BATTLE IN SOLOMONS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 40, 18 February 1943, Page 5

BATTLE IN SOLOMONS

AEROPLANES VERSUS WARSHIPS FIFTEEN JAPANESE SHIPS REPORTED SUNK OR DAMAGED (By Telegraph—Prese Association—Copyright) (Recd. 6 p.m.) Washington, Feb. 16. The Navy Department announced that 15 Japanese ships, including 12 destroyers, were sunk or damaged, and two American warships, including the heavy cruiser Chicago, were lost in a week of furious sea and air fighting in the Solomons beginning on January 29. The Japanese also lost 60 planes and the Americans lost 22. The Navy Department announced that the action occurred in an area covering almost 100,000 square miles and was entirely an aeroplane v. ships encounter. No surface ships engaged one another. The Chicago went down after two torpedo-plane attacks. Personnel casualties were not large. The commander, Captain Ralph Davis, was saved. The Navy communique says that during the latter part of January United States reconnaissance planes located heavy Japanese fleet units, including battleships and aircraft-carriers, between Truk (Caroline Bay) and the Solomons.

simultaneously reports were received of large groups of enemy destroyers in the islands and an unusually heavy concentration of enemy aircraft at all the Japanese bases, in the Solomons and New Britain area. It appeared possible that the Japanese fleet might accept a decisive battle. Subsequent events indicated that the enemy was solely concerned with the evacuation of troops from Guadalcanar and interference with the movements of United States troop transports landing soldiers on Guadalcanar shortly before the collapse of enemy resistance there. There were no actions between heavy forces. The active operations of the enemy surface forces were confined mainly to movements of destroyer detachments under heavy air cover betwen Guadalcanar and the enemy bases in the northern Solomons. During the evening of January 29 a force of United States cruisers and destroyers, covering transport movements and operating about 70 miles southward of Guadalcanar in the vicinity of Rennell Island, was attacked by enemy torpedo-planes. The Chicago was hit by torpedoes, and severely damaged. She was taken in tow by another cruiser and the tow was late* transferred to a tug. On the afternoon of 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 the attacks on the Chicago. The casualties on the ship were not large. 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 Vella Gulf. The three enemy vessels were left dead in the water, burning and listing. On February 1 a force of United States dive-bombers, torpedo-planes, and fighters attacked an enemy formation of four destroyers in the northern Solomons area. Two destroyers are believed to have been sunk and a third was left burning. The United States aircraft were attacked by 10 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. Ten United States planes were lost. During the afternoon of February 1 a force of enemy dive-bombers, escorted by Zeros, attacked and sank a United States destroyer between Cape Esperance and Savo Island. During the night of February 1-2 an enemy force of about 20 destroyers approached Guadalcanar. They were attacked by United States torpedoboats and at least one destroyer was sunk. Two others are believed to have been sunk. Three United States torpedo-bouts were lost. On the morning of February 2 a force of Dauntless dive-bombers and Avenger torpedo-planes attacked 16 enemy destroyers north-eastward of Kilombangara. One bomb hit was scored on an enemy destroyer and a near hit on another. One Avenger was damaged by ack-ack. During the evening of February 2 a force of Flying Fortresses, escorted by Lightnings and War Hawks, scored hits on a large enemy cargo ship off Shortland Island. The vessel was left burning and listing. Our planes were attacked by 20 enemy fighters and nine, or possibly 10, enemy planes were shot down. All the United States planes returned to their base.

During the afternoon of February 4 a force of United States torpedoplanes, dive-bombers, and fighters attacked an enemy formation of 20 destroyers 200 miles north-westward of Guadalcanar. One destroyer was sunk and another badly damaged. An enemy destroyer was later observed to be burning. In this attack seven Zeros were shot down and five others probably destroyed. Four United States tor-pedo-planes, one bomber, and one lighter were lost. In a second attack Dauntless divebombers, escorted by Wildcats and War Hawks, attacked 18 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 probably shot down. Three United States fighters and one divebomber were lost.

The above account includes all known United States and Japanese losses. Events subsequent to February 4 centred on the collapse of Japanese resistance on Guadalcanar, as announced in previous communiques. Colonel Knox told the Press that the Navy communique itself clearly explained why the Navy held up details.