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Location The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay occurred in Empress Augusta Bay to the west of Bougainville Island Also known as the Naval Battle of Empress Augusta Bay or Battle of Gazelle Bay. In Japan, known as the Sea Battle off Bougainville Island. Wartime History On November 1, 1943 the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) sortied a force of crusiers and destroyers from Rabaul under the command of Rear Admiral Omori Sentaro to attack the U.S. landing in Empress Augusta Bay off Bougainville. This force was hastily assembled and had not operated together but were sent immediately. The Japanese force included heavy cruisers Myōkō and Haguro, light cruisers Agano and Sendai, and destroyers Naganami, Hatsukaze, Wakatsuki, Shigure, Samidare, and Shiratsuyu. The left screen was under the command of Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin. The right screen under the command of Rear Admiral Morikazu Osugi followed by the two heavy cruisers with a pair of destroyers. In St. George's Channel the warships rendezvous with destroyer transports that plan to conduct a counter-landing but they were delayed and recalled. Inbound, U.S. reconnaissance planes spotted the Japanese. Before midnight, U.S. Navy Task Force 39 (TF 39) under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill comprised of four light cruisers USS Denver (CL-58), USS Montpelier (CL- 57), USS Cleveland (CL-55) and USS Columbia (CL-56) with eight destroyers USS Foote (DD-511), USS Spence (DD-512), USS Thatcher (DD-514), USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570), USS Spence (DD-512), USS Dyson (DD-572), USS Claxton (DD-571), and USS Stanly (DD-478) sortie from Vella Lavella northward to block the entrance of Empress Augusta Bay and intercept the enemy force. On November 2, 1943 at 2:27am the U.S. warships made radar contact with the Japanese and divided into three columns with the destroyers tasked to attack the northern flank while four destroyers would make a torpedo attack at 2:46am aimed at the southern flank. Around the same time, the Japanese force led by Sendai launched eight torpedoes. Both sides detected the torpedoes and maneuvered away with the Japanese force slit into three groups. By 3:37am, the Japanese disengaged believing they sank a heavy cruiser and to avoid U.S. air strikes at dawn. Withdrawing, damaged Hatsukaze was targeted by U.S. cruisers 17,500 yards away but was not hit, but by dawn exploded and sank. Outcome The Battle off Empress Augusta Bay was an American victory with the Japanese forced to turn back with the loss of light cruiser Sendai and destroyer Hatsukaze. Contribute
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