Battle of Horaniu

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Battle of Horaniu
American destroyers en route to the Solomon Islands two days before the battle
American destroyers en route to the Solomon Islands two days before the battle
date August 17, 1943
place in front of Vella Lavella , Solomon Islands , Pacific
output strategic Japanese victory
Parties to the conflict

United StatesUnited States (national flag) United States

JapanJapan (naval war flag) Japan

Commander

United StatesUnited States (national flag) Thomas J. Ryan

JapanJapan (naval war flag) Matsuji Ijuin

Troop strength
4 destroyers 4 destroyers
20 landing craft
transport ships
losses

no

1 destroyer damaged
2 sunk lighter

The Battle of Horaniu was a naval battle between the United States of America and the Japanese during the Pacific War . It took place on the night of August 17-18 , 1943 near Horaniu , a Japanese base on Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands .

prehistory

After the lost battle in the Vella Gulf , the Japanese decided to withdraw all troops south of Bougainville . In Horaniu , at the northernmost point of Vella Lavella, they had set up a loading point for their landing craft. A convoy of 20 landing craft and other support ships protected by four destroyers ( Sazanami , Hamakaze , Isokaze , Shigure ) under the command of Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin ran from Horaniu to the eastern island of Kolombangara on August 17 to take the troops stationed there on board .

The battle

Rear Admiral Wilkinson was informed of the Japanese movements through aerial reconnaissance . Then he gave Captain Thomas J. Ryan with his destroyer group ( Nicholas , O'Bannon , Taylor , Chevalier ) the order to intercept the Japanese convoy.

At 11:30 p.m. the convoy was attacked by American Grumman TBF torpedo planes . He was therefore out of formation when he was discovered by the American destroyer group at 12:29 a.m. Ryan thought that the Japanese had not yet discovered him and was about to carry out a surprise attack with torpedoes when his ships were discovered by a Japanese reconnaissance plane and illuminated with flares. After a torpedo duel, which had no effect, and long-range artillery fire, which apart from a close hit at the Hamakaze , which caused only minor damage, also had no consequences, the Japanese withdrew.

Result

The battle was a strategic victory for the Japanese, as they were able to save the majority of their landing craft and later withdraw 9,000 men.

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