40,000 men: 8,000-10,000 of these were on New Georgia, fully a third of them in the Munda area; 5,000-7,000, including laborers, were situated on Kolombangara; the remainder were scattered about at other points.

    In addition to the airfields at Munda and Vila, which have been previously mentioned, the enemy had fields at Buka, Kahili, Ballale, and Kieta, as well as seaplane bases at Shortland-Faisi, Rekata Bay, and Soraken. Furthermore the fields at Lakunai, Rapopo, Vunakanau, and Kavieng in the Bismarck Archipelago and the seaplane base at Rabaul were available for staging aircraft and for air operations in the Solomons. Estimates of Japanese air strength in the Solomons-Bismarck area indicated that the enemy had approximately 380 planes available for combat purposes. In addition he could draw on a force of slightly less than 100 combat planes in New Guinea in order to replace his combat losses in the Solomons. 

PLAN OF ATTACK 

    The plans for the New Georgia operation were discussed in conferences held on Admiral Turner’s flagship, the McCawley, during the last 

------------------------------

  4 23,775 drums of fuel and lubricants, 13,085 tons of gear, and 28 loaded vehicles were among the items concentrated in the Russells for this purpose.

 

two weeks of May. On 3 June Admiral Halsey issued the basic operation plan. D-day was set for 30 June.

    On that day our forces were to make simultaneous landings at several points on Rendova Island and on New Georgia at Viru Harbor, Segi Point, and Wickham Anchorage. The landings on New Georgia were to be made without preparatory bombardment, but it was anticipated that call and counterbattery fire might be required. These landings were designed to take and develop positions as bases for further operations. It was planned to construct a landing field on Segi Plantation, to develop Wickham Anchorage and Viru Harbor as protected staging refuges for small craft, and to create operating facilities for motor torpedo boats in Rendova and Viru harbors.

    The real thrust against New Georgia was to come from Rendova. At the first opportunity troops from there were to move across Roviana Lagoon and land east of Munda to capture the airfield in a quick stroke. This movement was to be covered by preliminary landings on Sasavele and Baraulu Islands, which would secure the Onaiavisi Entrance to the Lagoon. The attack from Rendova was to be accompanied by the seizure by the by the seizure of enemy positions in the Bairoko-Enogai area, in order to prevent the Munda garrison from being reinforced from the north. This was to be accomplished by troops from the Russells. As soon as the Munda and the Bairoko-Enogai areas were occupied, preparations were to be made to capture the Vila- Stanmore position on Kolombangara. 

TASK FORCE ORGANIZATION 

    The plan provided for three major task forces. 5 The first of these, Task Force TARE, was initially under the command of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner, who was relieved on 15 July by Rear Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson after the main landing operations were completed. Task Force TARE was subdivided into two groups, the first of which, the Western Force, conducted the operations in the Rendova-Munda area. The other group, known as the Eastern Force, was responsible for the landings and subsequent operations at Viru, Segi, and Wickham Anchorage. The second task force, acting under the direct command of Admiral Halsey, was to cover the operation and furnish 

--------------------------------

  5The composition of these forces is given in Appendix I. In the interest of security task force numbers have been omitted. Flag symbols for the first letter of the surnames of commanding officers have been substituted.

fire support. The main air support was rendered by task Force FOX (South Pacific Air Force) operating under the command of Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch. Its principal duties were to conduct reconnaissance and striking missions, provide direct air support during landings and on other occasions as requested, and furnish liaison and spotting aircraft. Rear Admiral Marc A. Mitscher, as commander of aircraft in the Solomons, had tactical command initially of that portion of the task force which operated from Henderson Field and other bases in the Solomons. 6 

PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS

    For four days before the landing, Munda was heavily attacked by Navy bombers. On the night of 29-30 June, as a prelude to the New Georgia movement, a task group of light cruisers and destroyers (CL’s of the 12th Cruiser Division, Montpelier, Denver, Columbia, and Cleveland, and DD’s Philip, Renshaw, Waller, and Saufley) 7 under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill, steamed up the Slot and bombarded the Vila-Stanmore area on the south coast of Kolombangara and the Buin-Shortland area two hundred miles beyond, near the southeast end of Bougainville Island. As a part of this operation, a mine detachment consisting of the Preble, Gamble, and Breese, led by Capt. William R. Cooke, Jr., in the Pringle, laid 336 mines off Shortland Harbor between Alu and Munia Islands.

    The purpose of this operation was: (1) to disrupt temporarily enemy surface raids out of Buin via the Shortland route during the early phases of our New Georgia operations; (2) to lengthen the Japanese surface routes to New Georgia; (3) to place a suitable surface force in position to cover our New Georgia landings; (4) to provide a diversion for the New Georgia movement; (5) to reduce temporarily enemy air strength and installations on Ballale; and (6) to damage enemy installations in the Shortland-Faisi area.

    The Bombardment Group left Havannah Harbor (Efate) on 27 June, effected a rendezvous with the Mine Detachment at Tulagi, and departed from there at 1330 8 on 29 June, proceeding up the Slot. At 1800 in obedience to signal the Task Group went to general quarters and remained continuously at battle stations until 0819 the following morning This 

-----------------

  6Admiral Mitscher was relieved by Maj. Gen. Nathan F. Twining, USAAF, on 5 July 1943.

  7Names of commanding officers of ships may be found in Appendix I.

  8All times are Zone “L” unless otherwise specified.

protracted period had been anticipated, and special provisions were made to insure that all hands should receive the maximum amount of rest and sleep during daylight of 28 and 29 June. During the approach, in order to alleviate the stifling effects of Condition AFIRM, hatches on the Denver were systematically opened, a battle ration was served between 2100 and 2200, operating personnel were relieved from time to time when practicable, and all hands otherwise were allowed to stand easy at their battle stations. The bombardment procedure had been rehearsed during dawn and dusk alerts on the two previous days. Final rehearsal in detail was conducted shortly after going to general quarters.

    At sunset the destroyers Renshaw and Waller were sent ahead to bombard the Vila-Stanmore Plantation on Kolombangara Island. The Shortlands were 231 miles beyond our then most advanced base in the Russells. In view of this fact it seemed almost impossible to avoid detection by enemy planes, coast watchers, or submarines before nightfall, or, in any case, before our arrival at the objective. Therefore a diversionary bombardment to conceal our real objective seemed necessary if we were to achieve any degree of surprise. At 0015 on the following morning the Renshaw and Waller rejoined after carrying out their mission successfully. The bombardment had been plainly visible from the bridge of the Montpelier 28 miles to the northward. Enemy fire, from the northeast coast of Kolombangara, was slow and deliberate.

    The remainder of the approach was uneventful. Three enemy destroyers had been sighted by a Black Cat in Blackett Strait on the previous night. Reports of enemy sightings during the day gave rise to the belief that there were seven enemy destroyers and perhaps two heavy cruisers and one light cruiser in the Shortlands area. It was reassuring to discover that the weather became increasingly foul as the ships proceeded up the Slot. Occasional rain squalls merged into a solid front, and the visibility decreased almost to zero. Less cheering was information that because of the bad weather General MacArthur’s forces had canceled a heavy air raid on Rabaul, along with strikes which had been planned for that night against Kahili, Ballale, and the Faisi float-plane base. These strikes had been intended to neutralize enemy air bases during our retirement from the area. So long as the adverse weather conditions continued there was assurance against any Japanese planes taking off. If on the other hand the front lifted before morning, enemy air attacks in force were to be expected.

  The final approach of the two task units was made at reduced speed in order to give better protection against enemy observation of wakes as well as to permit time for the very accurate navigation required. The mining operations were started at 0127 (30 June) and were completed before the bombardment began. Five minutes before reaching the firing bearing, effort was made by each cruiser to establish contact with her spotting plane. In view of the weather conditions there was little likelihood that this could be done, but as it was written into the plan it would have been necessary to break TBS silence to cancel it.

The bombardment commenced at about 0154; targets were assigned as follows:

    Montpelier,Poporang Island.

    Saufley, Poporang Island.

    Columbia, Faisi Island.

    Cleveland, east end of Shortland (Korovo).

    Renshaw, east end of Shortland Island (north of Kulitanai Bay).

    Phillip and Waller, targets of opportunity.

    Denver, Ballale Island. 

    The bombardment lasted for about 15 minutes and was conducted in a downpour of rain, accompanied by lightning and strong southeasterly winds. Our own tracers disappeared just beyond the muzzles of the guns. Neither the damage caused by the bombardment nor the results of the mining operation could be determined visually. Many observers heard explosions distinct from our own gun fire and saw flashes which were not lightning.

    Notwithstanding the fact that no fighters9 were available exclusively to cover the retirement of this force, withdrawal took place without casualty to ships or personnel. The course (south of the Solomons) was planned in such a way as to give the enemy the impression that it was to follow the route through the Slot and likewise to take advantage of such air coverage as would be afforded by flights of friendly planes from Guadalcanal and the Russells. All along the west coast of Vella Lavella, Ganongga, and New Georgia, heavy black rain clouds hung almost at masthead height.

--------------------

 9 They had been requisitioned for scheduled strikes and the coverage of the Rendova landing the following morning.

    Dawn broke with a clear sky to the south and west, but by heading in close to land, where the heavy clouds still persisted, our ships escaped detection. At daylight seven P-38’s, made available by the cancellation of night strikes, appeared. Other friendly planes joined them off Tulagi, and the Task Group stood out through Sealark Channel en route to fueling rendezvous south of San Cristobal.

    In spite of the success of the operation, Rear Admiral Merrill expressed the opinion that simultaneous bombardment and mine laying operations were of decreasing value except in the forward enemy-held areas where the Japanese were unable to maintain adequate sweeping services:

    “Three such combined operations have been undertaken recently by South Pacific surface forces, of which the first-laid mine field only is believed to have produced a considerable bag of enemy ships. It is felt that each bombardment suffered by the enemy will alert him to the immediate need of extensive sweeping prior to initiating any ship movements in the area involved. For this reason it is believed that mining and bombardment henceforth should, as a general rule, be undertaken separately.” 

THE LANDING AT SEGI POINT, 21 JUNE 1943 

    The landing at Segi Point took place in advance of the main New Georgia operation as a result of reports that the Japanese were moving into that area. On 21 June, Companies O and P of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion made an unopposed landing at Segi from the APD’s Dent and Waters. While approaching the landing area both ships touched and rode over a shallow spot. Upon their return to Tulagi, the Dent was forced to go into drydock at Espiritu Santo, and the Waters also required slight repairs. On the following day, the APD’s Schley and Crosby arrived at Segi with Companies A and D of the 103rd Infantry and Acorn SEVEN Survey. Segi Point was held jointly by the Army and the Marines until 28 June when the Army took over. The construction of a fighter strip at Segi was begun on 30 June; by 11 July the field could be used in an emergency. Later in the campaign it was used as a fighter base. 

THE LANDING ON RENDOVA, 30 June 1943

    The second landing in the New Georgia area took place at Rendova Harbor on the north side of Rendova Island, a boot-shaped islet about 20

miles long and 8 miles wide at its maximum, separated from New Georgia Island by only a few miles of water.

    At 1000 on 29 June the transports to be used in this operation arrived at Guadalcanal from Efate, where ships’ crews and troops had been undergoing a final period of training in debarking and landing operations. At 1600 on the same day the task unit left Koli Point, Guadalcanal, and protected by low ceilings and poor visibility arrived off Renard Entrance of Rendova Harbor at 0620 on 30 June.

    The first echelon of the Rendova movement was constituted as follows:

    Advance Unit, Comdr. John D. Sweeney (ComTransDiv TWELVE):

    Dent(F), Lt. Comdr. Ralph A. Wilhelm.

    Waters, Lt. Comdr. Charles J. McWhinnie.

    Transport Group, Capt. Paul T. Theiss (ComTransDiv TWO):

    McCawley (FF) (Rear Admiral Turner), Comdr. Robert H. Rodgers.

    President Jackson (F), Capt. Charles W. Weitzel.

    President Adams, Capt. Frank H. Dean.

    President Hayes, Capt. Francis W. Benson.

    Algorab, Capt. Joseph R. Lannom.

    Libra, Capt. William B. Fletcher, Jr.

    Screening Unit, Comdr. John M. Higgins (ComDesDiv TWENTY-THREE):

    Gwin (F), Lt. Comdr. John B. Fellows, Jr.

    Woodworth, Comdr. Virgil F. Gordinier.

    Jenkins, Comdr. Harry F. Miller.

    Radford, Comdr. William K. Romoser.

    Fire Support Unit, Capt. Thomas J. Ryan, Jr. (ComDesRon TWELVE):

    Farenholt,(F), Comdr. Eugene T. Seaward.

    Buchanan, Lt. Comdr. Floyd B. T. Myhre.

    McCalla, Lt. Comdr. Halford A. Knoertzer.

    Ralph Talbot, Comdr. Joseph W. Callahan. 

    Troops from the advance unit had already landed at dawn to secure the beachhead for the main occupation force which followed one hour later. Picking their way through the reefs, the troop transports entered the harbor and at 0642 began debarking men and materials. Two groups of destroyers were assigned the task of patrolling the two entrances of the harbor. Others screened the transports, ready to silence any shore gun which went into action. The boats leaving the McCawley were informed: “You are the first to land. Expect opposition.”

    Our boats went ashore in the face of machine-gun fire from the beach. At a few minutes after 0700, the batteries on Munda Point opened up. The first salvo registered a hit in the engine room of the Gwin, the only destroyer which survived the Battleship Night Action of 14-15 November

10 


Map - Landing on Rendova - side 1


attack by Japanese side 2

1942.  A near hit was also scored on the Buchanan. About the same time two other batteries on Baanga Island and one or two at Lokuloku to the eastward joined in.

    The Buchanan and the Farenholt, veterans of the Battle of Cape Esperance, undertook the silencing of the enemy guns. Hits were obtained on the Munda Point area with the second salvo. Seven batteries in all were put out of action by the accurate gunfire of the two destroyers, which meanwhile varied their speed and heading so skillfully that the Japanese fire control problem was rendered practically insoluble. Exchange of fire between shore batteries and screening destroyers continued intermittently throughout the day.

    By 0730 all troops except ship working details had been landed. Within two hours from the time of initial debarkation our newly emplaced shore batteries on Kokurana Island were shelling the enemy installations at Munda. The transports remained hove to in the debarkation area, completing their unloading. On two occasions, however, they had to get underway and move to the eastward under the threat of air attack.

    Throughout the landing operations a 32-plane combat air patrol was maintained by fighters from our bases in Guadalcanal and the Russells. Twice during the forenoon these planes drove off enemy aircraft which threatened our ships. Word of an impending attack was first received at 0857, and all destroyers closed transports to form an AA screen. The task unit steamed about in Blanche Channel until the all clear was given at 0950, when all units resumed their previous stations and disembarkation was continued. At 1105 air attack again appeared imminent, whereupon the task unit again ceased operations and proceeded into Blanche Channel until the all clear was given. In neither case did enemy planes come within range of our ships.

    Unloading was completed by 1500 with a high degree of efficiency. The McCawley had discharged its cargo at the rate of 157 tons per hour while placing 1,100 troops on the beach. Orders were now given for the various units to gather in cruising formation and stand out through Blanche Channel to the southeast for the return to Guadalcanal. Within the hour, a group of 24 to 28 Mitsubishi type 96 torpedo bombers, escorted by an unknown number of Zero fighters, was sighted coming in over the northwest corner of New Georgia Island near Munda Point. As in the very similar enemy torpedo plane attack of 12 November 1942, the enemy bombers circled our formation, using land background, and then made

11 

very low approaches at a speed hardly less than 250 knots. About one minute before the leading attack planes reached the screen, our formation executed “Emergency Turn 9” from a base course of 139 degrees.

    All vessels opened fire, and hits were immediately scored. The bombers ignored their losses and came in with great determination, releasing their torpedoes at ranges approximating 500 yards.

    Three planes in succession made drops off the Farenholt’s port beam. The first torpedo broached and passed ahead. The second missed astern. The remaining plane appeared to be about to attempt a suicide dive on the ship, but the pilot finally dropped his torpedo and sheered off ahead. The Farenholt’s commanding officer ordered full right rudder. A thud was felt on the bridge, and all hands waited for the explosion which seemed sure to follow. The seconds ticked by, and nothing happened. Either the vessel had been hit by a dud or the torpedo had run too short a distance to arm.

    The McCalla was likewise bracketed by three torpedoes, one of which passed about 25 yards ahead, another 50 yards astern, and the third apparently passed under the ship. Flank speed and full right rudder were used to bring the course parallel to the torpedo tracks.

    Our forces did not come through the attack entirely unscathed, however. The task group had just executed a ninety degree turn to the right and opened fire when a torpedo was seen approaching the port side of the 7,712-ton transport McCawley, flagship of Rear Admiral Turner. Her rudder was put over hard right, and the starboard engine was backed full. A moment later the torpedo struck amidships in the vicinity of the engine room. The McCawley lurched to port but immediately righted herself, still swinging to starboard with her rudder jammed hard over and all engines stopped. Admiral Turner ordered the cargo vessel Libra to take the flagship in tow, and the destroyers Ralph Talbot and McCalla were directed to stand by. Admiral Turner and his staff then went down the ropes and on board the Farenholt. Admiral Wilkinson remained aboard the McCawley in charge of the salvage crew.

    As a result of the first explosion a hole was opened in the ship’s side about 18 to 20 feet in diameter extending from about frame 87 to 93. The frames between were carried away, and shell plating was blown outward with very ragged edges. All watertight doors remained intact, however. About 30 seconds after the initial explosion, another detonation of lesser magnitude followed, probably as a result of the rupturing 

12

of the compressed air tanks used in connection with the port main engine. In spite of the efforts of damage control parties the ship continued to settle aft.

    By 1558 the attack was over; the action had lasted only eight minutes. Only two enemies planes survived the attacks of our protecting fighters and the antiaircraft fire of the ships, and they were shot down during retirement by our planes.

    About an hour later, the McCawley was attacked by a group of 12 to 15 Aichi dive bombers, which broke through the overcast at a level of about 1,000 feet. Although the ship was now dead in the water, the salvage crew manned the guns so effectively that the enemy aircraft were driven off. By this time, however, it was apparent that the McCawley could no longer be kept afloat, so the McCalla eased alongside, and all hands were ordered to abandon ship. At 2002 the McCalla was ordered to prepare torpedoes for sinking the McCawley if the settling of that vessel should warrant it. The end came even more quickly than had been expected. At 2023 the doomed transport was struck by three torpedoes; thirty seconds later she sank stern first in 340 fathoms of water. At first it was believed that she had fallen prey to an enemy submarine. It has since been learned that the McCawley was sunk by friendly PT boats which mistook her for an enemy.

*  *  * 

    In spite of the loss of the McCawley, enemy air opposition to our landing operations at Rendova was not impressive. The first attack group consisted entirely of fighters. The main strike by coordinated dive bombers and torpedo planes did not take place until 1500. Except for the threat of strafing at 1100, our amphibious operations were unopposed from the air for nearly eight hours of daylight, and thus the early and more difficult phases of our landing and unloading operations were completed without air opposition.

    Two reasons for this fact may be suggested. It was known that the principal Japanese striking force in this area was either maintained at or staged through Rabaul and only flown into Kahili in preparation for a major strike. There is also reason to believe that many Japanese carrier-type aircraft pilots in this theater were not trained in night takeoffs. These factors taken in combination offer the best explanation for the fact that there was a lapse of four hours between the initial sighting

13 

of our force by a Japanese search plane and the arrival of the first wave of attacking enemy planes.

    The McCawley was the only ship other than the destroyers equipped with radar. After she was torpedoed it was necessary for the other transports to place full dependence on destroyer radars and the fighter director ship for the location and identification of planes which could not be identified visually. The TBS circuit was particularly helpful in advising all units quickly in cases requiring prompt action before the attack was completed and afterwards.

    The second echelon of the Rendova movement, consisting of four LST’s and five LCI’s under the command of Captain Carter in LST 354, escorted by the Farenholt, Buchanan, and Gwin, arrived at Rendova Harbor the following day. The beach at Kokoruna was satisfactory, although embarkation of troops and cargo was handicapped by rains and heavy mud. The East Beach of Rendova Harbor proved extremely unsatisfactory, however. The beaching had to be made at dead slow speed, and the vessels were unable to plow their way through the mud to the beach proper. Vehicles could be operated only with difficulty because of deep mud, and many had to be abandoned. This area was finally vacated, and the LST’s were diverted to the beach section opposite Pago Pago Island. In his report of the operation the task unit commander observed that “The selection of beaches for use by LST’s from air reconnaissance only cannot be satisfactory . . . . In planning future operations, every effort should be made to obtain reliable and actual information relative to beaches intended to be used by LST’s. Air photos are inadequate and even misleading thereby endangering the success of such an operation.”

*   *   * 

    Throughout July reinforcements of men and supplies were moved into Rendova on a daily schedule by our transport command. Between 30 June and 31 July, 28,748 personnel (25,556 Army, 1,547 Navy, and 1,645 Marines), 4,806 tons of rations, 3,486 tons of fuel, 9,961 tons of ammunition, 6,895 tons of vehicles, and 5,323 tons of freight were unloaded at Rendova by the Western Force of Task Force TARE. The success of the Rendova patrol in warding off Japanese attacks is attested by the fact that during the entire operation only three hits were registered on our ships by bombing and torpedo plane attacks and only one horizontal bombing attack reached the objective during daylight hours.

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OTHER LANDINGS IN THE NEW GEORGIA AREA 

Onaiavisi, 30 June 1943

    Even before the first echelon had arrived at Rendova steps had been taken to secure the Onaiavisi Entrance to Roviana Lagoon in order to make possible landings east of Munda. At 0230 on 30 June the destroyer Talbot and the minesweeper Zane arrived off Onaiavisi with the Initial Landing Force and began to debark units of the 169th Infantry, 43rd Division, on Sasavele and Baraulu Islands adjacent to the Entrance. At the time of arrival the visibility was very poor with no moon and persistent heavy rain squalls. At 0257 while maneuvering on an approximate heading of 155 degrees T. the Zane ran aground on Dume Island. At 0631 after repeated attempts to clear the reef by twisting, the OTC received information from Admiral Turner by voice radio that the tug Rail was proceeding to assist. By 0845 all troops and provisions had been disembarked. While awaiting the arrival of the Rail, the Talbot made several attempts to extricate the Zane but had to abandon them because of impending air attack. Numerous unidentified aircraft were overhead; the Talbot began maneuvering to avoid them but was not molested. At 1248 the Rail hove in sight and in less than an hour and a half succeeded in freeing the Zane. The three ships proceeded to clear the area at once and took station astern of the main task group, which had by this time completed the landings at Rendova and was now passing through Blanche Channel en route to Tulagi. All three ships passed unscathed through the Japanese torpedo bomber attack at 1550. The Talbot and Zane took the attacking planes under fire.

    At 0832 on the following morning two SC’s and one PC were detailed to act as a screening unit for the Zane while the Talbot proceeded into Tulagi independently. Inspection at Tulagi disclosed that both propeller blades of the Zane had been wrinkled, bent, and torn; the shafts were believed to be sprung and the sound dome damaged. Inasmuch as the service unit at Tulagi was unable to effect repairs, arrangements were made to tow the Zane to Espiritu Santo for necessary repairs.

    On 2 July, a good beach was located at Zanana on the south coast of the New Georgia mainland six miles east of Munda, and a company of SoPacFor Scouts was landed there. That night the Scouts were reinforced by units of the 169th and 172nd Infantry. Assault boats from the Rendova Boat Pool, LCM’s, LCVP’s and LCP(R)’s, protected by

15 

MTB’s, were used to convey the troops in a shore-to-shore amphibious movement from Rendova to Zanana via Onaiavisi Entrance. Combat patrols moved ashore and took up their positions along the Barike River, the Army’s line of departure. By 8 July all artillery and troops were in position for the jump-off against Munda.

Wickham Anchorage, 30 June 1943

    The first landings in the Wickham Anchorage area were made at Oloana Bay at 0630 on the morning of 30 June. At 1812 on 29 June a task unit under Rear Admiral George H. Fort in the Trever, composed of the APD’s Schley and McKean and LCI’s 24, 233, 332, 333, 334, 335, and 336 left Wernham Cove in the Russell Islands and proceeded northwest toward Vangunu Island. On board the Schley and McKean were companies N and Q and 50 percent of the Headquarters Company of the 4th Marine Raider Battalion, 1st Marine Raider Regiment, attached to the 2nd Battalion, 103rd Combat Team of the 43rd Division.

    At 0115 on 30 June as we were proceeding on a base course of 345 degrees T. a radar contact bearing 063 degrees T. at a distance of 8,400 yards was reported. At 0125 two flush-deck destroyer-type vessels bearing 065 degrees T. were sighted at a distance of 2,000 yards on a course which would intercept ours. Orders were given to change course, and presently the two unidentified vessels disappeared from sight.

    At 0335 the task unit hove to off the west side of Oloana Bay. At 0345 embarkation of the first wave commenced under extremely hazardous conditions as a result of heavy seas, low clouds, and high wind. The outline of the beach was not readily discernible at any point. After one or two boats had been loaded it was learned by the APD commanders that they were lying off the wrong side of Oloana Bay. Both APD’s immediately moved approximately 1,000 yards to the east, and embarkation was resumed.

    The first wave of boats was thrown into confusion as a result of LCI’s carrying Army personnel breaking into their formation. All attempts to regain contact were unsuccessful, so the coxswains were forced to guide their craft to the beach individually. Since they had not been provided with the course to the beach, they became widely separated and landed the troops along a stretch of seven miles of terrain to the west of the designated landing beach. Six boats were lost in the heavy surf.

    The second wave from both APD’s landed at 0630, 0635, 0730, and 0805 on the designated beach, east bank. At 1000 all landing operations were

16 

completed without opposition, and the task unit was ready to return to Purvis Bay.

    Vura Village, several miles inland, had been designated as the objective in the original operations order, but after landing it was discovered that the main body of the enemy was situated at Kaeruka. In the fighting which followed, a force of 300 Japanese was wiped out. By 3 July our objectives in this area had been realized. 

Viru, 1 July 1943

    The landing at Viru was delayed for one day beyond the time originally planned because of the late arrival of the advance unit, which had been landed at Segi on 21 June and dispatched overland to Viru.

    The first echelon of the Viru Harbor occupation unit under the command of Comdr. Stanley Leith arrived off Viru at 0610 on 30 June. The unit was organized as follows:

Advance Unit, Lt. Col.  Michael S. Currin:

   Companies O and P of the Fourth Marine Raider Battalion.

First Echelon, Comdr. Stanley Leith (ComMinRon 2):

    Hopkins (FF), Lt. Comdr. Francis M. Peters, Jr.

    Kilty (F) (Comdr. Robert H. Wilkinson, ComTransDiv 22) Lt. Comdr.

       Dominic L. Mattie.

    Crosby, Lt. Comdr. Alan G. Grant.

plus

    One LCV towed by the Hopkins.

Landing Force, Capt. R. E. Kinch:

    Company B, 103rd Infantry, reinforced by one-half Company D.

    20th Construction Battalion.

    Naval Base Units, including Boat Pool.

    Battery E (less one platoon) Seventieth C. A.

 

    The directive governing the operation provided that the landing force embarked in the ships was not to land until the enemy guns guarding the entrance to the harbor had been immobilized by the advance unit attacking from the direction of Segi. It was also provided that the commander of the occupation unit should disembark the landing force into boats and have it in readiness to send in at 0645. A message was received en route, however, that the Raiders had been delayed at Choi River near Nono, New Georgia, on 28 June by enemy action. It was then decided by the task group commander that the troops should not be disembarked into the boats until there was some indication that the advance unit was attacking Viru Harbor.

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As soon as the task group arrived off Viru, attempts were made to establish contact with the advance unit by radio. These were continued for several hours without success. At 0703 a 3-inch shore battery opened fire, bracketing the Crosby with its first three shots. The ships returned


map of Japanese positions

the fire but withdrew out of range, establishing patrol about 4,000 yards from the harbor entrance, a narrow passageway flanked by sheer cliffs 100 feet high.

18 

    At 1007 a dispatch was transmitted to Admiral Turner by the unit commander recommending that in view of the unknown position of the Raiders and the inadvisability of attempting a frontal assault without a simultaneous land attack, the embarked troops be landed at Nono Point at the mouth of the Choi River, so that they might proceed overland to Viru. This recommendation was approved, and the troops were landed accordingly. The Kilty, Crosby, and Hopkins then returned to base.

    At 1700 on 1 July the capture of Viru by the advance unit was reported, and additional forces were able to land directly from seaward that night.

Rice Anchorage, 5 July 1943

    On the morning of 5 July, after a twenty-four hour postponement, landings were made at Rice Anchorage on the north coast of New Georgia in order to make possible an advance on the Bairoko-Enogai area and thereby prevent the Japanese garrison at Munda from receiving reinforcements from Kolombangara. By this time our beachheads east of Munda were firmly established, and preparations were being made to advance on the airfields. The force involved in the landing operations consisted of a transport group made up of 7 APD’s (Dent, Talbot, Waters, McKean, Kilty, Crosby, and Schley) and the destroyer McCalla; a mine group composed of the Hopkins, Trever, and the destroyer Ralph Talbot; and a screening unit comprising the Woodworth, Gwin, and Radford. The landing force consisted of the 3rd Battalion, 145th Infantry and the 3rd Battalion of the 148th Infantry, both of the 37th Division, and the 1st Marine Raider Battalion.

    During the night of 4-5 July, in preparation for these landings, a task force of cruisers (Honolulu, Helena, and St. Louis) and destroyers (Nicholas, O’Bannon, Strong, and Chevalier) under Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth, bombarded enemy positions and gun installations in the Vila-Stanmore and Bairoko Harbor areas. The original plan called for a heavy concentration of fire on Enogai Inlet, but at the last moment this was abandoned upon instructions from the task force commander, because our reconnaissance photographs revealed no evidence of enemy shore batteries in the Enogai area. Since there was little possibility of surprise, the heaviest concentration of fire was reserved for artillery emplacements, instead of troop bivouac areas, which had been the principal targets in previous bombardments.

19 

    In contrast to previous bombardments of the area, this one gave rise to real opposition. Contrary to our expectation, the four cleverly concealed 4.9 inch guns of the battery at Enogai caused us more trouble than any other opposition during the bombardment. During the first leg of the bombardment, which opened at 0026 on 5 July, the cruisers and rear destroyers (O’Bannon and Chevalier) subjected the Vila target objectives to a heavy and extremely accurate fire. Salvos were employed at six second intervals. The bombardment plan called for firing 14 minutes without ceasing, on a course of 190 degrees T., checking fire long enough to change course 100 degrees to port and then firing for six or seven minutes on targets in Bairoko Harbor. Once the bombardment had commenced, however, enemy shore batteries forced some deviation from this plan.

    As the flagship changed course to the northward after completing its bombardment of Bairoko only one destroyer ahead appeared upon the screen. Almost immediately the missing destroyer was identified as the Strong, and within a few moments she was located, on the starboard side of the Honolulu, dead in the water as a result of a torpedo hit received at 0043. The destroyers Chevalier and O’Bannon were detailed to conduct rescue operations, during which enemy shore batteries repeatedly illuminated the whole area with star shells and the three ships were subjected to accurate and intense fire from the beach, as well as to bombing by Japanese planes circling above them.

    In going alongside the Strong, the Chevalier struck the sinking ship on her port bow, opening a hole in her own bow ten feet long and two feet wide at the level of the first platform deck. All damage was above the waterline, however, and did not seriously impair the operation of the ship. A 6-inch manila line was passed, and every effort was made to expedite transfer of personnel from the Strong, as she was settling fast. Before the Chevalier retired she managed to rescue seven officers and 232 men, roughly 75 percent of the crew, during a period of nine minutes. While the Strong was sinking, she was hit twice by one of the shore batteries. As she disappeared at 0123, at least four of her depth charges exploded below the forward part of the Chevalier, lifting that vessel nearly out of the water and rendering her radar and compasses inoperative. Several hours later the commanding officer of the Strong, Comdr. Joseph H. Wellings, was picked up by one of the screening destroyers of the transport group. He was on a raft with a small number of Strong

20 

survivors and was suffering from concussion caused by the depth charges. Some of the Strong survivors were shell shocked, while others were blinded by fuel oil.

    The source of the torpedo which sank the Strong is not definitely known. It may have been a submarine on the westward or northwestward side of the Strong or possibly two destroyers which are believed to have left Kula Gulf at high speed about 0040. Since only one ship was attacked and no other ships reported torpedo wakes, it is possible that the damage was inflicted by a two-man submarine.

    While the Chevalier and O’Bannon were retiring from Kula Gulf they were fired upon by the screening group, which was now attempting to take the enemy shore batteries under fire. Although the Gwin and Radford attempted to triangulate the positions of the enemy shore batteries with some spotting assistance by the Ralph Talbot in the transport area, they had no success in silencing these batteries. When fired upon, the Japanese would cease firing, and as soon as our fire slackened they would resume fire.

    At 0154 the Chevalier opened fire with her machine guns in the general direction of the O’Bannon. She was immediately asked what she was firing at. The reply was “a torpedo plane.” The O’Bannon later reported that she had observed no planes and had no signs of any on the radar screen.

    In spite of the many shells which fell in the transport area there were no casualties. The Waters had her main truck shot away, and several of the other transports were hit by shrapnel but sustained no damage. At 0110, soon after the bombardment ceased, the landing operations began. The transports were unloaded into Higgins boats, each of which towed one 10-man rubber boat. The APD’s were unloaded first, followed by the DD’s and DM’s. As the APD’s were unloaded they stood up to the northward to form a screen.

    The entrance to the beach was over a narrow, shallow bar. Many of the boats touched bottom in crossing it, so that it became necessary to decrease their normal load. Moreover, the beach was so short that only four were able to unload at the same time. As a result boats were jammed up in the Wharton River all during the landing, waiting their turn to unload. Further confusion and misunderstanding resulted from a last minute change in the plans for debarkation made by the task unit com-

21 

mander after the troops had been embarked. Not only was the change not properly disseminated, but it also dislocated the Marines’ tactical plan of attack when the beach had been reached.


Battle of Kula Gulf Disposition at Opening Fire 0157

During the entire operation the Enogai battery fired intermittently at the supporting destroyers. The enemy appeared unaware of the presence of the landing force until daylight. At 0559 all transports were

22 

ordered to clear the area. Only two percent of the troops remained to be landed. The volume and accuracy of fire from the shore batteries was rapidly increasing, and it seemed dangerous to expose the entire force to possible air attack merely to get these few men ashore. Apart from the loss of the Strong and damage to the Chevalier, the operation had been carried out according to plan. 

BATTLE OF KULA GULF, 5-6 JULY 1943 

The Approach

    On the afternoon of 5 July while returning from its bombardment mission of the evening before, the task group commanded by Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth in the Honolulu received orders to reverse course and proceed northward to the Kula Gulf area in order to intercept the Tokio Express on its nightly run from Bougainville. The destroyers Radford and Jenkins were assigned to the task group in place of the Strong and the Chevalier. Otherwise the ships were the same which had bombarded Vila-Stanmore and Bairoko on the night of 4-5 July.10 In compliance with this order the task group steamed up the Slot via Indispensable Strait, picking up the Radford and Jenkins en route. This was the most direct route and would save fuel, in which all ships were low. It would also avoid the friendly ships which were to be expected off Guadalcanal.

    Shortly after passing Visuvisu Point the OTC ordered cruising speed reduced first to 27 knots and then to 25 knots in order to conserve fuel. No information had been received from our Black Cat search planes, and one of them had reported that he was returning to base because of the weather. The night was very dark with no moon. At its best, visibility was no more than two miles. The task group had been directed by dispatch to retire at 0200 6 July in case contact had not been made with the Tokio Express by that time.

    At 0136 while moving on a course of 2900, bearing about 3210, distance 26,000 yards from Visuvisu Point, the Honolulu made a radar contact with a group of ships off the northeast coast of Kolombangara bearing about 2200, course 3150, distance 22,000 yards. Admiral Ainsworth or-

-------------------

10 See p. 19.

23 

dered the task group to adopt battle formation in single column, with the Nicholas and O’Bannon in the van followed by the cruisers Honolulu, Helena, and St. Louis in that order, and the Jenkins and Radford in the rear. At 0142 our formation made a simultaneous 600 turn to the left to close the enemy. Eight minutes later a simultaneous 600 turn to the right placed the formation on a firing course of 2920. Range at this time was approximately 10,000 yards. After this maneuvering the van destroyers found themselves 5,000 yards ahead of the flagship on her disengaged bow, and were thus prevented from delivering an early torpedo attack without endangering the cruisers. The rear destroyers were unable to form column before the first turn signal was executed, and consequently the Jenkins blanked the fire of the Radford, thus keeping her from engaging the enemy during the first phase.

    At the time the enemy appeared to be in two groups, which may have consisted of five and four destroyers respectively, although the task group commander is of the opinion that several cruisers were involved. The sections were 6,000 - 8,000 yards apart. Admiral Ainsworth considered attacking both simultaneously but decided that the interval between them was too great. Consequently he determined “to blast this (the leading) group first, reach ahead, then make a simultaneous turn and get the others on the reverse course.” This plan was carried out precisely.

First Phase

    The order to commence firing was given at 0157 at a range of about 7,050 yards, which was somewhat nearer than the OTC desired. The van destroyers as well as the cruisers opened fire immediately but the rear destroyers held their fire. The leading enemy group also made a change of course to the westward about this time, so that the range rate was approximately zero. At the opening of the battle this group was heading west in close formation on a line of bearing about 500 T. thus exposing itself to enfilade fire.

    The gunfire on the first leg lasted slightly more than five minutes. Approximately 1,500 rounds of 6-inch, plus a fairly heavy fire from the 5-inch/38 batteries of the van destroyers and the Helena, were poured into the first group of enemy targets. In consequence of the fact that our fire enfiladed the enemy’s formation, our ships concentrated on the nearest enemy vessels. The Honolulu fired on three, shifting fire from one to the other when targets were seen to be in flames. The main

24 

battery of the Helena fired on two targets in succession, which disappeared from the radar screen. Most of the other vessels were using salvos, but the Helena had begun continuous fire. She had to employ ordinary smokeless powder, because all but a small amount of her flashless powder had been expended during the bombardment of the previous night. Her rate of fire was so rapid that the gun flashes lit up the whole ship, with the unavoidable result that she presented an excellent target. The St. Louis fired first on probably the same target as the Helena, then shifted to her own normal target when it appeared on the screen. Both Japanese ships appeared to have ceased firing and were left burning.

    The destroyers Nicholas and O’Bannon on the western end of the line and the Radford on the eastern end were firing on the same targets as the cruisers when opportunity offered. For several minutes the Radford was kept from joining in because the Jenkins blanked her fire. The Jenkins was the only one of the destroyers which fired torpedoes during this phase, but she did not fire her guns during the engagement.

    At 0203 the OTC executed a simultaneous turn of 180 degrees to the right. The van destroyers now became the rear destroyers and vice versa. A few seconds before its execution the Helena, veteran of 12 engagements with the enemy in the South Pacific, was struck on the port bow by a torpedo, followed in about ninety seconds by a second, and about one minute later by a third. Her bow to abaft No. 1 turret was blown off. The remaining part of the ship was broken in the middle at about No. 2 stack. None of our other ships was aware that she had been torpedoed and had fallen out of formation until some time later. Her commanding officer was not immediately aware after the first hit that the bow was completely gone, and the ship continued through the water at high speed, without any bow, until the second hit 1 1/2 minutes later.

Second Phase

    During the second phase of the battle our task group proceeded on an easterly course, firing as targets presented themselves. At 0207 a Turn 3 to course 142 degrees was executed to close the targets. It was at about this time that a dud torpedo hit the St. Louis on the starboard side. Between 0210 and 0212 the Honolulu resumed fire on a damaged target in the first group at a range of 7,600 yards with excellent results. Between 0213 and 0215, both the Honolulu and St. Louis fired effectively on another damaged target until a 6 Turn to course 082 degrees was executed and

25 

the targets drew too far aft. Meanwhile the Radford had fired a spread of four torpedoes at 0210, apparently without results.

    Targets in the second enemy group, now coming up fast on northerly courses, were first taken under fire at 0217. The leading target, which appeared to be a three - or four-stack cruiser, was hit by the first salvo, and the target quickly disappeared from the screen. At 0222 the O’Bannon fired five torpedoes at a retiring target in the second group at a range of about 10,000 yards. The task group was again drawing away from the target area; at 0227 fire was therefore checked, and a Turn 15 was executed to bring the force around to the westward again on a course of 262 degrees. By the time our ships completed this turn, all the pips had disappeared from the screen or had been tracked into the beach on Kolombangara Island. All the members of the second group appear to have been taken under fire by more than one ship.

    At 0241 “Turn 3” to course 292 degrees T. was executed. At 0242 the Nicholas fired a half-salvo spread of five torpedoes, target bearing 206 degrees, range 5,000 yards, and opened fire with guns. The target, probably a crippled destroyer, disappeared from the radar screen. At 0250 the OTC gave the order to “cease firing” as no other enemy ships were in sight on the radar screens except one which had apparently run aground near Waugh Rock. The formation now reached ahead toward the entrance of Vella Gulf, and the Nicholas was directed to make a radar sweep into the mouth of that Gulf for any additional enemy ships. The Radford was instructed to do likewise for the Kula Gulf area. Both searches led to negative results. At 0310, therefore, the OTC executed a Turn 18 and headed back for Kula Gulf. During this period (i.e. at 0255) the Jenkins fired two torpedoes at a target which was later believed to be a “phantom” inasmuch as it appeared close aboard visually on the heretofore disengaged northern side of the line but did not appear on the SG screen. While our ships were passing through the waters where the first engagement had been fought, the bow of a ship was sighted standing vertically out of the sea. Investigation by a destroyer disclosed that the vessel was the light cruiser Helena, first U. S. cruiser to be sunk since the torpedoing of the Chicago in January.11 Nothing further was encountered by the cruisers, which at 0327 changed course to 090 degrees and began retirement down the Slot in company with the O’Bannon and Jenkins. The Nicholas and  

-----------------

 11Admiral Ainsworth apparently first became aware that the Helena had fallen out of formation at about 0219, after the Helena had failed to acknowledge a series of maneuvering signals.

26 


Map of Battle of Kula Gulf 5-6 Jul Side 1


attack by Japanese side 2


The Nicholas at the Battle of Kolombangara

Radford under Captain McInerney were directed to remain behind and pick up the survivors of the Helena.

Third Phase

    The Nicholas and Radford slowly nosed their way into the midst of the oil-soaked crew, who were scattered over an area a mile square. The men were singing and acting very much as if they were participating in a peacetime drill. Some were in life rafts; others were swimming separately; many had flash lights and were blowing whistles. For three hours the rescue operations were carried out almost in the direct path of enemy ships returning from Kula Gulf to their bases in the Buin-Faisi area. Constant reports of torpedoes, torpedo wakes, and submarines were received. With the approach of daylight enemy aircraft were reported to be in the vicinity.

    At 0403, while in the midst of rescue operations, the two destroyers made radar contact at a distance of 16,800 yards with a large enemy ship bearing 274 degrees moving at high speed and closing. Both ships had to clear survivors from their sides, get boats clear, and make speed to engage the enemy. ComDesRon TWENTY_ONE informed the Radford that the Nicholas would stand between the enemy ships and the Radford so that the latter might continue the rescue work. The enemy ship or ships moved in to about 13,000 yards, then reversed course and stood to the northwestward before coming within effective gun or torpedo range. It is thought to have fired torpedoes, as high-speed propeller noises were picked up on the Radford’s sound gear. Both vessels returned to the survivor area and resumed rescue operations. Upon receipt of information of an enemy contact, Admiral Ainsworth had reversed course at 0412 and headed back for the scene of action. At 0429 he resumed retirement when informed by Captain McInerney that there was no further enemy contact.

    At 0412 as the Nicholas and Radford were returning to the survivor area to resume rescue operations, the Radford detected two large ships standing out of Kula Gulf. The Radford was directed to continue rescue operations while the Nicholas attempted to locate and attack the target. At 0433, after failing to locate these contacts, the Nicholas returned to the survivor area.

    At 0515 the Radford made radar contact with more enemy ships coming out of Kula Gulf. Both ships had to discontinue rescue operations

27 

once more, clear their sides, and prepare to engage the enemy. At 0522 the Nicholas fired torpedoes at an enemy target bearing 178 degrees, distance 7,950 yards, course 315 degrees, speed 30 knots. The target closed to 5,000 yards, and the Radford had to maneuver to avoid enemy torpedoes. At 0530 the Radford fired four torpedoes at the same target, bearing 210 degrees, distance 6,000 yards, course 300 degrees, speed 25 knots. Both ships reported underwater detonations which by time of run might have been hits from their torpedoes. At 0533 both ships changed their course to 310 degrees in order to close the enemy then at about 8,000 yards. At 0534 the Nicholas and Radford opened fire; the Nicholas also illuminated with star shells. Two enemy ships were observed, the larger of which appeared to be a four-stack cruiser. Salvos were rocked back and forth over the targets, and large clouds of smoke could be seen emanating from them. Boat crews in a position to observe reported that the larger vessel disappeared in a large cloud of smoke and that only debris could be seen afterward. At 0539 Capt. McInerney ordered a Turn 9 away from the targets to guard against possible torpedoes. At 0543 a command for another Turn 9 was given. As no enemy ships were now in evidence, both vessels headed back for the survivor area.

At 0605, while rescue operations were still in progress, another enemy contact was reported bearing 178 degrees, distance 12,450 yards, course 310 degrees, speed about 24 knots. Again it proved necessary to clear survivors from alongside to engage the enemy. Both ships opened fire at 0615 at a range of 8,000 yards. The enemy returned fire, and some salvos landed near our ships. Our salvos seemed to be hitting, however, and the enemy ship became enveloped in smoke. Fire was continued until the range opened to 11,000 or 12,000 yards. In this, as in the other intermittent engagements in which the Nicholas and Radford participated during the rescue operations, the men from the Helena assisted by augmenting the personnel at the various battle stations.

Daylight was now breaking. A combination of factors prompted the Squadron Commander to order the two destroyers to retire from the area after rescuing 52 officers and 687enlisted men:12 (1) Submarines were

-------------------

 12The complement of the Helena consisted of 77 officers and 1,110 enlisted men. Three officers, 34 enlisted men, and 4 marines, were wounded in action, 2 enlisted men died as a result of injuries received in action, and 7 officers and 184 enlisted men are recorded as missing.

28 


Battle of Kula Gulf 6 July 1943

likely to be in the vicinity, (2) The number and size of enemy surface units still in Kula Gulf were unknown, (3) The approach of daylight deprived us of the advantage of night fighting, (4) Enemy air attack was soon to be expected, (5) Shortly after 0340 the task group commander had advised Capt. McInerney by TBS that he would request air coverage at dawn, but this message had not been received. The four boats from the destroyers, with boat crews in the three operating boats, were left in the water near the survivors. At 1300 on 6 July, the Nicholas and Radford arrived back at Tulagi. Both they and the cruiser group which preceded them had been provided with air cover, but neither had been subjected to enemy air attack. 

Comments and Conclusions

    When this task group returned to Espiritu Santo the cruisers had only 30 percent usable fuel left on board while some destroyers had only 20 percent remaining. The cruisers were also very low in ammunition for their main batteries. At the time of the reversal of course at 0410, when there was some prospect that the action would be resumed, the Honolulu had only ten minutes of fire remaining for her main battery, and the St. Louis was in a similar condition.

    There is some difference of opinion as to whether the enemy was taken completely by surprise when we opened fire at 0157. A period of twenty-one minutes elapsed between the time of our first radar contact with the enemy and the order to open fire. During this interval at least forty-nine TBS transmissions were made. On the other hand at no time during our approach did the enemy give any evidence that he was aware of our presence. A careful track, made over several minutes, showed him to be zigzagging in a normal manner at a speed of twenty to twenty-two knots. He did not increase his speed nor did he make any attempt to turn away until taken under fire. The task group commander has related the following incident corroborating the theory of surprise.

    “The medium frequency used by the Japs was very close to the medium frequency warning net used by our own forces. We were aware of this fact, and did not use this circuit until the Helena failed to acknowledge our TBS tactical signals. When the opposing salvos were fired, and the Japanese ships burst into flames, the air was full of cries of anguish, amazement, and sheer terror in the Japanese language. These cries came in over the medium frequency warning net receiver located in CIC --

29 

Flag plot and were the occasion of no little satisfaction to us. These Jap transmissions decreased as their ships were sunk or damaged and finally ceased entirely.”

    The sketchy SG track and the fact that the interval opened so rapidly indicate that the second group of enemy ships may have been on a reverse course at the beginning of the engagement. Their delay in opening fire would tend to substantiate this. The maneuvering of the enemy appeared to be prompted by desperation rather than by plan or signal. As they were hit, individual ships lost speed and gave evidence of attempting to turn out of formation. When our fire opened on the second group, it turned to the right. Hits were quickly obtained on the leading ship. One of the others sheered out to the right and then continued to close the range. The remainder of the maneuvering showed no planning other than a speedy retreat or a possible effort to run aground to prevent sinking.

    Just how the Helena was torpedoed is a matter for conjecture. Capt. Cecil was of the opinion that the torpedoes which found the Helena came from the last destroyer in the first enemy group, which had put on a burst of speed and closed our line. From the plot submitted by Capt. Cecil it appears that if these torpedoes had been fired at the exact moment we opened fire they would have had to be faster than any we possess in order to reach the Helena at the time she was hit. The possibility that they issued from an enemy submarine lurking in the vicinity cannot therefore be overlooked.

    During the entire battle, none of our ships was hit by gunfire with the possible exception of the Helena, and she was sunk by torpedoes. In its larger aspects the action may be described as a duel between American gunfire and Japanese torpedoes. To be sure twenty-four torpedoes were fired by our destroyers independently, but no coordinated attack was attempted or ordered.

    The first dispatch from the task group commander stated that a minimum of six enemy ships had been sunk and one beached. It now appears, however, that the damage inflicted on the enemy was not so extensive as first believed. In this, as in most night battles, there appears to have been some duplication in the reports of damage inflicted upon the enemy arising from the fact that several ships were firing on the same targets. Moreover it is not clear whether the Japanese ships issuing

30 

from Kula Gulf during the rescue operations by the Nicholas and Radford were new arrivals or simply cripples making their escape following the earlier phases of the battle. A conservative estimate indicates that two Japanese destroyers were definitely sunk, one possibly sunk, and at least five were damaged.

NAVAL BOMBARDMENTS OF MUNDA 

Bombardment of Night of 8-9 July 1943

    At dawn on 9 July the 43rd Infantry Division jumped off on a 1,300 yard front along the Barike River and began advancing over a very difficult terrain. The enemy was content to fight a delaying action, making use of snipers and small raiding parties along our flanks. On the first day our advance netted us 2,500 yards and brought us in contact with the main enemy defense lines. Thenceforth our advance slowed to a few yards per hour.

    At the request of the commanding general of the New Georgia Occupation Force an hour’s naval bombardment of the Munda Point area was ordered to coincide with the initial jump-off of the 43rd Division. The bombardment area was divided into four parts, and each ship was assigned s distinct sector. At 0345 a task unit of four destroyers (Farenholt (F), Buchanan, McCalla and Ralph Talbot) under the command of Capt. T. J. Ryan, Jr., entered Blanche Channel. At 0512 it commenced firing on a course of 245 degrees T. A total of 2,344 rounds of 5-inch/38 were fired by the four destroyers. At 0608, just four minutes before the scheduled completion of bombardment, a single white flare was dropped over the Farenholt followed shortly by a salvo of bombs and a strafing attack against the Ralph Talbot. No damage resulted, but it was decided to terminate the bombardment at this point and return to Tulagi.

    Several cases of exhaustion among the loading crews of the Farenholt and Buchanan were reported. It is probable that the heavy demands which had been made upon the destroyers in the New Georgia operation since 29 June rather than the rate and duration of fire were mainly responsible for this.

Bombardment of 11-12 July 1943

    On 11 July the 172nd Infantry disengaged and moved south in order to establish another beachhead at Laiana. The enemy quickly detected

31 

this movement and infiltrated between the 169th and 172nd regiments, severing communications between the two and creating a critical situation. During the night of 11-12 July a second naval bombardment of Munda was undertaken. As originally constituted for this purpose the task group was composed of the following ships:

    Montpelier and Columbia with destroyers Waller, Pringle, and Philip.

    North Carolina and destroyers Stanly, Claxton, and Dyson.

    Farenholt and Buchanan.

    Several additional destroyers from Task Force TARE to be used as an advanced sound and radar search group.

    Later the Denver and Cleveland were substituted for the North Carolina group. As finally constituted the task group was under the command of Rear Admiral Merrill and consisted of the following ships:

    Bombardment Group:

    Cruisers: Rear Admiral A. S. Merrill, ComCruDiv TWELVE. Montpelier (FF), Denver, Columbia, Cleveland.

    Destroyers: Capt. Thomas J. Ryan, Jr. ComDesRon TWELVE. Farenholt (F), Buchanan.

    Advance Sweeping Group: Comdr. John M. Higgins, ComDesDiv TWENTY-THREE. Gwin (F), Maury, Ralph Talbot.

    Inner Screen: Capt. William R. Cooke, Jr., ComDesRon TWENTY-TWO. Waller (F), Saufley, Pringle, Philip, Renshaw. 

    The sweeping group got underway from Purvis Bay at 1230 on 11 July and was followed by the bombardment and screening groups at 1430. Their route took the ships south of Savo Island and the Russells. Normal cruising formation was maintained until thirty minutes after sunset, when the cruisers deployed in column with the Farenholt, Buchanan, Waller, Saufley, and Pringle screening ahead and the Philip and Renshaw taking stations 2,000 yards on the starboard and port quarters, respectively, of  the rear cruiser.

    Prior to the arrival of the bombardment group in Blanche Channel the Advance Sweeping Group conducted an extensive sound and radar search of the southern approaches to Blanche Channel, the Channel itself, and the western exit through which the retirement was to be made.

    In view of the fact that our bombardment was to be conducted from the restricted waters of Rendova Strait a larger number of destroyers was assigned to screening duties than would have been used ordinarily.

32 

Submarines had recently been reported in Blanche Channel, and one had been sighted there on the morning of the day preceding the bombardment. In addition to anti-submarine duties the inner screen was given wide latitude in firing on surface targets of opportunity and in driving off enemy planes. As it later turned out, this was a valuable precaution.

    The approach was made without incident. At 0255 the Montpelier took the firing course of 247 degrees T. and at 0257 commenced bombardment. She was followed at five minute intervals by the Denver, Columbia, and Cleveland, which with the Montpelier fired a total of 3,204 rounds of 6-inch and 4,407 rounds of 5-inch from the southeast. Ten minutes before the cruisers ceased fire, the Farenholt and Buchanan commenced bombardment from the west, steaming at 5 knots and using 12-second salvos.

    The firing plan called for 40 minutes of timed fire by the cruisers with 30 minutes fire by the Farenholt and Buchanan, the entire operation covering one hour. Because of the proximity of our troop lines to the target area, the cruisers undertook to conduct their firing from the southeast in order to parallel the direction of our lines and prevent possible casualties to our ground forces by overs. By having the destroyers fire from the west while the cruisers fired from the southeast, it was hoped to catch the Japanese on both sides of Kokengolo Hill.

    At the request of the Army, the original plan was changed so as to move the bombardment area to the west. This left a heavily-wooded “no man’s land” about one mile wide between the advanced lines of our own troops and the eastern limit of the bombardment area, which was to be covered by artillery fire.

    Spotting was conducted by ship spotters carried in two Black Cat planes. Communications were excellent, and the performance of the spotters was good until the target area became obscured by dust and smoke. The cruiser bombardment appeared to be very effective.

    The opposition from shore batteries was negligible. However, the firing drew enemy planes to the scene, as one observer put it, “like hawks over a broom-sage fire.” Early in the bombardment one of them succeeded in illuminating the entire cruiser column very effectively. After the initial illumination the screening destroyers were successful in driving off the harassing planes. One Black Cat reported an attack by five Japanese Zeros but succeeded in evading them without damage.

33 

The senior aviator of the Montpelier, who was spotting for the van destroyers as well, reported being fired upon by one of the destroyers. The range was great and the bursts low and behind so that there was very little cause for worry on the part of the spotting plane. When the destroyers asked him for a spot, his reply was, “No change.”

Upon completion of the bombardment at about 0400 the order to retire was given, and the task group returned to the Guadalcanal area at high speed.

At the time, it appeared that this had been an extremely effective bombardment. The fire concentration was high, and the target zone, especially the eastern edge opposite our ground forces and the stores and dispersal area immediately north of the runway, was well covered. While searching out the reverse slope of Kokengolo, the two bombarding destroyers registered hits on a large ammunition dump which went up with a cascade of sparks and burned brilliantly with intermittent explosions long after the bombardment was over.

Toward the end of the bombardment a few salvos landed in the water off both the western and southern coasts of Munda Point. Since all offset plans terminated near the beach areas, this was to be expected. It is also worthy of note that the actual track of the flagship deviated to the south as a result of eddy currents caused by the configuration of the land. This deviation may provide another explanation for the observed shorts. 

BATTLE OF KOLOMBANGARA, 12-13 JULY 1943 13

Introduction

While the drive against Munda was getting underway, the northern force was slowly moving south from Rice Anchorage. Maintaining an overland supply after the departure from the initial landing beach proved well night impossible. Our troops carried with them sufficient food rations to last three days. It was hoped that Enogai Inlet would be occupied in two days, whereupon all supplies could be brought by boat to that location. The seizure of Enogai required seven days, however; as a result of the troops were without food for a period of 48 hours and were finally supplied by air drops on the sixth and seventh

----------------

 13 See chart opposite page 27.

34 

days. On 9 July Colonel Liversedge’s Marines blocked the Munda-Bairoko trail, turning back two enemy attempts to reinforce Munda from Bairoko. On 11 July the Japanese garrison at Enogai was wiped out. Preparations were now made for a drive on Bairoko.

On the night of 12-13 July, exactly one week after the Battle of Kula Gulf, a task group of 3 cruisers and 10 destroyers, commanded by Admiral Ainsworth, clashed  with the enemy in an area roughly seven to thirteen miles northwest of Kolombangara. After the battle of Kula Gulf this task group had repaired to Espiritu Santo in order to take on fuel, ammunition, and torpedoes. Once these requirements had been filled, the ships returned to Tulagi for further night operations against the Tokio Express in the Kula Gulf-Blackett Strait area.

On the night of 11-12 July, the Honolulu, St. Louis, Leander, 14  Nicholas, Radford, Jenkins, and O’Bannon had operated as a covering force for a task unit of APD’s engaged in unloading munitions and supplies at Rice Anchorage. The Nicholas, Jenkins and O’Bannon had acted as van destroyers in this operation, while the Leander and Radford took station as the light forces in the rear for the cruisers. This arrangement was adopted in order to give the Leander greater freedom of action for the use of her torpedoes and to keep a weaker unit out of the cruiser battle line.

On the afternoon of 12 July, Admiral Turner received dispatch orders from Commander Third Fleet to place all available destroyers under his command at the disposal of Admiral Ainsworth for a night operation up the Slot. In compliance with this order, Admiral Turner directed Captain T. J. Ryan, Jr., (ComDesRon 12) to report to Admiral Ainsworth with seven destroyers. As it turned out, only six destroyers 15 hastily gathered together in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area (Taylor, Buchanan, Woodworth, Maury, Gwin and Ralph Talbot) were able to report. These were from three different squadrons, had never operated together with the cruisers before, and had never before functioned as a single tactical unit under the squadron commander. The high command fully appreciated the situation but felt that the advantage to be gained justified the risks involved. As some of Captain Ryan’s ships were on the way to Tulagi

-----------------

 14 HMNZS Leander, a light cruiser, had been added to Admiral Ainsworth’s task group on 11 July as a replacement for the Helena.

 15 The Farenholt had suffered an engineering casualty and was capable of making only 25 knots. She was ordered to remain in port at Tulagi, and Captain Ryan shifted his flag to the Ralph Talbot.

35 

from Koli Point and Purvis Bay, he remained to collect his ships and disseminate information. He planned later to join his task group, which sailed without him at 1700.

    Admiral Ainsworth’s instructions were to proceed up the Slot in time to arrive north of Visuvisu Point by 0100 13 July and to retire by 0230 if no contacts were made.

    With the additions noted above, the task group was constituted as follows: 

Cruisers

    Cruiser Division NINE, Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth

    Honolulu (FF), Captain Robert W. Hayler

    Leander, Captain C. A. L. Mansergh, R. N.

    St. Louis,Captain Colin Campbell 

Destroyers

    Destroyer Squadron TWENTY-ONE, Captain Francis X. McInerney

    Destroyer Division FORTY-ONE, Captain Francis X. McInerney

    Nicholas (F), Lt. Comdr. Andrew J. Hill

    O’Bannon, Lt. Comdr. Donald J. MacDonald

    Taylor, Lt. Comdr. Benjamin Katz

plus

    Radford, Comdr. William K. Romoser

    Jenkins, Lt. Comdr. Madison Hall, Jr.

    Destroyer Squadron TWELVE, Captain Thomas J. Ryan, Jr.

    Destroyer Division TWENTY_THREE, Comdr. John M. Higgins

G    win (F), Lt. Comdr. John B. Fellows, Jr.

    Buchanan, Lt. Comdr. Floyd B. T. Myhre

plus

    Ralph Talbot (F ComDesRon 12), Comdr. Joseph W. Callahan

    Maury, Comdr. Gelzer L. Sims

    Woodworth, Comdr. Virgil F. Gordinier

The Approach

    On the trip up the Slot our task group hugged the Santa Isabel coast closely in order to avoid being silhouetted against the moon, which was very bright and not due to set till 0215. The rear destroyers had put on a burst of speed and overtaken the main group at 1810. The group was in night antiaircraft cruising formation on a course of 305 degrees with van and rear destroyers forming an antisubmarine screen on circles five and four respectively. Inasmuch as the Leander had no radar comparable to our SG, she was placed in the center of the cruiser column in order to insure that the leading cruiser had a reliable SG radar. This arrangement per-

36 


Battle of Kolombangara

mittted the task group to reverse course and still maintain SG superiority. By midnight, course had been changed to 275 degrees to cut diagonally across the Slot toward Visuvisu Point on the northern tip of New Georgia. Enemy search planes had already spotted our task group as early as 2100.

    Shortly after midnight our Black Cat search plane reported a contact consisting of six ships (one light cruiser and five destroyers) standing down toward us on course 128 degrees, speed 30 knots. This placed the enemy about 20 degrees on our starboard bow, distance about 36 miles. The OTC now formed on present course 275 degrees, speed 28 knots, for night battle. Our cruisers were in loose column, the Honolulu first, followed by the Leander and St. Louis. Destroyers in van and rear began forming into column on the cruisers; some of the rear destroyers were not yet in column when the action started.

    At 0059, the time of our first radar contact, the enemy was bearing 297 degrees on a course of 110 degrees T., distance 30,200 yards. The van destroyers had been instructed to speed up and reach out ahead. In forming up, the Radford lost suction, however, and embarrassed the cruisers as she dropped back. At 0103, Capt. McInerney reported to the OTC that he was now crossing the enemy’s bow and was in visual contact with the enemy, who was bearing 317 degrees at a distance of 16,500 yards. At 0106 all ships turned simultaneously 30 degrees to the right in order to close to effective gun range. Three minutes later Admiral Ainsworth ordered the destroyers to fire torpedoes at discretion and at 0110 executed two left turns of 30 degrees each, steadying a little between turns to check the range. It had become very dark now, as the moon had dropped low behind a formation of dense clouds. Meanwhile at 0108 the enemy appeared to have changed course left to 090 degrees T. At 0111.5 the second ship in the enemy column, a light cruiser, turned on a searchlight for an appreciable interval illuminating the van destroyers. At 0112 our cruisers opened fire at a range of 10,225 yards with the enemy bearing 320 degrees. 

First Phase

    The maneuvers during this phase of the battle were almost identical with those in the first phase of the Battle of Kula Gulf. Our cruisers and those of the enemy were on nearly opposite courses passing at a relative speed of 50 knots. At the end of five minutes of fire according

38 

to the report of the task group commander, the three leading enemy ships were smoking, burning, and practically dead in the water. Apparently everyone had concentrated on the second ship (later reported to be the light cruiser Jintsu). Only after she had been well riddled did the cruisers transfer their fire to other targets.

    Even before the cruisers opened up, the van destroyers had started firing torpedoes. At 0109 the O’Bannon fired five; at 0111 the Nicholas and Radford each fired five and the Taylor nine; at 0113 the Jenkins fired two; and at 0114 the Leander four. Those fired by the Radford and Jenkins passed to the right and ahead of the target, but some of the others may have made hits.

    At the time the OTC ordered destroyers to fire torpedoes, the rear destroyers were badly bunched, as they had not had sufficient time to get into column from their original screening formation. The Ralph Talbot and Maury fired eight each at 0112 and 0113 respectively, which may have registered hits. The Buchanan and Woodsworth at 0115 fired five and four torpedoes respectively, which evidently passed well to the right of the enemy group.

Second Phase

    At 0117, with the enemy drawing aft, an 18 turn to the left was executed, and the engagement continued to port on a course of 065 degrees T. All ships had acknowledged for this signal, but as a result of defects in the TBS system the signal of execution came through very weakly and was therefore missed by the Leander and all the rear destroyers except the Ralph Talbot. The situation was further complicated by the dense smoke from our flashless powder. While making the turn, the Ralph Talbot was forced to back full, maneuver radically, and use whistle signals to avoid a collision with the other destroyers which had not come left but were standing on at 30 knots. The Leander came around very promptly when Capt. Mansergh realized that he had missed the signal, but her tardiness in effecting the maneuver forced the Honolulu to turn wide and led to further difficulties when the Leander was torpedoed at the completion of the turn.

    The Leander was hit at about 0124. The torpedo which found her seems to have been one of the only two seen crossing the cruiser line. The destroyers on the starboard quarter of our cruisers had to maneuver

39 

violently, however, to avoid other torpedoes. The Leander was now compelled to drop out of the action; accordingly the Radford and later the Jenkins were directed to stand by and screen her.

    After completing the 180 degrees turn both remaining cruisers and destroyers resumed fire on such targets as were still on the screen. At the time fire was checked to make the turn, our Black Cat reported that four destroyers had turned radically to the left and were retiring to the north. At that time it appeared that a group of enemy ships, later estimated at two, might be making good their escape. The commander of the van destroyers was therefore dispatched in pursuit on a course of 325 degrees T. at about 0126. The Ralph Talbot had been left upon the disengaged side of the St. Louis as a result of the maneuver, and consequently ComDesDiv 23 was requested by Commander Rear Destroyers to take charge. All the rear destroyers had been scattered radically during the turn. The Ralph Talbot was astern of the cruisers and to the south of them. The Gwin, Woodworth, and Maury were fairly close together, slightly abaft the starboard beam of the cruisers. The Buchanan was about midway between the Gwin group and the Ralph Talbot. After the van destroyers were detached in pursuit of the escaping enemy ships, the Gwin, Woodworth, and Maury were ordered to take station as DD’s van, while the Buchanan and Ralph Talbot were designated to act as DD’s rear. Because of the subsequent movements of the cruisers, however, only the Gwin was able to take station. Their maneuvers constituted a stern chase. Acting more or less independently, they were unable to concentrate and to coordinate their actions because of the darkness and the confused picture on the radar screen.

    At 0132 the OTC, having ordered the cruisers to cease firing, decided to stand on his present course (065 degrees) until well clear of any torpedo water and then work around to the northward and up the Slot in pursuit of any enemy cripples which might have escaped. This placed the cruisers on a line of bearing, both of them heading up the Slot on a course of 300 degrees. At this time the van destroyers were within easy range of the enemy hulks and were engaged in sinking them. They did not, however, go beyond them to pursue any fugitives--a fact of which the OTC was unfortunately unaware. 16

---------------------

 16 After cease firing was ordered, the CIC attempted to locate all our forces, which had become badly jumbled on the 180 degrees turn, but was unable to locate our van destroyers. Radar Aft did have all our forces located but was unaware that CIC did not know the location of the van destroyers.

40 


Battle of Kolombangara

    While on its northwestward course at 0155 the Honolulu made contact with a group of ships sharp on the port bow at a distance of about 20,400 yards. At first it was thought that these were the cripples reported by the Black Cat plane, but as this group was gradually overhauled it appeared to consist of four ships. This presented a confusing picture. The OTC was not completely certain whether they were four of the enemy’s vessels retiring or whether they were our own van destroyers in pursuit of the enemy after finishing off the cripples. At this point the forward TBS on the flagship went out of commission, and all messages to and from other ships had to be relayed by telephone through the duplicate TBS aft. Radar Aft reported on the JB circuit that the ships were enemy. Unfortunately this report was made in such a way that the various stations which received the report did not realize that Radar Aft was positive of their identity. The contact seemed too far away to request identification lights, so it was decided to illuminate with star shell and ask our van destroyers if it was they who were being illuminated. It was now apparent that whatever the mysterious ships were, they were closing rapidly toward our line on a course of 130 degrees T. At 0205 the Honolulu illuminated with star shells, and one minute later, just after the star shells burst, the OTC made a simultaneous turn away of 60 degrees and gave the order to commence firing. 

Third Phase

    Before either cruiser could open fire, torpedo wakes were observed closing the Honolulu from a relative bearing of 225 degrees. Three torpedoes passed ahead of the Honolulu just clear of the bow; one passed under the stem, and two others cleared the stern by about 100 yards. At about the same time (0208) the St. Louis was hit by a torpedo on the port bow and was forced to slow to 8 knots. At approximately 0210, when the Honolulu had steadied on a course of 090 degrees T., torpedo wakes were sighted on the starboard side coming up from the quarter on a course of 160 degrees to 170 degrees relative. The next moment a torpedo struck the Honolulu on the starboard bow raising the ship “out of the water about a foot” and throwing the bow upward “about four feet in the air.” The Gwin was hit at 0214 and shortly afterward came bearing down on the starboard side of the Honolulu in flames. The Gwin had been in a hard left turn when she was hit, and the rudder apparently jammed in that position. The rudder of the Honolulu was thrown hard right, and a

42 

collision was narrowly avoided. A little later the Honolulu was struck in the middle of the stern just one foot above the water line by a dud torpedo which presently dropped out and sank. The plot indicates that these torpedoes were fired at extreme ranges, probably by radar control.

    As a result of these torpedo hits the cruisers were immobilized and forced to concentrate upon damage control. No offensive action was taken against this second enemy group except that the Ralph Talbot fired four torpedoes at 0213. Had the enemy not turned away at 0215 these torpedoes might have found their target even though the range was extreme. 

The Retirement

    The Honolulu and St. Louis made a quick investigation of their damage and reported that they would be able to make 15 knots. Preparations were then made for retirement down the Slot on a course of 120 degrees. The OTC had summoned all available destroyers to screen the damaged ships except the Nicholas and O’Bannnon, which he supposed to be still in pursuit of the enemy. They were actually to the southward at this time and joined the screen around the cruisers at 0247. By this time the fire on the Gwin had been brought under control. The fantail was about three feet under water, and the rudder was jammed so that she constantly circled to the left. She still had power, however, and the starboard engine and screw were in commission. Preparations were made for the Gwin to be taken in tow alongside by the Ralph Talbot.

    At 0225, while the Woodsworth was circling the Gwin, a ship was sighted on a collision course on the port bow. The rudder was put over hard left, and flank speed was ordered. At 0226 the Buchanan side swiped the Woodsworth’s port side, damaging a propeller, slowing the engine and flooding three compartments aft. All the Woodworth’s port depth charges were knocked into the water, and although they had all been set on safe one of them exploded under the Buchanan’s bow, shaking her badly. The damage to the Buchanan was minor, nevertheless, and she was able to continue at maximum speed.

    At 0655 several Zeros came in sight of the Gwin, and an air attack seemed imminent. The Ralph Talbot, which was towing while the Maury screened, cast off, and all three ships took the planes under fire. One twin-engined bomber closed to 10,000 yards and then withdrew

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without making an attempt to drive home the attack. By daylight plenty of fighter coverage began to arrive from the Russells. Shortly after daylight 18 Japanese dive bombers accompanied by 20 Zeros made a determined attempt to attack the task group, but they were intercepted by our fighters west of Visuvisu Point and forced to jettison their bombs before they could reach their objective.

    At 0810 an attempt was made by the Ralph Talbot to tow the Gwin from ahead, but before the approach to pass the tow had even been started, more enemy planes had to be taken under fire. At 0900 the Gwin reported that she was settling and taking a list. Accordingly at 0915 the Maury went alongside the Gwin, removed the Captain, the Division Commander, 8 other officers, and 44 men, and then hauled clear at 0930. On orders from Capt. Ryan the Ralph Talbot then fired four torpedoes at the Gwin, which broke in half and sank in latitude 07 degrees 41’ S., longitude 157 degrees 27’ E. 17 Course was thereupon set to intercept the cruiser group for return to Tulagi. 

Comments and Conclusions

    Estimates of the damage sustained by the enemy in the Battle of Kolombangara depend almost entirely on radar evidence. On this basis one light cruiser and one destroyer were reported sunk, two destroyers possibly sunk, and one destroyer damaged. Of these losses the sinking of the light cruiser has been confirmed.

    Although it seems probable that our radar contacts were made earlier than those of the enemy, it is apparent that he was aware of our approach before we opened fire. Once more, as in the case of the Battle of Kula Gulf, the enemy chose to match torpedo against radar-controlled gunfire. The speed and accuracy of the Japanese torpedo fire was impressive. In the past the enemy had not hesitated to press home torpedo attacks to close range. In this action, however, the tactics pursued by the enemy seemed to be based on the consideration that a “torpedo which hits near the end of its run does just as much damage as one fired at closer range.” He seemed fully aware that when a destroyer pushes an attack to close range she gives her target earlier warning of the attack and hence more

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 17 The Gwin lost 67 of her officers and crew during the battle: one officer and 2 enlisted men were killed in action; 2 enlisted men died of wounds received in action; 6 men were wounded; one officer and 55 men were listed as missing.

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time to sink the attacker and turn away than would have been the case if the salvo had been fired just inside the torpedo range.

    In his report of the Battle of Kolombangara, the task group commander made reference to the fact that the retreating targets in the second group were first at a considerable distance and were overhauled very slowly. Then they closed rapidly and fired a salvo of torpedoes across our line. It is known that many, and possibly all, Japanese destroyers carry reloads for their tubes and have used them in previous battles. It is entirely possible in this case that, having fired their torpedoes, the destroyers had retired to reload and were then returning to the attack.

    The volume and accuracy of our gunfire seems to have been all that could have been expected. The approach to the battle area was made sharply on the enemy’s bow which both exposed the enemy to enfilade fire and gave good range differentials between the enemy ships. This increased the effectiveness of the fire control radars so that there was no merging of targets such as occurred during the Battle of Kula Gulf.

    This approach had the disadvantage, however, of rendering normal fire distribution difficult. There was a tendency on the part of our ships to concentrate on the nearer or leading vessels, shifting fire as the nearer targets disappeared from the screen or gave evidence of being disabled. The two rear enemy destroyers were evidently not taken under fire at any time during the first phase of the battle; this takes on greater importance in view of the possibility that the torpedo attack which later damaged the Honolulu and St. Louis originated from these two vessels.

    The problem of identification during the Battle of Kolombangara was a very serious one. This was especially evident when the task group commander, having dispatched his van destroyers to the northward in pursuit of the fleeing enemy, confused them temporarily with the second enemy group and delayed opening fire until it was too late.

    Nevertheless the two night actions of 5-6 July and 12-13 July, although costly, removed the enemy’s threat to our landings on the north coast of New Georgia. They also deterred him from using the Kula Gulf route to supply and reinforce his garrisons at Vila and Munda. During the remainder of the campaign he was reduced to the expedient of sending ships and barges around Vella Lavella to the west of Kolombangara and slipping them into anchorages along the south coast of that island.

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RESCUE OF THE HELENA SURVIVORS

16 July 1943 

    When the Nicholas and Radford left the Kula Gulf area on the morning of 6 July, many Helena survivors were still in the water. These were in two general groups, which had become well separated during the night and by morning were out of sight of each other. The first group, some 85 all told, including Captain Cecil, gathered a flotilla of the three motor whale boats left by the destroyers and set course to the northward with a view to getting beyond visual range of Kolombangara. Starting from a point estimated to have been about 4 miles off shore, they steered 3 miles to the northward and then set course for New Georgia, rounding the northern entrance to Kula Gulf and keeping beyond range of observation from Visuvisu Point. This journey against wind and tide occupied about nine or ten hours. One motor whaleboat ran out of fuel and had to be towed about three-quarters of the way. At about 1700 this group made a landing inshore from Menakasapa Island and pitched camp for an overnight stop. On the following morning the members of the group were rescued by the destroyers Gwin and Woodworth and transported to Koli Point.

    The other survivors were scattered over a large area, floating or swimming with no other support in most cases than their life jackets. On the morning of 6 July, an Army B-24 dropped three rubber boats, one of which sank. The wounded were placed in the others, and men were gradually collected until about 25 surrounded each boat. Tuesday (7 July) was spent in the area. Nothing but planes, both friendly and enemy, were sighted. Zeros passed close overhead, but no attempt was made to strafe the men from the Helena. On Tuesday evening an unsuccessful attempt was made to reach the shore of Kolombangara.

    On Wednesday morning the survivors concluded that their best chance lay in making for Vella Lavella, as the wind and sea were setting in toward that island, and one of the officers had read that the natives there were friendly. During the day one of the survivors died; a few others swam away and were not seen again. A case of potatoes floated by and assisted materially in relieving thirst. On Wednesday night several more men strayed from the boat and were not seen again; their identity was unknown, as the whole group was covered with oil and suffering from exhaustion. During the night the two boats became separated

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and drifted ashore at different points on the coast of Vella Lavella. After giving food and water to the survivors, friendly natives took them back into the bush to avoid detection by roving Japanese patrols. Medical supplies and emergency rations from some of the ship’s rafts were assembled, and the wounded were given beds in a Chinese house. Plans were also made to guard against Japanese patrols in the vicinity. On one occasion a party of four Japanese approached too closely and were disposed of by the natives.

    Within a few days the task force commander received word that approximately 175 Helena survivors were marooned on Vella Lavella. In accordance with orders received from the task force commander, Captain Thomas J. Ryan, Jr. was ordered to proceed to Vella Lavella on the morning of 16 July in the Taylor with the Maury, 18 Gridley 18 and Ellet 18 as an escorting force for Comdr. J. D. Sweeney in the Dent with the Waters. Capt. Francis X. McInerney in the Nicholas with the Radford, Jenkins, and O’Bannon was directed to cover the operations.

    Since the escorting group was at Guadalcanal and the covering group at Tulagi there was no opportunity for a conference. Captain McInerney sent a memorandum to Captain Ryan outlining the procedure which would be followed by the covering group and containing suggestions regarding the operation. Word was received by dispatch from Captain Ryan that these suggestions and procedure would be adopted in full.

    At noon on 15 July the escort and transport groups left Guadalcanal and proceeded south and west of Rendova Island through the hazardous waters of Gizo Strait into Vella Gulf and thence to Paraso Bay on the northeast coast of Vella Lavella. This was probably the first time that any of our ships had passed through Gizo Strait. Furthermore there was a strong chance that Japanese surface units might be encountered in these waters.

    The covering force left Tulagi at about 1500 on 15 July and proceeded up the Slot, arriving ten miles north of Vella Lavella at 0100 on 16 July. From about 2100 on 15 July the covering force was shadowed by Japanese search planes. During the operation many flares were dropped from enemy planes in and around the covering force, and on two occasions sticks of bombs were dropped near the destroyers. No attempt was made to fire on the planes, as we were loath to disclose the location

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 18 The Maury had reported to CTF TARE for duty on 9 July as a replacement for the McCalla. The Ellet, Gridley and Patterson relieved the Farenholt, Woodworth and Buchanan on 13 July.

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of our force to any Japanese submarines or surface units which might be lurking in the vicinity. The APD’s with escorting destroyers arrived off Paraso Bay at 0130, and after taking off survivors proceeded to Lambu Lambu Cove about eight miles to the southeast, where a second group of survivors was evacuated. At 0450 or thereabouts, when all rescue operations had been completed, the two forces joined up and proceeded down the Slot to Tulagi, where they arrived safely on the afternoon of 16 July.

    The survivors rescued from Vella Lavella totaled 160 enlisted men, 14 naval officers, and one army officer. In addition 16 Chinese inhabitants of the island and one Japanese army aviator prisoner were removed. 

DESTROYER OPERATIONS IN KULA GULF

Night of 17 - 18 July 1943

    On the night of 17-18 July five destroyers, 19 the Lang (ComDesDiv FIFTEEN), Stack, Waller (ComDesRon TWENTY-TWO), Saufley, and Pringle acted as a covering force for a group of APD’s (Kilty, Ward, Waters, and McKean) which were engaged in landing troops and supplies at Enogai Inlet southwest of Rice Anchorage. For the time being our advance along the north coast of New Georgia was at a standstill, although Navy torpedo and dive bombers were actively engaged in softening up the Japanese defenses at Bairoko. The approach to Enogai was uneventful, and the APD’s were met by about 30 Higgins boats and guides. While unloading proceeded, the destroyers patrolled a line passing through a point ten miles northwest of Visuvisu Point on a base course of 2850. The patrol unit was organized in two sections, one consisting of the Waller, Saufley, and Pringle in column to the southward, the other of the Lang and Stack in column 2,000 yards on the starboard hand of the first section. The unit was maneuvered by turn signals at 27 knots because of enemy air threat.

    At 0115 a report was received from a Black Cat of contact with three enemy destroyers dead in the water in position 070 57’ S., 1560 58’ E. (near Vanga Point off the northwest coast of Kolombangara). Course

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 19 ComDesDiv 15 with Lang and Stack reported to CTF TARE at Guadalcanal for duty 0n 17 July.

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was changed to 2350, and the patrol group proceeded at full speed in the direction of the reported contact. At 0138 three ships were sighted by the Squadron Commander almost dead ahead at a range of 20,000 yards, standing in at high speed directly toward the coast of Kolombangara. Illuminating with starshells the patrol group took these targets under fire at 0147. On the first salvo the enemy appeared to reverse course and head south at high speed along the shore. At 0151 Waller fire control reported that one of the retreating ships had disappeared smoking heavily. The targets had meanwhile laid down a smoke screen, which, together with the splashes of our gunfire and the land background, made visual observation of damage very difficult.

    In view of the fact that our mission was to cover the landing operations at Enogai Inlet it was now decided to return to the entrance of Kula Gulf. From 0209 until 0408 the unit was under sporadic bombing attack; during this period it maneuvered by radical course and speed changes in the patrol area. The APD’s had meanwhile completed unloading without incident and departed for Guadalcanal at 0312.

    It has since been learned that the putative enemy destroyers were United States PT boats, operating in Blackett Strait well north of the assigned area. Although most ships of the unit reported straddles and hits in their original dispatch reports, no damage seems to have resulted from the clash. 

THE BOMBARDMENT OF BAIROKO

Night of 23-24 July 1943 

    At daylight on 20 July the Northern Force opened its drive on Bairoko against 500-600 Japanese armed with automatic weapons and heavy mortars and supported by one battery of heavy artillery on the west bank of Bairoko Harbor. The Japanese were inclined to view the intrusion of our force from Rice Anchorage as a primary danger and therefore concentrated reinforcements from Vila at that point. After advancing to within 300 yards of the east bank of Bairoko Harbor our forces were met with heavy enemy artillery fire, suffered heavy casualties, and were forced back to Enogai, where they were surrounded and practically cut off from all supply for a time. To keep our force contained required almost the entire attention of the Japanese at Bairoko, however. In the

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process their communications with Munda were impaired so that from a strategical viewpoint the diversion was highly successful.

    During the night of 23-24 July, the destroyers Conway, 20Patterson, Taylor, and Ellet under the command of Comdr. Arleigh A. Burke (ComDesDiv 44) escorted TransDiv 22 (APD’s Kilty, Crosby, Talbot and Waters) to Enogai Inlet in order to supply our beleaguered Marine force there. They were covered by a task group of cruisers and destroyers (Montpelier, Cleveland, Waller, Pringle, Philip, Maury, and Gridley) under the command of Rear Admiral Merrill, which made a sweep to the north and west of Kolombangara without encountering opposition.

    Two destroyers (the Taylor and Ellet) were to bombard Bairoko Harbor during the unloading operations. Bombardment was to begin fifteen minutes before departure except in case of enemy interference, in which case the bombardment was to begin at once. It was also prescribed that the APD’s must leave the unloading area by 0400 on 24 July.

    The transport group left Guadalcanal at 1452 and arrived off Enogai Inlet at 0100. The signal light which the Marines had been directed to display at Enogai Point was delayed twenty minutes. Thereafter unloading proceeded as planned.

    At 0247, with screening destroyers heading on a northerly course, gunfire from a single small caliber battery was observed on the eastern shore of Kolombangara. The location of the splashes was not immediately ascertained, but the screening force was directed on southwesterly courses so that the Taylor and Ellet would be headed for their bombardment positions. At 0258, while they were so headed, the Taylor and Ellet were ordered to take position and commence bombardment. Splashes were observed to seaward about 2,000 yards from the Conway. It seemed probable that enemy shore batteries had received information that ships were in the area but had no idea of their position and were firing at random. It was therefore decided to withhold counter battery fire until splashes indicated that the enemy had located us or until the Taylor and Ellet were in position to commence bombardment. Meanwhile the Conway and Patterson were accurately locating the enemy shore battery so that when fire was opened it would be effective. At about 0312 other

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 20 Comdr. Burke in the Conway arrived at Guadalcanal on 20 July and relieved Capt. T. J. Ryan, Jr., as commander of the destroyer task group of Task Force TARE. The Conway replaced the Ralph Talbot.

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shore batteries off Enogai, two of which appeared to be 6-inch, opened fire.

    At 0316 the Taylor and Ellet commenced their bombardment of Bairoko, and at the same moment the Conway and Patterson opened fire. The shore batteries shifted their fire at once to the latter, and projectiles landed within 200 yards, both short and over but in deflection. After about one minute’s firing by the Conway and Patterson, firing from the shore stopped abruptly. It is believed that the enemy may have opened fire first with a small battery in order to draw fire from our larger combatant ships. By this means the larger enemy shore batteries might obtain information for regulating their fire. Since their small battery fire failed to come close to our ships, they discharged a few salvos at random with their larger batteries and then took several shots at the general unloading area off Enogai before they were silenced.

    Our bombardment was conducted by direct fire while the enemy was firing, then by indirect fire using the eastern part of Bairoko Harbor as a point of aim. Deflection spots were introduced every 20 seconds throughout the bombardment in order to cover the target area laterally. One large explosion and several smaller fires were observed in the target area during the firing.

    At 0330 all firing ceased; the APD’s were unloaded and withdrawing. During retirement several contacts were made with enemy planes, but they did not venture to attack. 

BOMBARDMENT OF LAMBETI PLANTATION

25 July 1943 

    Following the second bombardment of Munda, enemy resistance to the drive on the airport was localized in two centers about a thousand yards apart astride the Munda trail just east of Roviana. A rainy period had set in, and to all the other discomforts sustained by the combatants was added that of mud. Meanwhile important changes in the high command were taking place. On 15 July Rear Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson relieved Rear Admiral Turner as ComAmphibForSoPac, and on the same day Major General Oscar W. Griswold assumed command of the New Georgia Occupation Force.

    On 17 July General Griswold informed Admiral Wilkinson that he was planning a new drive to capture Munda and requested that a naval

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bombardment of the Lambeti Plantation be undertaken in advance of the troop movement. Admiral Wilkinson advised General Griswold that four or more destroyers would be made available for this purpose.

    One the same day the 172nd Infantry pushed its way to within 200 yards of the southernmost center of enemy resistance near Lilio. On the right the 169th Infantry, facing the northern enemy strong point in more heavily wooded terrain, was unable to gain. During the day, the 161st Infantry of the 25th Division came ashore and went into position on the right in support of the 169th. That night the Japanese made two slashing counterattacks from their southern strong point, one against the 169th and the other against the Laiana beachhead. Both were thrown back, whereupon the enemy withdrew along the Munda trail.

    On 23 July, Comdr. Burke, the new destroyer task group commander, accompanied an escort mission to Rendova in order to make a reconnaissance of the Munda area for the purpose of picking out possible points of aim. On the morning of 24 July, following his return, a conference was held at Koli Point, and a dispatch order for the bombardment of 25 July was prepared.

    Comdr. Burke’s reconnaissance disclosed that the only objects which might be visible were a group of houses which he carefully plotted, using tangents of islands so that they could be accurately located. The only other point of aim which could be used was Munda Point, which was too far from our front line positions to make offset firing practicable. The coastline at this point is obscured by barrier islands 4,000-6,000 yards from the shore. The precise location of the point of aim relative to the islands permitted accurate indirect fire, which was even more essential because of the fact that the exact location of our troops was not known.

    Plans were made for a thirty-minute bombardment beginning at 0615 on 25 July and overlapping an aerial bombardment, which was to begin 0630. It was tentatively decided to place a high concentration of naval gunfire in a strip approximately 1,400 yards by 400 yards, the axis of which was more or less parallel to the estimated front line positions of our troops and the eastern edge of which was about 400 yards from these lines. Subsequently at the request of the commanding general the target area was moved several hundred yards to the west because of new front line positions on the north flank. It was also determined that our ships would have to open fire in succession because of the small arc in which point of aim could be seen and the necessity for each

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ship to fire spotting salvos to make certain they were on in deflection. The shore fire control party was cautioned particularly that in case the fall of shot came dangerously close to our troops, a signal to “lift barrage” was to be sent to the bombarding ships at once.

    At 1900 on 24 July the bombardment group sailed from Tulagi and formed line of section columns, interval 4,000 yards, order from left to right:

        Section 3--Lt. Comdr. Katz in Taylor, Ellet, Patterson.

        Section 1--Comdr. Burke (ComDesDiv FORTY-FOUR) in Conway, Wilson. 21

        Section 2--Comdr. Sims in Maury, Gridley. 

Course 2600 T., speed 18 was set. This formation was chosen so that hunter-killer operations against submarines could be undertaken en route to Munda while at the same time only simple changes would be required in forming for bombardment. The group passed south of Savo Island and the Russells and entered Blanche Channel, assuming column formation at 0337. At 0544 course was changed to 2640, at which time the Maury and Gridley, the two leading ships, formed a screen on both bows of the Conway.

The plan called for the Maury and Gridley to open fire in advance of the main bombardment and subsequently to conduct counter-battery fire. At 0607 the Maury reported that the light was too dim and that she could not see the target. At 0609 on the basis of new instructions she opened with indirect fire, followed by the Conway at 0615 and by each of the other ships in succession at two minute intervals. Within fifteen minutes the slight morning haze had lifted, but by this time there was considerable dust and smoke over the target area. At 0618 gun flashes from one or two shore batteries were observed. The Maury and Gridley were called upon to silence these batteries, which they did very effectively. At 0630 the air force started bombing a beach strip to the south of the target area with fragmentation and 500 pound bombs, which added to the smoke and dust. A total of 4,000 5-inch/38 projectiles were placed in the target area. Our fire appeared to be heavy, accurate, and well controlled although its effectiveness could not be judged at the time.

At 0644 the order was given to cease firing, and retirement by sections followed. When clear of Blanche Channel the task group set course to

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 21 The Wilson had reported to CTF TARE for duty on 23 July.

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clear the Russsells and adopted a special destroyer AA formation with the Taylor (the fighter director ship) in the center.

    During and following the surface bombardment our planes carried out the largest raid yet made in this area. One hundred seventy-one bombers and torpedo planes, escorted by 79 fighters, heavily bombed targets in the Munda area.

    Subsequent to the capture of Munda, Comdr. David M. Tyree, the Amphibious Force Gunnery Officer, visited the Munda area in company with Capt. Festus F. Foster of the Bureau of Ordnance in an effort to determine the effectiveness of naval bombardment. The night cruiser bombardment of 11-12 July had been directed at the much-shelled area in and around the airfield. Although extensive construction work on roads and the airfield were already in progress so that the full picture was not apparent, inspection of this area revealed that remarkably little damage had been done to the airfield revetments. It was also noted that the Japanese had extensive underground accommodations in Kokengolo Hill which were little affected by bombs and high capacity ammunition.

    The destroyer bombardment of 25 July had been delivered in the Lambeti Plantation area, where no other naval bombardment occurred. This area had been subjected, however, to intensive artillery fire and aerial bombardment, which made it impracticable to evaluate definitely the effect of the naval gunfire, although it was the most favorable area for such a study. The region was honeycombed with shell and bomb craters; every tree was well riddled with shrapnel; devastation was apparent everywhere. Many block houses and dugouts had been destroyed as a result of direct hits; numerous others were still intact, some with large craters nearby. In this bombardment the theoretical density was about 70 shells for each tract of 100 yards square. In his comments regarding the action Admiral Wilkinson estimated that 200 shells for each hundred-yard square would have been necessary to saturate the area.

    On the basis of this and preceding naval bombardments in the South Pacific the following comments and recommendations were submitted:

  1. “Night naval area bombardments in the island warfare of the South Pacific accomplish rather limited and uncertain objectives. If fortunate enough to reach an airfield filled with planes, they should do much damage to the planes. Little consequential damage will be done to the airfield itself. Against other areas, they will give the enemy an uncomfortable time, but will probably cause less than the anticipated personnel casual-

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ties and material damage. They are valuable in covering a night landing or other operations inthe vicinity of enemy held shore. They give excellent training for untried ships newly arrived in a combat area.

    2.  “Naval gunfire support is of primary importance during amphibious operations prior to the time that adequate artillery support can be furnished by ground troops. Then it assumes a secondary role. Particularly in jungle warfare it is believed that the artillery can in general give more effective support than naval gunfire.

    3.  “When it is necessary to support the advance of troops through the jungle, the naval gunfire should be close to our front lines and of adequate density. It should be delivered in daylight to allow the accuracy required.

    4.  “There are conditions of terrain in which our mortars cannot reach reverse slopes which can be reached from the sea. Naval gunfire then becomes quite important. An example of this was the use of naval gunfire during operations on Guadalcanal when there were numerous ravines and draws opening seaward and naval gunfire was used effectively.” 

PT BOAT OPERATIONS

23 July-5 August 1943 

    During the last two weeks of the Munda campaign our naval operations were mainly confined to PT boat activity. Throughout this period our MTB patrol groups based on Rendova made almost nightly contacts with the enemy. The majority of their contacts were with large barges, 22 which the MTB’s were not well equipped to destroy. The barges were immune to torpedo attack because of their shallow draft; the 20mm and 50 caliber guns of the PT’s were likewise ineffective except against personnel. Nevertheless in a series of encounters our PT’s succeeded in sinking at least five barges and damaging several others.

    Because of communication difficulties during the early days of the campaign which prevented our PT’s from being informed of the presence of friendly surface vessels and aircraft and vice versa, the MTB’s were limited in their operations to an area south of 08 degrees south latitude. As a result, it was possible for considerable Japanese shipping to pass through Wilson and Gizo Straits hugging the shore of Vella Lavella, and to cross Vella Gulf to Kolombangara without interference from the PT's.

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 22 The activities of the MTB’s forced the enemy to use barges in preference to the larger and speedier destroyers and transports.

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    On the night of 23-24 our PT’s were ranged across Blackett Strait on a line extending from Vanga Vanga to northeast Gizo Island when a Black Cat discovered three enemy destroyers proceeding from west of Vella Lavella into Wilson Strait. The destroyers, apparently passed through Gizo Strait and across Vella Gulf well to the north of 08 degrees south latitude to a position off Veru Point, Kolombangara, where they were again spotted by the Black Cat. The PT’s had received no notification that any enemy destroyers were in the vicinity and therefore had no opportunity to attempt interception. The destroyers, apparently sighting the PT’s at about the same time, headed for Gizo and Wilson Straits at high speed and escaped to the west before the PT’s could get in position for a successful torpedo attack.

    On the night of 26-27 July, our PT patrols made contact in the Blackett Strait area with one large and two small barges about the size of an LCM. When the PT’s closed to within one mile, the barges in column formation changed course and headed toward the shore of Gizo Island, where they lined up parallel to the shore. PT 106 then started a strafing run from west to east at a distance of 40 yards. All guns were concentrated on each barge as it passed. The first, a small one, received numerous hits but was not seen to sink. One hundred rounds of 50 caliber were fired into the center barge with no visible effect; most shots seemed to ricochet harmlessly off it. PT 106 then poured 60 rounds of 20 mm. and 300 rounds of 50 caliber into the small barge, which was last seen listing with part of its superstructure under water and with but one foot of freeboard at the bow.

    PT 154 followed PT 106 in on the strafing run. She strafed the first barge seen and then lay to in order to pick out an individual target upon which to concentrate. Five large barges, which were probably heavily armored, were observed lined up along the shore. Deciding to take the most easterly barge she could see, PT 154 ran between it and the shore. Her fire began hitting the barge but ricocheted harmlessly into the air. PT 154 then lay to in order to reload her guns. At this point a sixth barge from the east together with the last barge which had been fired on opened fire on her. The other four barges meanwhile circled back to the east effectively boxing PT 154 between themselves and the Gizo Island reefs. PT 154 backed out of the trap firing at her original target and again lay to in order to finish her reloading. About a half hour later one of the barges interposed itself between PT 154 and PT 117,

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which at that moment was engaged in firing at another barge. All PT 117’s guns jammed after 100 rounds of 50 caliber had been fired at her target. The barge between PT 154 and PT 117 then opened fire on the latter, whereupon the two PT’s retired to the north and further contact with the barges was lost. Both PT’s 117 and 154 sustained many hits of 25 caliber and 1.1 fire from the barges, but no casualties resulted. It was observed that as long as the PT’s were firing, there was no return fire, but as soon as they stopped firing for any reason, the Japanese immediately opened fire.

    One of the most remarkable incidents of the campaign occurred on the night of 1-2 August when a Japanese destroyer of the Fubuki class struck PT 109, Lieut. John Kennedy commanding, on the starboard side about 15 feet from the bow and cut her in two. The survivors succeeded in swimming to shore on a small island about four miles to the southeast of Gizo and remained there until the night of 7-8 August when they were rescued by two PT’s and removed to Rendova. 

AIR OPERATIONS DURING THE MUNDA CAMPAIGN

    During the Munda operation the participation of the South Pacific air force was on a greater scale than at any previous period during the Solomons campaign. Our air units over Guadalcanal and the Russells were called upon to provide cover for our convoys and warships moving between Guadalcanal and Rendova; maintain a patrol over the Rendova area during daylight hours in order to ward off attacking enemy planes; strike at enemy bases and shipping; carry out a thorough-going aerial search of the area to prevent an attack on our positions by Japanese surface units and to pick up targets for our striking forces; provide close support for ground forces when requested; and protect the large amount of shipping in the Guadalcanal-Tulagi area.

    The establishment of landing strips in the Russells, and later at Segi Point, corrected one outstanding deficiency. By permitting our striking missions from Guadalcanal to have fighter escort, the new strips made it possible to make strikes during daylight. There were numerous instances of the value of this during the campaign. In a daylight strike against shipping in the Buin-Kahili area on 17 July our fighter cover of 114 planes was so effective that we lost only one TBF, and all bombers were able to press home their attacks. Forty-six enemy planes were shot down with a loss of four U. S. fighters; I Japanese destroyer leader,

57 

2 destroyers, 1 submarine chaser, 2 cargo vessels and 1 oiler were sunk, and 1 cargo vessel was damaged.

    Approximately 130 separate bombing attacks were made by our forces on targets in the area during the five weeks of the campaign. The Munda attacks generally involved only SBD’s and TBF’s, the former armed with 1,000-pound instantaneous fuse or daisy cutter bombs, the latter with 2,000-pound bombs. The size of the attacking forces ranged from the 18 SBD’s and 18 TBF’s used on 30 June to 52 TBF’s and 53 SBD’s employed in the coordinated assault of 25 July, when B-24’s, B-17’s and B-25’s also took part. Altogether, more than 950 tons of bombs were dropped on the Munda area between 30 June and 5 August 1943. Attacks on other land positions were concentrated mainly at Vila and Kahili.

    Thirty-two fighter planes were constantly on station over Rendova between 0700 and 1630 daily. Ninety-six planes were required to maintain this daily patrol with any leeway; as a result only some 80-100 fighters were left to meet all other requirements of the operation. The Rendova Patrol furnished cover for most of the light bomber attacks on Munda and Vila, but additional fighter protection was required for heavy strikes on these targets.

    After the heavy losses of 30 June and 1 July, when 125 Japanese planes were shot out o the skies, and another setback on 15 July when they lost 29 fighters and 15 twin-engine bombers, the Japanese air force virtually ceased to attack our forces in daylight hours. Even in the last stages of the campaign when their land forces needed all possible aid, their offensive air efforts were confined to fighter sweeps, sometimes accompanied by a small number of dive bombers, and night harassing of our land positions and task units by float planes and medium bombers.

    During the campaign the air force reported the destruction in combat of 259 Japanese fighters, 60 twin engine bombers, 23 dive bombers, and 16 float planes. Japanese shipping destroyed or otherwise damaged by our aircraft included one seaplane carrier, one oiler, 4 destroyers, 6 cargo vessels, and nine barges destroyed; and 7 destroyers, 9 cargo vessels, and 3 submarine chasers or corvettes damaged. 

THE FALL OF MUNDA 

    The conclusion of the New Georgia Island operation was reached early in August when the Munda airfield was captured by our forces

58 


Photographic squadron landing on Rendova


Coming ashore at Rendova


Crossing the beach at Rendova


A supply echelon approaches Rendova


Unloading at LST at Rendova


Loading a Marine battery


A coral pier


Unloading small craft


Supplies on the beach at Rendova


Airdome at Segi Point


Aerial view of Viru Harbor


The Honolulu at the Battle of Kula Gulf


The Helena at the battle of Kula Gulf


Japanese ships burning during the Battle of Kula Gulf


The Radford arriving at Tulagi with survivors of the Helena


The Nicholas firing during the Battle of Kolombangara

 

following a campaign marked by the coordinated use of infantry, artillery, tanks, flame throwers, and air and naval bombardment. On 25 July, following a period of regrouping, our forces advanced from 200 to 500 yards all along the line. The 43rd Division approached Munda along the south coast and to the east of the airfield; the 37th Division drove from the seaward along the northern end of the field; and the 25th Division was deployed in assembling areas along our northern flank. Progress was retarded by the thick jungle, the weather, and stout enemy resistance.

On 2 August the left flank of the 43rd Division finally pushed across the Lambeti Plantation and reached the east end of the airfield. Two days later the northern flank of the 37th Division spearheaded by elements of the 148th and 161st Infantry broke through to the western shore 600 yards north of the airfield, completely severing communications with Bairoko. By 1500 on 5 August all major organized resistance at Munda had ceased, two days less than a year after the first landing of the Marines at Guadalcanal and six weeks after the invasion of New Georgia.

59

APPENDIX I 

TASK FORCE ORGANIZATION 

Task Force TARE (Attack Force), Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner:

WESTERN FORCE (under direct command of Admiral Turner).

Transdiv TWO, Capt. Paul S. Theiss.

President Jackson (F), Capt. Charles W. Weitzel.

President Adams, Capt. Frank H. Dean.

President Hayes, Capt. Francis W. Benson.

Algorab, Capt. Joseph R. Lannom.

plus

McCawley (FF), Comdr. Robert H. Rodgers.

Libra, Capt. William B. Fletcher, Jr.

Transdiv TWELVE, Comdr. John D. Sweeney.

Stringham (F), Lt. Comdr. Ralph H. Moureau.

Talbot, Lt. Comdr. Charles C. Morgan.

Waters, Lt. Comdr. Charles J. McWhinnie.

Dent, Lt. Comdr. Ralph A. Wilhelm.

McKean, Lt. Comdr. Ralph L. Ramey.

Transdiv TWENTY-TWO, Lt. Comdr. Robert H. Wilkinson.

Kilty (F), Lt. Comdr. Dominic L. Mattie.

Schley, Lt. Comdr. Horace Myers.

Crosby, Lt. Comdr. Alan G. Grant.

LST Flotilla FIVE, Capt. Grayson B. Carter.

LST Group 14, Comdr. Paul S. Slawson.

LST Division 27, Lieut. Boyd E. Blanchard.

LST’s 342, 395, 396, 397, 398 plus 472.

LST Group 15, Capt. John S. Crenshaw.

LST Division 29, Lieut. Luther E. Reynolds, Jr.

LST’s 339, 341, 343, 353, 354, 399.

Screening group: Capt. Thomas J. Ryan, Jr.

Division Able ONE, Capt. Thomas J. Ryan, Jr.

Fahrenholt (F), Comdr. Eugene T. Seaward.

Buchanan, Lt. Comdr. Floyd B. T. Myhre.

McCalla, Lt Comdr. Halford A. Knoertzer.

Ralph Talbot, Comdr. Joseph W. Callahan.

60

Division Able TWO, Comdr. John M. Higgins.

Gwin (F), Lt. Comdr. John B. Fellows, Jr.

Woodworth, Comdr. Virgil F. Gordinier.

Radford, Comdr. William K. Romoser.

Jenkins, Comdr. Harry F. Miller.

Service Unit, Lieut. Charles H. Stedman.

Vireo (F), Lieut. Charles H. Stedman.

Rail, Lt. (jg) Leslie C. Oaks

PAB4

PAB6

EASTERN FORCE, Rear Admiral George H. Fort.

Minesweeper23 group (DMS’s), Comdr. Stanley Leith.

Hopkins (F), Lt. Comdr. Francis M. Peters, Jr.

Trever, Lt. Comdr. William H. Shea, Jr.

Zane, Lt. Comdr. Peyton L. Wirtz.

LCT Flotilla FIVE, Lt. Comdr. Paul A. Wells.

LCT Group THIRTEEN, Lieut. Ashton L. Jones.

LCT Division TWENTY-FIVE, Lieut. Ashton L. Jones.

LCT’s 58, 60, 156, 158, 159, 180.

LCT Division TWENTY-SIX, Lieut. Ameel Z. Kouri.

LCT’s 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67.

LCT Group FIFTEEN, Lieut. Frank M. Wiseman.

LCT Divsion TWENTY-NINE, Lieut. Frank M. Wiseman

LCT's 181, 182, 326, 327, 330, 351, 352, 367, 369, 370, 375, 377.

LCT Division THIRTY, Lt. (jg) Pickett Lumpkin.

LCT's 322, 323, 324, 481, 482.

LCT Flotilla SIX, Lieut. Wilfred C. Margetts.

LCT Group SIXTEEN, Lieut. Wilfred C. Margetts

LCT Division THIRTY, Lt. (jg) Robert A. Torkildson.

LCT's 126, 127, 128, 129, 132, 133.

LCT Division THIRTY-TWO.24

LCT's 134, 139, 141, 144, 145, 146.

APc Flotilla FIVE, Lieut. Dennis Mann.

APc Group THIRTEEN, Lieut. Dennis Mann.

APc Division TWENTY-FIVE, Lieut. Dennis Mann.

APc's 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29.

------------------

 23This group was used for various functions, mainly troop transport.

24 Name of commanding officer not available.

61 

APc Division TWENTY-SIX, Lieut. Arthur W. Bergstrom.

APC’s 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.

LCI Flotilla FIVE, Comdr. Chester L. Walton.

LCI Group THIRTEEN, Lt. Comdr. Marion M. Byrd.

LCI Division TWENTY-FIVE, Lt. Comdr. Marion M. Byrd.

LCI’s 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66.

LCI Division TWENTY-SIX, Lieut. Clifford D. Older.

LCI’s 21, 22, 67, 68. 69, 70.

LCI Group FOURTEEN, Lt. Comdr. A. Vernon Jannotta.

LCI Division TWENTY-SEVEN, Lt. Comdr. A. Vernon Jannotta.

LCI’s 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 332.

LCI Division TWENTY-EIGHT, Lt. (jg) John R. Powers.

LCI’s 23, 24, 333, 334, 335, 336.

LCI Group FIFTEEN, Comdr. J. McDonald Smith.

LCI’s 222, 223.

Russells MTB Squadron (12 MTB).

Task Force FOX (Air Support Force), Vice Admiral Aubrey W. Fitch.

All South Pacific aircraft, land-based and tender-based, and initially aircraft of CarDiv TWENTY-TWO.

The combat planes assigned to our force for the aerial offensive included 258 fighters, 193 light bombers, and 8225 heavy bombers. Of these 213 fighters, 170 light bombers, and 7225 heavy bombers were immediately available (i.e., ready to fly) on the morning of 30 June.

Task Force HOW (Covering Force) -- under direct command of Admiral William F. Halsey.

Task Group ABLE, Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth.

Cruisers:

CruDiv NINE, Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth.

Honolulu (F), Capt. Robert W. Hayler.

Helena, Capt. Charles P. Cecil.

St. Louis, Capt. Colin Campbell.

Destroyers:

DesRon TWENTY-ONE, Capt. Francis X. McInerney.

Nicholas (F), Lt. Comdr. Andrew J. Hill.

Strong, Comdr. Joseph H. Wellings.

--------------------

25These figures include PB4Y’s whose primary mission was search.

62 

 

O’Bannon, Lt. Comdr. Donald J. MacDonald.

Chevalier, Comdr. Ephriam R. McLean, Jr.

Taylor, Lt. Comdr. Benjamin Katz.

Task Group BAKER, Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill.

Cruisers:

CruDiv TWELVE, Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill.

Montpelier (F), Capt. Robert G. Tobin.

Columbia, Capt. Frank E. Beatty.

Cleveland, Capt. Andrew G. Shepard.

Denver, Capt. Robert B. Carney.

Minelayers: Lt. Comdr. Frederic S. Steinke.

Preble (F), Lt. Comdr. Frederic S. Steinke.

Gamble, Lt. Comdr. Warren W. Armstrong.

Breese, Lt. Comdr. Alexander B. Coxe, Jr.,

Destroyers:

DesRon TWENTY-TWO, Capt. William R. Cooke, Jr.

Waller (F), Comdr. Lawrence H. Frost.

Saufley, Comdr. Bert F. Brown.

Philip, Comdr. Thomas C. Ragan.

Renshaw, Comdr. Charles F. Chillingworth, Jr.

Pringle, Comdr. Harold O. Larson.

Task Group CHARLIE, Rear Admiral DeWitt C. Ramsey.

Task Unit VICTOR, Rear Admiral DeWitt C. Ramsey.

Carriers:

CarDiv ONE, Rear Admiral DeWitt C. Ramsey.

Saratoga (F), Capt. L. D. MacIntosh, R.N.

Cruisers:

CruDiv ELEVEN. 26

San Diego, Capt. Lester J. Hudson.

San Juan, Capt. Guy W. Clark.

Destroyers:

DesRon SIX, Comdr. Walfrid Nyquist.

DesDiv ELEVEN, Comdr. Walfrid Nyquist.

Maury (F), Comdr. Gelzer L. Sims.

--------------------

 26CruDiv ELEVEN was without a commanding officer until 5 September 1943 when Captain Lloyd J. Wiltse assumed command.

63 

Gridley, Lt. Comdr. Jesse H. Motes, Jr.

McCall, Lt. Comdr. Edward L. Foster.

Craven, Lt. Comdr. Francis T. Williamson.

DesDiv TWELVE, Comdr. Francis T. Williamson.

Fanning (F), Lt. Comdr. Ranald M. MacKinnon.

Dunlap, Lt. Comdr. Clifton Iverson.

Cummings, Lt. Comdr. Paul D. Williams.

Case, Comdr. Daniel T. Birtwell, Jr.

Task Unit WILLIAM, Rear Admiral Glenn B. Davis.

Battleships:

BatDiv EIGHT, Rear Admiral Glenn B. Davis.

Massachusetts (F), Capt. Robert O. Glover.

Indiana, Capt. Thomas G. Peyton.

plus

Stanly, Comdr. Robert W. Cavenagh.

Claxton, Comdr. Herald F. Stout.

Dyson, Comdr. Roy A. Gano.

Converse, Comdr. DeWitt C. E. Hamberger.

Task Unit YOKE, Capt. Russell M. Ihrig.

Cimarron (F), Capt. Russell M. Ihrig.

Gridley, Lt. Comdr. Jesse H. Motes, Jr.

Task Unit ZEBRA, Capt. Frank P. Thomas.

North Carolina (F), Capt. Frank P. Thomas.

Claxton, Comdr. Herald F. Stout.

Stanly, Comdr. Robert W. Cavenagh.

Dyson, Comdr. Roy A. Gano.

Task Group DOG, Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill.

Battleships:

BatDiv FOUR, Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill.

Maryland (F), Capt. Carl H. Jones.

Colorado, Capt. Elmer L. Woodside.

64 

Task Group EASY, Rear Admiral Andrew C. McFall.

Carriers:

CarDiv TWENTY-TWO, Rear Admiral Andrew C. McFall.

Sangamon (F), Capt. Edward P. Moore.

Suwanee, Capt. Frederick W. McMahon.

Chenango, Capt. Ben H. Wyatt.

Destroyers:

DesDiv FORTY-FOUR, Comdr. Arleigh A. Burke.

Conway (F), Comdr. Nathaniel S. Prime.

Eaton, Comdr. Edward L. Beck.

DesDiv FIFTEEN, Comdr. Rodger W. Simpson.

Lang (F), Comdr. John L. Wilfong.

Stack, Lt. Comdr. Roy A. Newton.

Sterett, Lt. Comdr. Frank G. Gould.

Wilson, Lt. Comdr. Walter H. Price.

Task Group FOX (Ground Force Reserve), Major General Robert S. Beightler.

37th Division U. S. A. less 2 combat teams.

65 

APPENDIX II 

GROUND FORCE ORGANIZATION 

Western Landing Force, Maj. Gen. John H. Hester.

Army Units.

43rd Infantry Division (less 103rd CT).

136th F. A. Battalion (155mm. How.).

1 company, 1st Fiji Infantry.

Service Units as assigned.

Marines.

9th Defense Battalion.

Company O 4th Raider Battalion.

Eastern Landing Force, Colonel Daniel H. Hundley.

Army Units.

103rd CT (less 1st Infantry Battalion).

2nd Battalion 70th CA (AA).

Service Units as assigned.

Marines.

4th Raider Battalion (less Company O).

Reserve Force, Colonel Harry B. Liversedge.

Marines.

1st Marine Raider Regiment (less 2d, 3d, and 4th Raider Battalions).

66 

APPENDIX III

SYMBOLS OF U.S. NAVY SHIPS


AB           Crane Ship                     
AVC          Catapult Lighter.                             
ACM         Auxiliary Mine                      AVD          Seaplane Tender (conversed DD). 
AD           Destroyer Tender.  AVP           Seaplane Tender (small). 
AE           Ammunition Ship.  AW            Water Distilling and Storage Ship. 
AF           Provision Store Ship.  AY              Auxiliary Tender (small) 
AG          Miscellaneous Auxiliary  BB              Battleship. 
AGC        Amphibious Force Flagship  CA              Heavy Cruiser. 
AGP        Motor Torpedo Boat Tender.  CAZ            Auxiliary, Unallocated as to Type conversion). 
AGS       Surveying Ship.  CB             Large Cruiser. 
AH         Hospital Ship.  CL             Light Cruiser. 
AK         Cargo Vessel.  CM            Mine Layer. 
AKA       Cargo Vessel, Attack.  CMc           Coastal Mine Layer. 
AKN       Net Cargo Ship.  CT             Destroyer (Building for Brazil). 
AKS      General Stores Issue Ship.                                                                      CV             Aircraft Carrier. 
AKV       Aircraft Supply Ship.  CVB           Aircraft Carrier, Large. 
AM        Large Mine Sweeper  CVL           Aircraft Carrier, Small. 
AMb      Base Mine Sweeper.  CVE          Aircraft Carrier, Escort 
AMc      Coastal Mine Sweeper. DD           Destroyer. 
AN        Net Layer.  DE           Destroyer Escort Vessel. 
AO        Oiler.  DM          Light Mine Layer (high speed). 
AOG      Gaseline Tanker.  DMS        Mine Sweeper (high speed). 
AP         Transport.  IX           Unclassified Auxiliary 
APA       Transport, Attack.  LCC(1)    Landing Craft, Control, Mk I.
APc       Coastal Transport.  LCC(2)    Landing Craft, Control, Mk II. 
APD      Troop Transport (high speed).  LCI(L)     Landing Craft, Infantry (large). 
APH      Transport for Wounded.  LCM(2)    45' Landing Craft, Mechanized, Mk. II. 
APL      Hotel Barge (Barracks' ship).  LCM(3)    50' Landing Craft, Mechanized, Mk. III. 
APM     Mechanized Artillery Transport.  LCM(6)    56' Landing Craft, Mechanized, Mk. VI. 
APS     Auxiliary Cargo Submarine.  LCP(L)     36' Landing Craft, Personnel (large). 
APV     Aircraft Transport.  LCP(R)    36' Landing Craft, Personnel (with ramp). 
AR       Repair Ship.  LCP(N)     Landing Craft, Personnel (nested). 
ARB     Repair Ship, Battle Damage.  LCR(L)     Landing Craft, Rubber (large). 
ARG     Internal Combustion Engine Tender.  LCR(S)     Landing Craft, Rubber (small). 
ARH     Heavy Hull Repair Ship.  LCS(L)(3)  Landing Craft, Support (large), Mk. III 
ARL     Repair Ship, Landing Craft.  LCS(S)(1)   LandingCraft, Support (small), Mk. I 
ARS     Salvage Vessel.  LCS(S)(2)   Landing Craft, Support (small), Mk. II. 
ARV     Aircraft Engine Overhaul and Structual Repair Ship.   
AS      Submarine Tender.   
ASR    Submarine Rescue Vessel.   
ATF     Ocean Tug, Fleet.   
ATA     Ocean Tug, Auxiliary.   
ATO     Ocean Tug, Old.   
ATR     Ocean Tug, Rescue.   
AV       Seaplane Tender (large).   

67 


LCT(5)         Landing Craft, Tank, Mk. V.                      
YC            Open Lighter.                             
LCT(6)         Landing Craft, Tank, Mk. VI.  YCF          Car Float. 
LCV             Landing Craft, Vehicle.  YCK          Open Cargo Lighter. 
LCVP           Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel.  YCV          Aircraft Transportation Lighter. 
LSD             Landing Ship, Dock.  YDG         Degaussing Vessel. 
LSM            Landing Ship, Medium  YDT         Diving Tender. 
LST             Landing Ship Tank.  YF           Covered Lighter, Range Tender, Provision Store Lighter. 
LSV            Landing Ship, Vehicle  YFB         Ferry Boat. 
LVT(1)       Landing Vehicle, Tracked (unarmored).  YFT         Torpedo Transportation Lighter. 
LVT(A1)      Landing Vehicle, Tracked (armored).  YG          Garbage Lighter. 
LVT(2)        Landing Vehicle, Tracked (armored).  YHB        Houseboat. 
LVT(3)        Landing Vehicle, Tracked (unarmored).  YHT         Heating Scow. 
LVT(A3)      Landing Vehicle, Tracked (armored).  YMS         Motor Tug Sweeper. 
LVT(4)       Landing Vehicle, Tracked (unarmored).  YMT         Motor Tug. 
PC             173' Submarine Chaser.  YN           Net Tender. 
PCE           180' Patrol Craft Escort.  YNg         Gate Vessel. 
PCE(R)      180' Patrol Craft Escort, Rescue.  YNT         Net Tender (rug class). 
PCS          136' Submarine Chaser.  YO          Fuel Oil Barge 
PE            Eagle Boat.  YOG        Gaseline Barge. 
PF            Frigate.  YOS        Oil Storage Barge. 
PG            Gun Boat.  YP          District Patrol Vessel. 
PGM          Motor Gun Boat.  YPK        Pontoon Storage Barge. 
PT            Motor Torpedo Boat.  YR          Floating Workshop. 
PY            Yacht.  YRD(H)    Floating Workshop, Dry Dock (Machinery). 
PYc           Coastal Yacht.  YRD(M)   Floating Workshop, Dry Dock (Machinery). 
SC           110' Submarine Chaser.  YS          Stevedore Barge. 
SS           Submarine  YSD        Seaplane Wrecking  Derrick. 
YA          Ash Lighter.  YSP        Salvage Pontoon. 
YAG        District Auxiliary, Miscellaneous.  YSR        Sludge Removal Barge. 
  YTB        Harbor Tug, Big. 
  YTM       Harbor Tug, Medium. 
  YTL        Harbor Tug, Little. 
  YTT       Torpedo Testing Barge. 
  YW        Water Barge. 

68 

APPENDIX IV

DESIGNATIONS OF U.S. NAVAL AIRCRAFT


Class of airplaine  

           

Model designation            Manufacturer                       U.S. name                        
  Navy  Army     
Fighter, 2-eng  FO  P-38  Lockheed "A"  Lightning 
  FT  P-61  Nothrop, Haw  Black Widow 
  F/F    Grumman   
  XF5U    Chance-Vought   
Fighter, 1-eng  F2A1    Brewster  Buffalo 
  F3A    Brewster  Corsair 
  F4U    Chance-Vought  Corsair 
  FM    Eastern, Linden  Wildcat 
  XF2M    Eastern Linden   
  FG    Goodyear  Corsair 
  F2G    Goodyear  Corsair 
  F4F    Grumman  Wildcat 
  F6F    Grumman  Hellcat 
  FR    Ryan   
  XF8B    Boeing, Seattle   
  XF15C    Curtiss, Buffalo   
  XFD    McDonnel   
  XF8F    Grumman   

Scout Bomber, 1-eng

   (Dive). 

SB2A1  A-34  Brewster  Bermuda 
  SBW  A-25  Canadian Car  Helldiver 
  SBC1  77-A  Curtiss, Col.  Helldiver 
  SB2C  A-25  Curtiss, Col.  Helldiver 
  BTC    Curtiss, Col.   
  SBD  A-24  Douglas, E.S.  Dauntless 
  BTD    Douglas, E.S.   
  XBT2D    Douglas, E.S.   
  SBF  A-25  Fairchild, Mont.  Helldiver 
  BTM    Martin, Balto  Mercury 
  SBN1    N.A.F.   
  SB2U1    Vought-Sikorsky  Vindicator 
  XBK    Fleetwings   
Torepedo Bomber, 1-eng  TBY    Consolidated-A l l e n-town  Seawolf 
  TBD1    Douglas, E.S.  Devastator 
  TB2D    Douglas, E.S.   
  TBM    Eastern, Trent  Avenger 
  TBF    Grumman  Avenger 
Patrol bomber, boat:         
     4-eng  PB2Y    Consol, S.D.  Coronado 
     2-eng  PB2B  OA-10  Boeing, Vanc  Catalina 
  PBY-5, 5A  OA-10  Consol, S.D., N.O.  Catalina 
  P4Y    Consol, N.O.   
  PBM    Martin, Balto  Mariner 
  PBN  OA-10  N. A. F.  Catalina 
  XPBB    Boeing, Seattle  Sea Ranger 
  CANSO "A"  OA-10B  Vickers   

See footnotes at end of table.

69 


Class of airplane      

      

     

Model designation             

 

Manufacturer            

                                           

U.S. name                         
  Navy  Army     
Bomber, land:         
    4-eng  PB4Y-12  B-24  Consol, S.D.  Liberator 
      PB4Y-2  B-24  Consol, S.D.  Liberator 
    2-eng  PBO1 2  AT-18  Lockheed "A"  Hudson 
    (A-29)     
  PBJ2  B-25  N. Amer., K.C.  Mitchell 
  PV-1  B-34  Lockheed "A"  Ventura 
  PV-2    Lockheed "B"  Harpoon 
  XP2V    Lockheed "A"   
Observation Scout, 1-eng  OY-12  L-5 (O-62)  Consol, Wayne  Sentinel 
  SOC1    Curtiss, Col.  Seagull 
  SO3C1    Curtiss, Col.  Seamew 
  SC    Curtiss, Col.  Seahawk 
  S2E-1    Edo, L. I. C.   
  XOSE    N. A. F.  Kingfisher 
  OS2N    Vought-Sikorsky  Kingfisher 
Utility:         
    2-eng  JRB2  C-45  Beech  Expeditor 
  JRC2  C-78  Cesna  Bobcat 
  BD2  A-20  Douglas, S.M.  Havoc 
  JRF  OA-9  Grumman  Goose 
  J4F  OA-14  Grumman  Widgeon 
  JM2  B-26  Martin, Omaha  Marauder 
     1-eng  J2F  OA-12  Columbia, V.S.  Duck 
  GB2  C-43  Beech  Traveler 
  GK1, 2  UC-61  Fairchild, Hager  Forwader 
  GH    Howard  Nightingale 
  AE (HE)  L-4  Piper  Grasshopper 
Transport, 4-eng., Land  RY-1-22  C-87  Consol, F.W.  Liberator 
  RY-3  C-87c  Consol, S.D.   
  R5D2  C-54  Douglas, Chicago  Skymaster 
  XR6O    Lockheed "A"   
  R2Y    Consol, S.D.   
Transport, 2-eng., Land  RB  C-93  Budd, Phila  Conestoga 
  R5C2  C-46  Curtiss, Buffalo  Commando 
  R3D2    Douglass, L.B.   
  R4D-1, 52  C-47, 47A  Douglas, L.B.  Skytrain 
  R4D-2, 42  C-49,49A  Douglas, S.M.  Skytrooper 
  R4D-32  C-53  Douglas, S.M.  Skytrooper 
  R502  C-56, 60  Lockheed  Lodestar 
Transport, 4-eng., Sea  PB2Y-3R    Consol, S.D.  Coronado 
  JRM (XP/B2M-1R)    Martin, Balto  Mars 
  JR2S-2    Vought-Sikorsky  Excalibu 
Transport, 2-eng., Sea  PBM-3R    Martin, Balto  Mariner 
Training, 1-eng., Primary  N3N    N. A. F.   
  NE2  L-4  Piper  Grasshopper 
  NR1, 2  PT-21  Ryan  Recruit 
  NP1    Spartan   
  N2S2  PT-13,17,18,27.  Boeing, Wichita (Stearman).  Caydet 
  N2T    Timm  Tutor 
  XN5N    N. A. F.   
  XNL2    Langley Aviation   
Training, 2-eng., Adv.  SNB-1  AT-11  Beech  Kansan 
  SNB-2  AT-7  Beech  Navigator 

See footnotes at end of table.

70 


Class of airplane                 
 

Model designation   

            

Manufacturer                      U.S. name           
  Navy  Army     
Training, 1-eng., Adv.  SNV2  BT-13  Consol, Downey  Valiant 
  SNC 1    Curtiss, St. Louis  Falcon 
  NH    Howard   
  SNJ2  AT-6  N. Amer. Dal  Texan 
Special Purpose, 2-eng  TDR    Am., Aviation   
  TD3R    Am. Aviation   
  TD2R    Brunswick Balke Collender.   
  TD3R    Bruns. Balke Coll   
  TD2R    Interstate Aviation   
  TD3R    Interstate Aviation   
  TDN    N. A. F.   
Special Purpose, 1-eng.  TDN    Bruns. Balke Coll   
  TDC2  PQ-8  Culver   
  TD2C1  PQ-14  Culver   
  TDR    Interstate Avia   
  TDD2  QQ-2A  Radio Plane Co   
Helicopter, 1-eng  HNS-12  R-4B  Sikorsky   
  HO2S-12  R-5  Sikorsky   
  HOS-12  R-6  Nash-Kelvinator   
  XHOS-12  XR-6  Sikorsky   

1 All models obsolete.

2 These airplanes are Army-procured for Navy.  All others are under Navy cognizance.

 

APPENDIX V 

List of Published Combat Narratives 

The Java Sea Campaign, January - February 1942 (out of print)

Early Raids in the Pacific Ocean, 1 February - 10 March 1942

The Battle of the Coral Sea, 4 - 8 May 1942

The Battle of Midway, 3 - 6 June 1942

The Landing in the Solomons, 7 - 8 August 1942

The Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942

The Battle of the Eastern Solomons, 23 - 25 August 1942

Battle of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942

Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942

The Landings in North Africa, November 1942

Battle of Gudalcanal, 11-15 November 1942

Miscellaneous Actions in the South Pacific, 8 August 1942 - 22 January 1943 (out of print)

Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942

Japanese Evacuation of Guadalcanal, 29 January - 8 February 1943 (including loss of the Chicago)

Bombardments of Munda and Vila-Stanmore, January - May 1943

Operations in the New Georgia Area, 21 June - 5 August 1943

Kolombangara and Vella Lavella, 6 August - 7 October 1943

72 

Published: Wed Dec 04 12:21:08 EST 2019