The FReeper Foxhole Revisits The 1st and 2nd Guadalcanal Nov 13-15, 1942 - Aug. 19th, 2005

http://www.angelfire.com/ia/totalwar/Guadalcanal.html ^ | 12/29/2002 | originally posted by SAMWolf

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


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The FReeper Foxhole Revisits

1st and 2nd Naval Battles of Guadalcanal

The First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

On November 13, 1942, Rear Admiral Daniel Callaghan was patrolling near Ironbottom Sound in an unusual formation. The destroyers Cushing, Laffey, Sterett, and O’Bannon were in the lead, followed by the Atlanta, San Francisco, Portland, Helena, and Juneau, with the remaining ships trailing. What was odd about this force was that the majority of the ships with the best radar systems equipped were in the center or rear of the formation. However, this would form Task Group 67.4, which would be responsible for patrolling the entrance to Ironbottom Sound that night.

The Japanese force didn’t look any better either. The ships were arranged in a diamond formation with the main striking force in the center, which consisted of the battleships Hiei and Kirishima as well as several cruisers, leaving the destroyers to form the corners of the diamond. Once the forces neared Guadalcanal, the Hiei and Kirishima loaded their 14-inch guns with Type 3 shells, designed to bombard Henderson Field.

At 1:24 a.m., the Helena picked up the Japanese ships. Twenty minutes later, Cushing visually sighted a pair of enemy destroyers and made a left turn, followed by the other three leading destroyers. In order to avoid hitting the turning destroyers, the Atlanta turned left as well. The battle then began, and for the next 40 minutes, many ships on both sides would be sunk or damaged.

The battleship Hiei spotted the Atlanta directly ahead and once the searchlights homed in on the incoming cruiser, the Atlanta opened fire on the battleships searchlights and several other destroyers nearby. The Atlanta hit the Akatsuki before being damaged by several torpedoes and shells from Akatsuki started fires raging throughout the ship. The crippled Atlanta drifted away from the battle.



Next, the destroyer Cushing came as the lead attacker. The Cushing fired 6 torpedoes and several 5-inch shells at Hiei and Amatsukaze, but none of them hit the enemy ships. The Hiei then crippled Cushing with 10 direct hits from 14-inch guns.

The Laffey was next, and began hitting Hiei with machine guns. One of these hits killed Hirokai Abe’s chief of staff, Masakane Suzuki. Laffey then fired a torpedo at Hiei, but the torpedo didn’t arm and bounced harmlessly off Hiei's hull. The Laffey was then sunk by a torpedo fired from the destroyer Teruzuki, which blew off the stern, and a 14-inch shell from Kirishima that exploded in the boiler room. The order to abandon ship was given, and many of the crew were in the water when the Laffey exploded, killing most of the crew both on the ship and in the water.

Several more ships charged the Japanese formation. The Sterett lined up to hit Nagara before it lost its radio and radar capabilities. The Sterett then used its last torpedo to destroy the Akatsuki before drifting away. Next came the destroyer O’Bannon, which passed Sterett and open fire on Hiei.

The San Francisco switched to engage another Japanese destroyer. However, the drifting Atlanta drifted near the enemy destroyers and the shells from the San Francisco exploded on the Atlanta's superstructure, destroying it and killing Admiral Scott. After seeing this, Admiral Callaghan ordered a cease fire to re-group. Then, once all ships were regrouped, Callaghan ordered his ships to focus on the larger ships first.

The San Francisco advanced on the Hiei, and the ships exchanged fire. The Hiei’s first salvo were Type 3 shells, which were high explosives and not designed to penetrate armor, and as a result, did little damage except for killing most of the crew on the deck. The third salvo hit the bridge, killing Admiral Callaghan and most of the bridge crew. While damage crews worked on repairing the damaged ship, Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless turned the ship to rejoin the battle, knowing that if the flagship San Francisco left, the rest of the force may follow.



The Portland was next in line, following the San Francisco. Portland was hit in the propeller by a torpedo that locked the cruiser in a right turn. After the Portland’s first loop, the Hiei was waiting and the two ships exchanged fire. The Portland hit the battleship several times before continuing around on its loop.

The Helena followed Portland, with the Juneau afterwards. Helena engaged the Akatsuki, which was too busy firing at the disabled San Francisco to see the Helena approaching. The Helena pummeled the Japanese destroyer until the cruiser was driven off by three other Japanese destroyers.

Next came the cruiser Juneau. The Juneau attempted to engage enemy ships. While searching for a target, the cruiser was hit by a torpedo that removed the cruiser from the battle.

The four trailing destroyers came next. The Aaron Ward was hit 9 times by enemy shells while trying to avoid the crippled Sterett. The Barton also had to avoid a wreck, and was almost immediately sunk by two torpedoes, one of which was launched from Amatsukaze After Barton sank, the Monssen took on two destroyers . Two starburst shells exploded, lighting the area. The captain of the Monssen, believing that the shells were fired from American ships, turned on the recognition lights and was sunk by 47 Japanese shells. Fletcher managed to escape damage altogether.



The Japanese also took heavy damage. Yudachi, like the Monssen, lit the regonition lights, but stayed afloat until survivors get picked up. Akatsuki was sunk after severely damaging the Atlanta. The Amatsukaze was damaged by the Helena while the Japanese crew was busy firing at the crippled San Francisco, which had lost all of the weapons aboard and couldn’t fire back. Hiei took over 85 hits and stayed afloat. It took an additional torpedo and three bombs before the Hiei was ordered sunk by Admiral Isoroku Yamaoto. The destroyers Amatsukaze, Ikazuchi, and Murasame were also damaged. Admiral Hara and the Amatsukaze made a safe return, although Hara was deeply disturbed by the deaths aboard his ship.

Four sailors from the San Francisco were awarded the Medal of Honor, more than any other ship would receive in a single battle yet today. All ships returned for repairs in their home ports. The undamaged forces would again collide in Ironbottom Sound the next day.

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[snippy_about_it]

Good morning Aeronaut.

[snippy_about_it]

Good morning EGC.

[snippy_about_it]

Thanks fredhead.

[snippy_about_it]

!!!!!

[snippy_about_it]

Mornin' PE.

[stand watie]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Professional Engineer]

The captain of the Monssen, believing that the shells were fired from American ships, turned on the recognition lights and was sunk by 47 Japanese shells.

That'd ruin your day. Drat.

[ExcursionGuy84]

Wasn't there a Difference between Japanese star shells and American star shells at that time???

[Professional Engineer]

Howdy ma'am

Busy day, where'd the morning go...

[alfa6]

Friday afternoon bump for the Freeper Foxhoile.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[snippy_about_it]

where'd the morning go...

We took it. It's still morning up and over here. ;-)

[USMCBOMBGUY]

Good afternoon,
Just a few more minutes till its quiting time......

[snippy_about_it]

Have a great weekend. We're open until 7pm tonight and of course tomorrow too. We eviiil entrepreneurs. :-)

[Valin]

That was an incredibly exciting time. I recall telling people do you know what's going on? The world as you knew it is changing right before your eyes.

[Iris7]

Hi, Valin. I love to make musing comments.

"1942 1st American offensive in Pacific in WW2, Guadalcanal, Solomon Is"

No disrespect to the United States Marine Corps, but I would say that the first heavy land offensive by Americans in the Pacific was on New Guinea, by the US Army's 32nd Division and by an even larger number of extremely brave Australians. This was not an Australian show, but a joint effort.

The Japanese were massing huge forces to annihilate our people on New Guinea. Guadalcanal was done to relieve pressure on New Guinea (just ask any old Marine about MacArthur), and at the same time to pose an insoluble dilemma for the Japanese. Insoluble, of course, if the Marines and Navy did their jobs.

And now you see MacArthur at work. He was a genius, sometimes.

[Iris7]

7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

[Iris7]

She is beautiful.

United States Ship The Sullivans

*Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS Destroyer, the United States Navy.
*Length: 505'
*Beam: 66'
*Depth: 41'-10"
*Draft: 20'-8 1/4"
*Displacement: 6,605 (light ship), 8,422 (full load)
*Other Data: 4 geared gas turbines, 100,000 horsepower, twin screws, twin rudders, steel superstructure.

CL-52 United States Ship Juneau

* Atlanta class Anti-aircraft Cruiser:
* Displacement: 6,000 tons
* Length: 541'6"
* Beam: 53'2"
* Draft: 16'48"
* Speed: 32-33 knots
* Armament: 16 5"/38, numerous 40mm & 20mm AA, 8 21" torpedo tubes
* Complement: 820
* Built at Federal, Kearny and commissioned 14 February 1942

Notice the close similarity in size and weight between Juneau and The Sullivans. One was a light Cruiser, one of the great Atlantas, and one is a DDG - a "Destroyer". Actually The Sullivans does much the same job as did Juneau.

[Valin]

"I bet that caused a sinking sensation aboard Hiei. Actually, as I recollect Hiei was plenty tough, and did not sink until about noon."

Groan!