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  USN November 12, 1942 |
Location The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal occured during the night of November 12, 1942 until the early morning of November 13, 1942 in Iron Bottom Sound between Guadalcanal and Savo Island in the Solomon Islands. The Japanese refer to this action as "Third Battle of the Solomon Sea". Also known as the "Third Battle of Savo Island" or "Battle of the Solomons" or sometimes "Battle of Friday the 13th". The Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal during the night of November 14, 1942 until the early morning of November 15, 1942 concluded the engagement. This was the last of five major naval engagements during the Guadalcanal campaign. Wartime History The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal had two phases. The first phase began in the early morning of November 13, 1942 known as the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal or First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The second phase, the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal was during the night of November 14, 1942 until the early morning of November 15, 1942. Japanese Force On November 12, 1942 the Japanese force under the command of Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe include Hiei (flagship of Vice Admiral Abe) and Kirishima, light cruiser Nagara plus eleven destroyers: Samidare, Murasame, Asagumo, Teruzuki, Amatsukaze, Yukikaze, Ikazuchi, Inazuma, Akatsuki, Harusame and Yūdachi. The Japanese force assembled 81 miles north of Indispensable Strait for a planned shore bombardment of Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. In addition, a rear guard of destroyers Shigure, Shiratsuyu, and Yūgure operated off the Russell Islands. Meanwhile, the convoy with 7,000 infantry troops and their equipment escorted by twelve destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka departed Shortland down "The Slot" and were scheduled to land on Guadalcanal during the night of November 13, 1942. After the Japanese losses at 3:00am Admiral Yamamoto recalled the transports which returned to Shortland to await further orders. U.S. Navy Force The opposing U.S. Navy force under the command of Admiral Callaghan included heavy cruisers USS San Francisco (CA-38) (Admiral Callaghan's flagship) and USS Portland (CA-33), light cruisers USS Helena (CL-50), USS Juneau (CL-52), and USS Atlanta (CL-51) plus eight destroyers: USS Cushing DD-376, USS Laffey DD-459, USS Sterett (DD-407), USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Aaron Ward (DD-483), USS Barton (DD-599), USS Monssen (DD-436), USS Fletcher (DD-445) and USS Buchanan (DD-484). On November 12, 1942 in the afternoon Japanese G4M1 Bettys each armed with a torpedo escorted by A6M2 Zeros attack U.S. warships and transports in Iron Bottom Sound off the north coast of Guadalcanal. At 2:16pm a G4M1 Betty released a torpedo that missed USS San Francisco (CA-38) then was hit by anti-aircraft fire and deliberately crashed into the after control station that killing 30 crew. This was the only damage inflicted on the American vessels by the bombers. Also damaged was USS Buchanan (DD-484) that was hit by friendly gunfire that killed five aboard and forced it to be withdrawn for repairs. First Phase of Battle: November 13, 1942 On November 13, 1942 at 1:25am the start of the first phase of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal began when Japanese warships entered the western end of Savo Strait between Savo Island and Guadalcanal and steamed to the southeast with San Shiki (Sanshikidan) shells loaded for a shore bombardment of Henderson Field. The weather was poor with a dark moon making visibility minimal. The American force was in a single column formation with destroyers in the lead and cruisers in the center with four destroyers at the rear. Although five of the ships had SG radar, none were in the front of the column, nor did flagship USS San Francisco (CA-38). At 1:24am the U.S. ships with radar detected the Japanese but the report was not communicated in time due to radio trouble and confusion. Minutes later, both forces spotted each other at roughly the same moment visually. The Japanese warships were surprised and their guns were loaded for the shore bombardment but decided to proceed. Meanwhile, Americans orders to attempt a "cross the T" maneuver but the Japanese force was scattered in several groups and orders were delayed as the U.S. line began to fall apart. The two forces began to overlap as each side waited for permission to open fire. At 1:48am Hiei and Akatsuki turned on their searchlights to illuminate USS Atlanta (CL-51) only 3,000 yards away and opened fire. Simultaneously, several other ships in both forces opened fire. Adding to the confusion, Callaghan issued the order, "Odd ships fire to starboard, even ships fire to port" as the forces intermingled into a confused close range combat where the Japanese had the advantage with extensive training for night combat. At the start of the battle, USS Cushing the lead ship in the American formation was caught in the cross fire of destroyers Teruzuki and Yukikaze and possibly Nagara and was hit by gunfire and stopped dead in the water. Unable to defend herself, the crew abandoned ship with the damaged destroyer sinking several hours later. Illuminated, Akatsuki drew gunfire from several destroyers and cruisers and sustained repeated hits and blew up and quickly sank south of Savo Island. During the melee, USS Juneau (CL-52) was hit by a torpedo from Amatsukaze that broke her keel and knocked out her systems causing her to stop dead in the water then turns to the east and slowly departs the area. At 2:26am the two sides simultaneously broke off the engagement after nearly 40 minutes of intense combat. At the conclusion of the first phase, the remaining Japanese warships were unaware they had inflicted heavy damage to the U.S. Navy warships and could have proceeded with the bombardment but had expended much of their ammunition and feared air attacks at dawn. Instead, Admiral Abe ordered the force to abandon their bombardment mission and depart the area. Outcome As the first phase of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ended, there was a day pause before the second phase, the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal was during the night of November 14-15, 1942. References Combined Fleet: #3. First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (November 13, 1942) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Battle of Guadalcanal 11-15 November, 1942 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Historical Summary Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Chronology Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Surface Lessons of Guadalcanal (map: Open fire: Situation at 0150 [Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]) History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) page 114–117 (The Battle of Guadalcanal) Contribute
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 Map November 13, 1942 Map Iron Bottom Sound |
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