Naval Battle off Guadalcanal

If this book is anywhere near as good as Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors it will be well worth having. I can see it being added to my Kindle when it comes out.

 

<perk> A new book by Hornfischer....and I have $100 in Booksamillion gift cards burning a hole in my wallet. Hmmm

 

Hmm. How about gifting one of your mods (hint, hint) with a copy?

 

well, as muuuccchhhh as I would like to, I just don't see it happening.

 

Thanks for this link, Tracy. I'm nearly done with Hornfischer's Neptune's Inferno, so these photos really hit home. I am just in awe of what these ships and the men on them did. If someone tried to write this as fiction, he'd be laughed out of the writing profession. Unbelievable.

 

Since there has been discussions on Guadalcanal I thought I'd bump and add this:

USS Fletcher DD-445
Guadalcanal War Diary & Action Report for Nov. 11-13
November 1, 1942 - December 1, 1942

[SIZE=-1]November 1, 1942.
At Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo. 1440 underway with Task Group 64.2 -ATLANTA (CTG), AARON WARD, BENHAM, FLETCHER, LARDNER enroute to Guadalcanal to support landing operations.

Positions Lat. Long.
2000 14-32 S 166-49 E

Course 317°, speed 21 knots.

November 2, 1942.
Proceeding with Task Group 64.2 as before. 1600 designation changed to Task Group 65.3. Received orders to proceed through Sealark Channel to engage enemy light forces reported enroute Guadalcanal. 1900 received orders for all forces (Task Force 65) to retire to eastward in view of strong enemy force reported. 1931 collision occurred between FULLER and CONYNGHAM about 1000 yds. on port bow.

Positions Lat. Long.
0800 11-38-15 S 164-21-00 E
1200 10-33-30 S 163-00-15 E
2000 09-17-30 S 160-25-30 E

November 3, 1942.
Task Group 65.3 - ATLANTA (CTG), AARON WARD (CDS12), FLETCHER, BENHAM, LARDER - retiring to south of San Cristobal Island to rendezvous with CTG 65.4 to form striking group to prepare for attack on enemy force reported to northward. 0500 proceeding to rendezvous with all groups of Task Force 65. 1420 joined up with TF 65; constituted as follows:
TG 65.1 - HUNTER LIGGETT, BARNETT, PRES. HAYES.
TG 65.3 - ATLANTA (CTG), AARON WARD, FLETCHER, BENHAM, LARDNER, GWIN, WALKE, McCALLA.
TG 65.8 - 65.1 and 65.3 combined.
TG 65.4 - SAN FRANCISCO (CTF), HELENA, BUCHANAN, LAFFEY, STERETT.
TG 65.5 - MANLEY, McKEAN, NEVILLE, HEYWOOD, FOMALHAUT.
TG 65.7 - PENSACOLA (CTG), CUSHING, PRESTON, MUSTIN, ANDERSON.
TG 65.9 - 65.5 and 65.7 combined.
Operating plan - CTF 65 plan One. 1500 entire force proceeding to Guadalcanal via Sealark Channel.

Positions Lat. Long.
0800 10-40-15 S 161-21-45 E
1200 11-04-30 S 162-29-30 E
2000 09-58-45 S 161-53-30 E

November 4, 1942.
Proceeding as before. 0130 TG 65.9 detached to proceed Aola Bay. 0315 FLETCHER proceeding ahead of TG 65.8 through Sealark Channel to scout (SG Radar), Guadalcanal - Tulagi area for enemy forces; reported areas clear. 0500 rejoined Task Group off Lunga Point, screening transports. 0721 spotted location of gun (at Kokombuna) that was firing on transports and was directed to engage it. 0730 opened fire at 15,000 yards; 0810 ceased firing, having expended 134 rounds 5" and silenced Jap battery. Resumed screening operations. 1110 maneuvered with transports to defend them against expected air raid. 1300 transports returned to Lunga Point and resumed unloading. 1800 TG 65.8 retiring through Sealark Channel for the night. ATLANTA (CTG), AARON WARD, FLETCHER, BENHAM & LARDNER proceeding to join TG 65.4 to form striking group. 2300 joined up, steaming various courses in Indispensable Strait. [/SIZE]

For the full report;
USS Fletcher DD-445 war diary November 1942

 

I'm not sure if you've read this but it might interest others. It did me!

Fork in the Road

"All that was left for Halsey's use were two fast, new, battleships, USS South Dakota and USS Washington. Naval War College doctrine forbade the use of battleships in a tightly confined space such as Ironbottom Sound, just north of Guadalcanal, but Halsey knew that wars were won at sea, not in a textbook. He ordered the dreadnoughts committed.

Commanding the two battlewagons was Rear Adm. Willis A. "Ching Chong" Lee, a chain-smoking, approachable, bespectacled gunnery expert who relieved tension on the bridge by reading lurid novels or swapping sailor stories with the enlisted men standing watch duty.
Lee was mostly business, though. With Washington Captain Glenn Davis and gunnery officer Lt. Cdr. Edwin Hooper, he sat up many nights discussing gunnery problems, taking a mathematical approach. Lee also used more practical tools. He tested every gunnery-book rule with exercises and ordered gunnery drills under odd conditions--turret firing with relief crews, anything that might simulate the freakishness of battle."

Just found this: http://usswashington.com/1stbatt.htm

 

You might also look at this, beginning especially on page 62. The US radar was especially effective that night.
Battle of Guadalcanal

 

I read the book earlier and agree with you Price. All of Hornfischer's books are good, but that one might be his best.