Battle of Rennell Island
The USS Wichita with the USS Chicago
| date | 29. - the thirtieth January 1943 |
|---|---|
| place | off Rennell Island , Pacific |
| output | Japanese victory |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| 2 escort carriers , 6 cruisers , 8 destroyers |
32 planes |
| losses | |
|
1 cruiser sunk, |
12 planes |
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The Battle of Rennell Island was a World War II naval battle that took place near Rennell south of Guadalcanal from January 29-30, 1943. Japanese land-based bombers attacked an American task force, losing a heavy cruiser.
prehistory
At the end of January 1943, the Japanese army evacuated its troops from Guadalcanal , which resulted in increasing shipping traffic. However, the Americans misinterpreted this - they thought the Japanese were planning another offensive. Admiral William Halsey dispatched five task forces to assist the 2nd Marine Division. Task Force 18 under Rear Admiral Robert C. Giffen, consisting of the escort carriers USS Chenango and USS Suwannee , the heavy cruisers USS Chicago , USS Louisville and USS Wichita , the light cruisers USS Montpelier , USS Cleveland and USS Columbia and the eight destroyers USS Edwards , USS Chevalier , USS Conway , USS La Valette , USS Waller , USS Taylor , USS Frazier, and USS Meade , were designated to take over the air defense for the supply transports.
At 18 knots, the escort carriers were too slow to arrive at the planned meeting point in time, so Giffen left them behind and accelerated the other ships to 24 knots, awaiting air support from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. But he was discovered by Japanese submarines , which reported his position to the torpedo bomber squadrons in Munda Point and Buka.
The battle
The Japanese bombers arrived around 7 p.m., dropped a few torpedoes, none of which hit, and fired at the American ships with their on-board weapons . They then dropped flares to mark the task force's position and course. Another attack was launched at 7:30 p.m., with the Japanese scoring a hit on the Chicago that incapacitated them. Admiral Giffen changed course at 8 p.m. to avoid the course marked by the flares. By 8.15 p.m. most of the bombers were gone. The Louisville took the Chicago in tow while the escort carriers caught up and could provide air support again.
On the afternoon of January 30th, another eleven "Bettys" attacked , the majority of which were intercepted. However, some came through and dropped torpedoes that sank the Chicago and damaged the La Valette .
The Japanese then launched one last attack, but could no longer find any targets.
Result
Admiral Giffen could not keep the planned meeting, but the transport of supplies and soldiers he had to protect was successfully brought to Lunga Point and was able to relieve the troops stationed there.
