After the inconclusive Battle of Kula Gulf, RADM Ainsworth was eager to again engage the Japanese, thinking he had put a serious hurt on them. The Japanese would only make him wait a week. The American campaign to take Vila was not going particularly well, and a Tokyo Express run threatened to tip the balance in favor of the Japanese. Ainsworth had since been reinforced to compensate for lost and damaged ships and his Force now consisted of the light cruisers Honolulu, St Louis, and HMNZS Leander, and destroyers Nicholas, O’Bannon, Taylor, Jenkins, Radford, Ralph Talbot, Buchanan, Maury, Woodworth, and Gwin

On the night of 12-13 July the Japanese where on there way to reinforce Vila. The Japanese force, led by RADM Izaki, consisted of two parts. The Transport group, consisting of destroyers Satsuki, Minazuki, Yunagi, and Matsukaze, and the Support Group consisting of light cruiser Jintsu and destroyers Mikazuki, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, Kiyonami, and Yugure. The Japanese also had a new invention that would debut in the battle. A brand new radar-location devise would allow the Japanese to see where the Americans where by sensing the electronic impulses created by radar.

At 0036 a PBY Catalina spotted the Japanese column some 26 miles distant from the task force moving southwest. Ainsworth deployed the force in a single column with half the destroyers in the van and half in the rear of his cruisers.
Detecting the Japanese on radar at 0100 with visual contact a mere three minutes later, Ainsworth once again believed he had achieved complete surprise on the Japanese force. Once again he was dead wrong, as the new radar-detection devise apparently had a range much greater than the radar itself. Izaki had actually known of the Allied presence for nearly two hours. Ainsworth turned his cruisers 30 degrees stb and ordered the van destroyers to increase speed for torpedo attack.

Izaki was able to use the new device to accurately plot the approach of the Allied ships. The Japanese began to launch torpedoes at 0108 followed by the US destroyers at 0110 with a range of 10.000 yards. As the torpedoes got underway, Jintsu turned on her searchlights and opened fire. The Allied cruisers replied by 0112 and just five minutes later Jintsu was already dead in the water at the time she was struck by an American torpedo. By 0130 Jintsu would be on the receiving end of close to 3000 shells fired her way (of course not all hit her).

Around the time Jintsu was being hit by a torpedo, Ainsworth ordered his force to move south. Leander would make the turn wide and at 0122 suffered severe damage at the hands of a Japanese long lance. Radford and Jenkins would escort her away from the battle to safety.

Mikazuki stayed with Jintsu while the other four destroyers of the support group sped north to reload the torpedo tubes. Reloading was completed by 0140 and the Japanese turned back south to catch the remaining allied ships. Ainsworth had sent Nicholas, O’Bannon, and Taylor to chase the Japanese and at around 0140 they finished off the sinking Jintsu with a few more fish.

The battle should have ended here with the remaining forces heading in opposite directions but both turned back towards each other. Ainsworth had once again assumed a great victory and turned back north to finish of any cripples. At 0156 Honolulu detected a group of ships on radar. Ainsworth, not knowing the exact location of his own destroyers, attempted to identify the ships o no avail. Finally, to assist in the identification, Ainsworth ordered the ships lit up with star shells. At 0205 the ships where illuminated and it was observed that they where turning north in a way that made it appear like they had just launched torpedoes. The Allied task force was ordered to turn so the ships guns could fire.

Before any shots could be fired St Louis was struck in the bow by a torpedo as well as Honolulu in the same location. In addition Honolulu was hit in the stern with a dud. Gwin took one amidships, and Buchanan collided with Woodworth in an attempt to comb the torpedoes. Gwin would be scuttled the next day.

Overall the battle was a huge Allied defeat. The Japanese where able to land another 1200 troops on Villa with the loss of one cruiser, While the Allies suffered three heavily damaged cruisers and one sunk destroyer. Other than the Jintsu all other Japanese ships escaped without damage. However, the allies did achieve the result of preventing KulaGulf from being used again by the Japanese to resupply Munda setting up the future battle of VellaGulf.

__________________
"Like so many of our people, we have now had a personal experience of German barbarity which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight through to final victory."-King George VI
"Casualties many; Percentage of dead not known; Combat efficiency; we are winning."-Colonel David M. Shoup-Saipan

Another pic of the USS Honolulu. this from the side


Just curious. does anyone read these obscure battle posts? I will keep writing anyways because the men who fought them deserve to be remembered. As I said just curious.

__________________
"Like so many of our people, we have now had a personal experience of German barbarity which only strengthens the resolution of all of us to fight through to final victory."-King George VI
"Casualties many; Percentage of dead not known; Combat efficiency; we are winning."-Colonel David M. Shoup-Saipan

I don't know about any others, but I read them. To me the Battle of Kolombangara is not obscure, any more than First or Second Naval Battles of Guadalcanal. There is an excellent eyewitness account of the Battle of Kolombangara by the Executive Officer of the Maury DD-401 in the book "South Pacific Destroyer" by Russell Crenshaw. Crenshaw started out as gunnery officer of the Maury and served through much of the Solomon's campaign. His version differs a bit from yours, but only in a few details which is understandable The USN/RAN forces suffered from poor communications during the battle which accounts for much of the confusion apparent on the Allied side.

Ditto for me, Mike. I read them to see if there is anything I might be able to add. Keep it up, Old Boy!

__________________
Best Regards,
JW