SOLOMONS LOSS

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1943, Page 5

SOLOMONS LOSS

U.S.A. NAVY’S ACCOUNT 12 JAP. DESTROYERS Sunk or Damaged HEAVY U.S. CRUISER SUNK. AND ONE DESTROYER. [Aust. & N.Z. Cable A.ssn.l WASHINGTON, Feb. 16. The United States Navy has now issued a communique giving details of various naval fighting for a week in the waters of the- Solomons Islands during the period extending from January 29 to February 4. It states: “The action occurred in an area covering almost one hundred thousand square miles, being entirely; air versus ships. No surface ships were engaged one with another. During the evening of January' 29, a force of United States cruisers and destroyers covering transport movements operating about 70 miles southward of Guadalcanar in the vicinity of R.ennell Island, was attacked by enemytorpedo planes. “The U.S. heavy cruiser “Chicago was hit by torpedoes, severely damaged, and taken in tow by cruiser The tow was later transferred to a tug. During the afternoon of January 7 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 the -attacks on the Chicago. The Chicago went down after the two torpedo plane attacks. The personnel casualties were not large. Captain Ralph Davis was “On January 31, a force of United States bombers and fighters attacked an enemy formation of one destroyer, one corvette, and one large cargo vessel in the Vella Gulf, and three enemy vessels were left dead in the water, burning and listing. “On February 1 a force of United States dive-bombers, torpedo-planes end fighters attacked an enemy formation of four destroyers in the Nortnern Solomon area . Two destroyers are believed to have been stink, and a third was left burning. The United States aircraft were attacked by 10 Zeros, two of which were shot down. Two United Stlates fig*, ter planes were lost. “In an air combat, at least 20 Japanese planes were destroyed in the Guadalcanal- area during the day. Pen United States planes were lost “During the afternoon of Lebruarv 1 a force of enemy dive-bombers, escorted bv Zeros, attacked and sank a United' States destroyer between Cape Esperance and Savo. “During the night of February, 1 an enemy 7 force of about 20 destroyers approached Guadtelcanar. They were attacked by United States torpedoboats. At least, one destroyer was sunk and two others are believed to have sunk. Three United States torpedo boats were lost. “On the morning of Febru«iy 2 a force of Dauntless dive-bombers and Avenger torpedo-planes attacked lb enemy destroyers north-eastward ot Kilombandara. One bomb hit wasj scored on an enemy destroyer and a neat- hit on another. One Avenger was damaged by A.A. fire “During the evening of February 2 a force of Flying Fortresses, escorted by Lightnings and Warhawks, scored hits on a large enemy cargo ship oil Shortland Island. The- vessel was left burning and listing. Our planes weie attacked by 20 enemy fighters. Nine or possibly 1 10 enemy planes wei e shot down. All the United States planes returned. , “During the- afternoon ot February 4 a force of United States torpedo planes, dive-bombers, and fighters attacked an enemy formation of 20 destroyers, 200 miles north-westward of Guadalcanal*. One -destroyer was sunk and another badly’damaged. An enemyj destroyer w-as later observed burning. In this attack, seven Zeros were shot down and five others probably destroyed. Four'United States torpedo planes, one bomber, and one tighter were lost. In a second atruck. Dauntless dive-bombers, escorted by Wildcats and Warhawks, attacked 18 enemy destroyers which were covered byi 22 Zeros. Two hits were scored on one destroyer and one hit on another. Ten enemy Zeros were shot down and two others probably destroyed. Three United States fighters and one divebombers were lost.” , The above account includes all the United States and Japanese losses. Thes'e comprised Iz. Japanese destroyers either sunk or damaged: and three other ships, two American warships were lost, one- destroyer and the heavy cruiser “Chicago.” The Japanese also lost sixty planes and the Americans lost twenty-two.

The Naval communique- also states: “During the latter part, of January. United States reconnaissance planes located heavy Japanese fleet units, including battleships and aircraft carriers between Truk and the Solomons. Simultaneously reports were received of large groups ot enemy destroyers in the island, and unusually heavy concentration of aircraft at all Japanese bases in the Solomons-New Britain area. It appeared possible that the Japanese Fleet might accept. a decisive battle Subsequent events indicate that the ene-myc was solely concerned in the evacuation of troops from Guadalcanlar. and interference with movements of American troop transports landing soldiers at Guadalcanal’, shortly before the collapse of enemy resistance. There- active operations of enemy surface forces were confined to movements by destroyer detachments, under heavy| air cover, between Guadtilcanar and the enemy bases in the Northern Solomons. A further United States Navy communique states: Dauntless divebombers, escorted by Wildcats on February 7 attacked a .Japanese surface force near Rendova Island m the New Georgia group. Bomb hits were scored on two enemy destroyers and two possible hits. Three Zeros were destroyed. Marauder medium bombers, escorted by Airacobras and Warhawks on the morning of February 15 bombed Japanese positions and started fires on Kolombandana Island . Later in tne morning Dauntless dive-bombers and Avenger torpedo planes, escorted by Wildcats and Corsairs, made a second attack on Munda. No American planes were lost in the above attacx, although there was some damage Colonel Knox told the Press that the Naw communique itself clearly explained why the Navy had held up details. Better Jap. Planes BROUGHT TO SOLOMONS. NEW YORK, Feb. 16. Colonel Knox told a press conference that he surmised that tne reason why the recent Japanese ra tio of air losses has been less favourable to the Americans than the earlier ratio of five to one was that the Japanese had introduced later model planes and better trained fliers.