HEAVY FORCES NOT IN ACTION

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 40, 17 February 1943, Page 3

HEAVY FORCES NOT IN ACTION

FIERCE AIR ATTACKS

U.S. Claims 15 Enemy Ships Sunk Or Damaged

N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. 12.30. WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. During the latter part of January United States reconnaissance planes located heavy Japanese fleet units, including battleships and aircraftcarriers, between Truk, the Japanese naval base in the Caroline Islands, and the Solomons, states the Navy Department's communique No. 252. Simultaneously, reports were received that large groups of enemy destroyers were in the islands and that an unusually heavy concentration of enemy aircraft was at all Japanese bases in the Solomons-New Britain area. It appeared possible that the Japanese fleet might accept decisive battle. Subsequent events indicate, however, that the enemy was solely concerned with the evacuation of troops from Guadalcanar and interference with movements of United States troop transports landing soldiers at Guadalcanar shortly before the collapse of enemy resistance on that island. There were no actions between the heavy forces. Active operations of the enemy surface forces were confined mainly to the movements of destroj'er detachments under heavy air cover between Guadalcanar and enemy bases in the Northern Solomons. j Air Torpedoes Sink U.S. Cruiser During the evening of Friday, January 29. a force of United States cruisers and destroyers, covering transport movements operating about 70 miles southward of Guadalcanar, in the vicinity of Rennell Island, was attacked by enemy torpedo planes. The cruiser Chicago, after being . hit by torpedoes and severely damaged, was taken in tow by another cruiser, and the tow was later transferred to a tug.

On the afternoon of Saturday, January 30, the Chicago was again attacked by 13 enemy torpedo planes and sunk. United States aircraft shot down 12 enemy planes, but were too late to ward off attacks on the Chicago. Personnel casualties were not large. On Sunday, January 31, a force of United States bombers and fighters attacked an enemy formation comprising one destroyer, one corvette, and one large cargo vessel in Yella Gulf, north-west of Guadalcanal'. Three enemy vessels were left "dead" in the water, burning and listing. Enemy Destroyers Sunk On Monday, February 1, a force of United States dive-bombers, torpedo planes and fighters attacked an enemy formation consisting of four destroyers, in the Northern Solomons area. Two of the destroyers are believed to have been sunk, and a third left burning. United States aircraft were attacked by ten Zeros, two of which were shot down. Two United States fighter planes were lost. In air combat at least 20 Japanese planes were destroyed in the Guadalcanar area during the day, and 10 United States planes were lost. During the afternoon of Monday, February 1, a force of enemy divebombers, escorted by Zero fighters attacked and sank a United States destroyer between Cape Esperance, the northern tip of Guadalcanar, and Savo Island, eight miles distant to the north.

During the night of February 1-2, an enemy force of about 20 destroyers approached Guadalcanar. It was attacked by United States torpedo-boats, and at least one destroyer was sunk and two others are believed to have been sunk. Three United States torpedo-boats were lost. Japanese Planes Shot Down On the morning of Tuesday, February 2, a force of Dauntless divebombers and Avenger torpedo-planes attacked 16 enemy destroyers northeastward of Kilombangara Island, west of New Georgia. One bomb hit was scored on an enemy destroyer, and a near hit on another. One Avenger torpedo-plane was damaged by anti-aircraft fire. During the evening of Tuesday, February 2, a large force of Flying Fortresses, escorted by Lightning and Warhawk fighter planes, scored hits on a large enemy cargo ship off Shortland Island, south of Bouganville Island. The vessel left burning and listing. Our planes were attacked by 20 enemy fighters. Nine or possibly ten enemy planes were shot down. All of the United States planes returned.

During the afternoon of Thursday, February 4, a force of United States torpedo-planes,, dive-bombers and fighters attacked an enemy formation of 20 destroyers, 200 miles northwestward of Guadalcanal-. One destroyer was sunk and another badly damaged. An enemy destroyer was later observed burning. In this attack seven Zeros were shot down and five others probablv destroyed. Four United States tor-pedo-planes, one bomber-plane and one fighter-plane were lost. In the second attack Dauntless dive-bombers, escorted by Wildcat and Warhawk fighters, attacked IS enemy destroyers, which were covered by 22 Zeros. Two hits were scored on one destroyer, and one hit on another. Ten enemy Zeros were shot down, and two others probablv destroyed. Three United States fighters and one dive-bomber were lost. "The above account includes all known United States and Japanese losses," the Navy Department states. "Events subsequent to Thursday, February 4 centred on the collapse of Japanese resistance on Guadalcanal- as' announced in a previous communique."