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  USN October 1943 |
Location The Naval Battle of Vella Lavella occurred in Vella Gulf off Vella Lavella in Western Province in the Solomon Islands. The Japanese referred to this battle as the Naval Battle off Horanui in reference to Horoniu (Horaniu) on the north coast of Vella Lavella. Also known as the Battle of Vella Lavella, not to be confused with the land battle on Vella Lavella. Wartime History On October 6, 1943 at night, the Naval Battle of Vella Lavella occurred north of Vella Lavella. An Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) destroyer force under the command of Vice Admiral Ijuin Masuji was sent to evacuate Japanese personnel assembled Horoniu (Horaniu) on northern Vella Lavella. The Japanese force included destroyer-transports: Fumizuki, Matsukaze, and Yūnagi escorted by six destroyers: Akigumo, Isokaze, Kazagumo, Yūgumo, Shigure, and Samidare. Meanwhile, three U.S. Navy (USN) destroyers USS Selfridge (DD-357), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS O'Bannon (DD-450) under the command of Captain Frank R. Walker were to intercept the Japanese evacuation force and approached via Vella Gulf towards northern Vella Lavella. At 10:55pm, the U.S. destroyers made radar contact with the two groups of enemy destroyers. At 10:55pm, the Americans fired a half salvo of torpedoes aimed at the first group of destroyers. At 10:56 the destroyers opened fire at the same force. At 11:00pm, USS Selfridge (DD-357) turned to starboard to engage the second force. At 11:01pm USS Chevalier (DD-451) was hit by a torpedo at Lat 7°30'S, Long 156°15'E. At 11:02 USS O'Bannon (DD-450) accidentally collides damaging both destroyers. At 11:06pm USS Selfridge (DD-357) was hit by a torpedo in each side of the bow and heavily damaged by torpedoes from either of Shigure or Samidare at Lat 7°27'S, Long 156°13'E. The only Japanese loss was Yūgumo hit by torpedoes from Chevalier and Selfridge. At 11:35pm three additional U.S. destroyers USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390), USS Taylor (DD-468) and USS LaVallette (DD-448) under Captain Harold O. Larson detached from convoy duty proceeded northward along the west coast of Vella Lavella to join the battle. Inbound, a Japanese plane spotted the approaching reinforcements and misidentified them as "cruisers". Believing significantly stronger warships were approaching, the Japanese destroyers disengaged. On October 7, 1943 after midnight, aided with rescue operations and at 3:00am abandoned USS Chevalier (DD-451) was scuttled by a torpedo from USS LaVallette (DD-448). Outcome The Naval Battle of Vella Lavella was considered a Japanese victory as they sustained less damage and were able to complete their evacuation mission with their destroyer-transports withdrawing 600 Japanese from Horoniu (Horaniu) on northern Vella Lavella. During the battle, all three U.S. destroyers were damaged during the last surface engagement in the central Solomon Islands. References Japanese Monograph 99 (Southeast Area Naval Operations) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) H-022-5: Battle of Vella Lavella—The Last Japanese Victory, 6–7 October 1943 by Samuel J. Cox October 2018 Contribute
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 Map Sept 1943 |
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