Location
The Battle of Blackett Strait on March 6, 1943 was a brief naval battle in the Blackett Strait but actually happened in Kula Gulf between Kolombangara Island and New Georgia Island in the central Solomon Islands. The Japanese call this action the Battle of Vila–Stanmore. In Japanese, ビラ・スタンモーア夜戦. The outcome was an American victory without and damage or casaulties and a Japanese defeate with two destroyers suk and roughly 174 dead and 2 prisoners.
Wartime History
On March 5, 1943 at night, Japanese destroyers Minegumo and Murasame depart Shortland Harbor on an overnight supply run via Vella Gulf and Blackett Strait and successfully unload at Vila on Kolombangara Island.
On March 6, 1943 in the early morning after completing their mission, Minegumo and Murasame depart northward via Kula Gulf a shorter route. Meanwhile, U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 68 (TF 68) "Task Force Mike" light cruisers USS Montpelier (CL-57) flagship with Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill embarked, USS Cleveland (CL-55), and USS Denver (CL-58) plus three destroyers USS Conway (DD-507), USS Cony (DD-508) and USS Waller (DD-466) entered Kula Gulf on a mission to bombard Japanese shore facilities around Vila. The bombardment force was supported by USS Grayback and USS Grampus (SS-207) guarding possible withdrawal routes out of Kula Gulf and the bombardment was to coincide with another Task Force bombarding Munda on New Georgia.
At 12:57am, the U.S. made radar contact with the pair of Japanese destroyers and at 1:01am engaged with gunfire and torpedoes.
During the brief battle,
Murasame was straddled by the first U.S. salvo and hit by the sixth salvo and moments later by a torpedo from a spread fired by USS Waller (DD-466) and exploded around 1:15am and while on fire quickly sank. Meanwhile, Minegumo attempted to return fire but was hit by gunfire and abandoned around 1:14am when the U.S. ceased fire without sustaining any damage or casualties. Afterwards, TF 68. turned to the north and continued their shore bombardment of Kolombangara Island. Ashore, several Japanese gun batteries returned fire but were neutralized with counter battery fire. By 1:40am, the U.S. force withdraws via New Georgia Sound without damage or casualties. Supporting the TF 68, USS Grampus (SS-207) went missing and was possibly lost in the vicinity for unknown reasons.
Aftermath
Surviving Japanese sailors from the two destroyers swam ashore onto Kolombangara. Two from Minegumo were captured by U.S. forces.
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Last Updated
August 2, 2022
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