The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The 1st and 2nd Guadalcanal Nov 13-15, 1942 - Dec. 29th, 2002

http://www.angelfire.com/ia/totalwar/Guadalcanal.html ^

[SAMWolf]

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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.

[Mudboy Slim]

"Terry's Lyin'!!"
(To be sung to Van Halen's "Jamie's Cryin'")

Slim saw the look in PUNK's eyes, MUD knew he's better!!
MUD asked his FRiends to Fight!! ...FReepers, it's now or never!!
Slick makes MUD feel so MAD!!!
Oh, whoa, whoa, Terry's cryin'...
Oh, whoa, whoa, Macker's lyin'!!
McAuliffe finally said, "All right!! MUD, as a Man, yer much BETTER!!
MUD, I am afraid to Fight, ah, oh, so all my ties I'll now sever!!"
MUD said to send Slick a letter, uh yeah yeah...
Uh just to try to make yerself feel better
It said "Willie (Yer Gonna Fall, YOU Slime!!")
And Slick knows Mudboy'll git 'em!!
Oh, whoa, whoa, Fairy's cryin'!!
Oh, whoa, whoa, Terry's lyin'!!
Now Mudboy's been in love before (ahhh)
And he knows what Power is for (ahhh)
It should mean, a little, a little more (ahhh)
Than one night stands, whoo!!

MUD's gonna send Slick a letter, uh yeah yeah
Just to Let Slick Knows Who's Gonna Git HIM!!
Slim sang "Willie (Yer Gonna Fall, You Slime!!)
'Cuz the Macker's a BedWetter!!"
Oh, whoa, whoa, Lib'ral's cryin'...
Oh, whoa, whoa, LeftWing's Dyin'...
Oh, whoa, whoa, RATS'll be FRyin'...
Oh, whoa, whoa, Clinton's Lyin'...
Oh, whoa, whoa, Slick'll Be Whinin'!!

Heh heh heh...MUD

[lonestar]

bump

[facedown]

American Barbed Wire Bloody Ridge / Guadalcanal / Emplaced / 1942

[MistyCA]

Oh, oh. Take care of yourself, Jen!

[MistyCA]

Thanks, Doughty!

[MistyCA]

thanks for the bump!

[Taxman]

Thanks for the post.

My mothers's brother, a Marine enlisted man, survived Guadalcanal. He would not talk about his experience except once telling me how disappointed he was that the museum at Warner Robbins AFB did not have a P-38 on display.

When I asked him why he was disappointed, he said "They saved our asses at Guadalcanal."

[The real story, if I have it right, is that the P-38s at Guadalcanal had early series engines, with no turbosuperchargers, and were unfit for air-to-air combat. So they were used as close air support aircraft, repeatedly attacking Japanese positions around Henderson Field at low level with bombs and strafe. My uncle remembered them with some intensity of emotion, needless to say.]

That is the only comment I ever got (in almost 50 years of trying) from him about his experience of WW II. That and "I survived."

OTOH, I had the honor and privilege of having dinner with CWO4 "Woody" Williams, USMC (Ret) last May 30th.

From his Medal of Honor Citation:

"WILLIAMS, HERSHEL WOODROW

Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division. Place and date: Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945. Entered service at: West Virginia. Born: 2 October 1923, Quiet Dell, W. Va. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as demolition sergeant serving with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried mines, and black volcanic sands, Cpl. Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating machinegun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by 4 riflemen, he fought desperately for 4 hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flamethrowers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out 1 position after another. On 1 occasion, he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flamethrower through the air vent, killing the occupants and silencing the gun; on another he grimly charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its objective. Cpl. Williams' aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service."

He told me a lot about Guadalcanal, and filled me in on what my uncle and his fellow Marines went through in those Hellish months before the 'Canal was secured.

The US victory at Guadalcanal was a testament to the uncommon valor of all US servicemen (Army, Navy, Marine Corps) who were there.

General Raymond G. Davis, USMC (Ret) was also at the dinner table that evening. He won the Medal at the "Frozen Chosin" as a Lieutenant Colonel. Retired as the Deputy Commander, USMC. But that is another story.

We owe these men a huge debt of gratitude, and we will never be able to repay that debt.

Thanks for honoring the men and women who serve that we may be FRee.

[MistyCA]

LOL!

[MistyCA]

thanks for the bump!

[alfa6]

I ran across an interesting site the other day on the IJN. I have not had time to explore it in depth but it appears to have quite a bit of interesting and well researched information.

http://www.combinedfleet.com

Thanks for the post SAMWolf

Many Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[MistyCA]

Super pictures! Thanks!

[alfa6]

Y'all might want to ping others to this thread on Bill Mauldin.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/813785/posts

As I recall there was on thread on this a couple of months ago, Sorry do not have time to look for it right now.

Sad Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Mudboy Slim]

"Already Gone!!"
(To be sung to the Eagles' "Already Gone")

Folks, I heard Rush Limbaugh talkin' just the other day...
And Rush said, "RATS're gonna put Slick on the shelf!!
But let me tell you...MUD's got some news for you...
And you'll soon find out Right's True...
'Cuz Slick's gonna haveta eat his lunch in a JailCell!!

'Cuz Slick's already bombed...
And Right's feelin' strong!!
MUD shall sing his Vict'ry songs...woo, hoo,hoo,woo,hoo,hoo!!

This Prez'dent fer whom RATS voted...made me stop and wonder "WHY?!!"
But I reckon that we'll just haveta set things Right!!
Just remember this, Lib'ral, when ya listen to those who LIE...
You can be RATstars and still not know what's Right (WE're Right!!)

And Left's already done...
And Right's feelin' strong!!
Right shall sing this Vict'ry song...woo, hoo,hoo,woo, hoo,hoo!!!

Willie know it was YOU FOOLS who gave Slick Power...
Clinton knows it shall be YOU who helps US FReep!!
So often times it happens that YOU live yer lives in chains...
And YOU never even knew YOU have the key!!

But me, I'm already gone!!
And I'm feelin' strong!!
Right Shall Sing this Vict'ry Song...
'Cuz Slick's Already Bombed!!

Yes, RATS're already gone...
And Right's feelin' strong!!
Right shall sing this Vict'ry song...
'Cuz RATS're already done!!

Yes, Slick's already buggered...
Slick's squeeeeelin' fer more!!
All Right, Let's Fight the Fight!!

BWAHAHAHAHA...MUD

[MistyCA]

Good to see you, Taxman! Thanks for sharing the history about your uncle. I would like to thank him for his service. I am sorry that he wasn't able to answer more of your

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Light Speed for the background on the USS Benham.

I've always been fascinated by listening to the WWII and Korean war vets.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Misty.

[MistyCA]

Thanks for the link!

[MistyCA]

Thanks.

[MistyCA]

LMAO! I wish we could click a button and hear you signing these! LOL!

[SAMWolf]

Misty, you should have done that Seabees post as a stand alone thread.

Good job on that post.