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 USN July 13, 1943  USN July 13, 1943 |
Location The Battle of Kolombangara occurred during the night of July 12, 1943 to July 13, 1943 in Kula Gulf in Kula Gulf to the north of Kolombangara Island in the central Solomon Islands. Also known as Second Battle of Kula Gulf. Wartime History On July 12, 1943 at 5:30am an Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) force under the command of Rear Admiral Shunji Izaki including light cruiser Jintsū with Rear Admiral Shunji Izaki embarked and destroyers Mikazuki, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, Kiyonami and Yūgure plus destroyer transports Satsuki, Minazuki, Yūnagi, and Matsukaze with personnel and cargo depart Rabaul bound for Vila on Kolombangara where the destroyer transports will unload. After the Japanese force was spotted by Allied Coastwatchers, U.S. Navy Task Force 18 (TF 18) under the command of Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth departs Tulagi Harbor at 5:00pm including three light cruisers USS Honolulu (CL-48), USS St. Louis (CL-49), and HMNZS Leander (75) and ten destroyers USS Nicholas (DD-449), USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Taylor (DD-468), USS Jenkins (DD-447), USS Radford (DD-446), USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390), USS Buchanan (DD-484), USS Maury (DD-401), USS Woodworth (DD-460), and USS Gwin (DD-433). Overnight, the Allied force proceeds up "The Slot". On July 13, 1943 at 1:03am with an overcast sky, the Allied warships spot the Japanese force on radar roughly 20 miles east of the northern tip of Kolombangara Island. Approaching, the Allied Force believed they had the element of surprise and the destroyers increased speed to launch a torpedo attach and the light cruisers turned to open fire. Meanwhile, the Japanese had spotted their approach two hours earlier and between 1:08am to 1:14am launched torpedoes first then turned away to regroup. The U.S. destroyers launched their torpedoes a minute later with USS Nicholas (DD-449) the first to engage Jintsū at a range of roughly 9,000 yards. In response, Jintsū turned on her searchlights but was targeted by Allied light cruisers that fired 2,630 shells with fire correction from spotting aircraft and caused heavy damage. During the battle, Japanese torpedoes damage USS Honolulu (CL-48), 07°31'S, 157°19'E, and USS St. Louis (CL-49), 07°37'S, 157°16'E; and New Zealand light cruiser HMNZS Leander (75) replacing USS Helena (CL-50) sunk in the Battle of Kula Gulf on July 6, 1943. Destroyer USS Gwin (DD-433) is damaged by torpedo then scuttled by USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) at 07°41'S, 157°27'E. During the engagement. destroyers USS Buchanan (DD-484) collided with USS Woodworth (DD-460) damaging both at 07°40'S, 157°14'E. Japanese light cruiser Jintsū is sunk by cruiser gunfire and destroyer torpedo at 07°38'S, 157°06'E and destroyer Yukikaze is damaged. After withdrawing along the coast, the four Japanese destroyer transports diverted via Vella Gulf then successfully landed 1,200 personnel at Sandfly Harbor on the west coast of Kolombangara Island and completed unloading by 3:40am, searched for survivors of Jintsū and rescued 21 then departed bound for Buin. Outcome The battle was a tactical victory for the Japanese as they demonstrated superior night fighting skill, inflicted heavy damage and landed reinforcements. USS Gwin (DD-433) Sunk July 13, 1943 after being hit by a torpedo and scuttled Jintsū Sunk July 13, 1943 by a torpedo during the Battle of Kolombangara into Kula Gulf, shipwreck discovered 2019 References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) National Museum of the U.S. Navy - Battle of Kolombangara Torpedo Bay Navy Museum - Remembering the Battle of Kolombangara Contribute
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