Third battle of savo island uss washington bb56 home port. A fire was started on one at the right tangent of savo island which burned for a long time. Newcomb is one of the true masters of military storytelling. During the allied assault on guadalcanal operation. The battle scenes are both realistic and as confusing as a battle would have been to an observer on the bridge, with incomplete communications and intelligence. Because of the controversial nature of this allied tactical defeat in night action, special attention is devoted to the japanese and allied preparations for. Orders of battle first battle of savo island battles of. Based on hitherto unavailable information from allied and japanese sources, this analysis, printed in 1950 as confidential materialsince declassified, is an attempt to represent the outlook of the involved commanders on both sides. Naval battle of guadalcanal mcgill university school of. May 01, 2020 the battle of savo island took place on august 89, 1942 and was the first major naval battle of the guadalcanal campaign by the allies.
Despite strong resistance marines from the 1st marine division captured the first three islands in two days. Uss quincy under attack off savo island friends of padre steves world, tonight i am going back to my world war ii vault and reposting an older article about the battle of savo island off guadalcanal. After the guns fell silent, the japanese navy would sink four allied heavy cruisers, kill. In return astoria was soon reduced to the same blazing shambles as the others and she sank at 1215 close by savo island after the fires reached her magazines. Location the battle of savo island occurred in iron bottom sound off savo island between guadalcanal to the south and the florida island and tulagi island to the north in the solomon islands. The allies wanted control over the island because of the advantage the japanese would have with it if they manage to complete the airfield, they would be able to directly attack the supply lines to australia. The battle of savo island is the story of the opening engagement of the solomon islands campaign, a unique chapter in naval history. Disaster at savo island, 1942 the battle of savo island. The battle took place on august 89, 1942 and was the first major naval. Light cruiser yubari illuminating american cruisers at savo island. Island or the first battle of the solomon sea, as the japanese. Part ii is a bibliography on the history of the island, including accounts of the battle of guadalcanal. The battle of savo island occurred early in the morning on 9 august 1942 when the the japanese 8 th fleet surprised the allied task force shortly after the landing at guadalcanal. It was the first surface encounter for a coordinated american force in nearly.
The news of the landing on tulagi and on guadalcanal threw rabaul into a frenzy of activity. Navy suffered its worst defeat on august 9, 1942 off savo island near guadalcanal in the solomon islands. Admiral mikawa displayed, at savo island, the same curious lack of aggression as admiral kurita did in the battle off samar in 1944. If the american naval forces and in particular the carriers could be destroyed, then guadalcanal would fall. The battle prevented the japanese transports from reaching the island, necessitating another attempt two nights later. In approximately 37 minutes, the japanese navy destroyed four allied heavy cruisers and killed more than american and australian. In view of the fact that group i appeared to be shooting over, mounts 1 and 3 were switched over to director iii which continued the fire. The battle of savo island was naval action fought in the early hours of 9 august 1942 in which the japanese surprised us and australian warships sinking four allied cruisers including hmas canberra. The battle of savo island was fought august 89, 1942, during world war ii. The naval battle was the second of four major surface engagements during the guadalcanal campaign and. The last ship of the line, astoria, managed to fire eleven salvos, one of which scored a hit in chokais operations room, but did not harm her fighting efficiency.
The battle of savo island, also known as the first battle of savo island and, in japanese sources, as the first battle of the solomon sea, daiichiji soromon kaisen. This bibliography brings together selected citations from a variety of different cartographic, geographical, geological and hydrological resources and a number of specialized library collections. Apr 02, 2018 commander greg swinden and his expert panel discuss the brutal battle of savo island in which hmas canberra and three us heavy cruisers were sunk. Battle of savo island combat narrative, 75th anniversary edition click image to download pdf, 1. At the time of first contact both main battery directors lost the target and the shift was made for designation, but the secondary battery director had not yet settled down and its designation was not used. This page is dedicated to the memory of the men and the ships that were lost on the occasion of the savaging 1st battle of savo island in guadalcanal on 9 aug 1942. The naval battle of guadalcanal occurred during november 1215, 1942 in iron bottom sound between guadalcanal and savo island in the solomon islands. Appendix iii orpnisation of southweet pacific forces 11iah.
Wargaming savo island at savo island, the allied warships were divided into three widely separated groups, each possessing. Students of world war ii naval history will find certain points clarified by captain ohmaes narrative. Pacific wrecks naval battle of guadalcanal third battle. Four cruisers, including the astoria were lost and several ships damaged. Savo island also has a minority of gela speakers the waters surrounding the island were the site of five of the seven major naval battles during the battle of guadalcanal in the pacific war. Kingman road, fort belvoir, va 220606218 1800caldtic 18002253842. Japanese 8th fleet headquarters, responsible for the defense of the solomons, the coral sea, and the rabaul area, prepared for operations against the american invaders. Admiral mikawa now new the allied disposition and ordered his ships to battle stations at 0045. As a result of these battles southeast of the island are many shipwrecks, the bay is known as ironbottom. The battle of savo island proceedings december 1957. Battle of savo island pacific a brutal battle of naval. In due time, allied forces were able to force the japanese to give up their attempt to take back guadalcanal it took six months with a tremendous loss of life on both sides.
The battle of savo island 9 august 1942 was a crushing japanese victory in the waters just off guadalcanal that saw them sink four allied cruisers and helped to isolate the us marines fighting on guadalcanal. Also known as the third battle of savo island or battle of the solomons or sometimes battle of friday the th. The battle of savo island was one of the last major battle successes of the japanese during the pacific campaign. This page is dedicated to the memory of the men and the ships that were lost on the occasion of the savaging 1st battle of savo island in guadalcanal on 9. At 004 he sighted and passed astern of uss blue the southern picket which also failed to detect the japanese force. Phase 1a consisted of shooting at what at first appeared to be shore batteries on savo island but later identified as surface craft. Commander greg swinden and his expert panel discuss the brutal battle of savo island in which hmas canberra and three us heavy cruisers were sunk. The battle of savo island occurred in iron bottom sound off savo island between guadalcanal to the south and the florida island and tulagi island to the north in the solomon islands. The indigenous language of savo is the savosavo language, an east papuan language. The battle of savo island began when ships of the japanese 8th fleet managed to slip past two. On 7 august 1942, the us marine 1st division landed on the japanese held islands of guadalcanal and tulagi in the solomons. The naval battle of guadalcanal, sometimes referred to as the third battle of savo island or, in japanese sources, as the third battle of the solomon sea, took place november 1215, 1942, and was the decisive battle in a series of naval battles that took place between allied primarily u. It was a brutal battle of naval forces, namely the united states navy, the royal australian navy and the imperial japanese navy.
The battle of savo island 9 august 1942 was a crushing japanese victory in the waters just off guadalcanal that saw them sink four allied cruisers and helped to isolate the us marines fighting on guadalcanal when news of the american landings on guadalcanal reached admiral gunichi mikawa, commander of the japanese naval forces in the south pacific, he decided to take a. They quickly captured the airfield but before all of their supplies could be unloaded the japanese attacked and the navy withdrew, not before losing the battle of savo island. References to specific designs, models, manufacturers, andor modifications of ships and aircraft are used only for the purpose of historical consistency and do not assume any funding or other involvement in the project on the part of the holders of trademarks. Orders of battle first battle of savo island battles. Washingtons main battery ceased tracking sendai group and shifted to the end of savo island. The battle of cape esperance, also known as the second battle of savo island and, in japanese sources, as the sea battle of savo island, took place on 1112 october 1942, in the pacific campaign of world war ii between the imperial japanese navy and united states navy. Battle of savo island naval history and heritage navy. This time halsey, tired of bringing knives to a gun fight, sent in his two modern, fast battleships, the washington and south dakota to oppose the japanese battlecruisers. Immediately after the americans landed on guadalcanal on august 7, 1942, the battle of savo. Savo to reconnaissance this side of the island for any additional us forces, but then at 2317 decides to send. At 0025 washingtons secondary battery opened fire on shore batteries. Initially both groups opened fire on these targets. The battle of savo island, also known as the first battle of savo island and, in japanese.
The battle of savo island and the battle of the eastern solomons comprise one of a series of twentyone published and thirteen unpublished combat narratives of specific naval campaigns produced by the publications branch of the office of naval intelligence during world war ii. In the resulting battle, the allies were badly defeated losing four heavy cruisers. The battle of savo island, august 9, 1942 internet archive. Sep 30, 2017 the japanese navy were well trained to fight in night battles at sea and they caught the allied ships by surprise and raked havoc on there destroyers, cruisers and sinking 4 allied ships and killing more than a thousand sailors. Combat narrative the battle of the eastern solomons oil, by john hamilton. The battle of savo island occurred early in the morning on 9 august in 1942 when the japanese 8th fleet surprised the allied task force shortly after the landing at guadalcanal. The battle of savo island, august 9th, 1942 prologue, battle, epilogue. The battle of savo island took place during august 89, 1942, between the imperial japanese navy and allied naval forces, as part of the pacific campaign of world war ii. How to fight and win the single naval battle marine corps.
Selected volumes in this series are being republished by the naval. This short but violent naval engagement, a daring japanese night surface attack. Media in category battle of savo island the following 11 files are in this category, out of 11 total. In continuation of its policy to present both sides of the war, the naval institute is pleased to offer its members a complete account of the battle of savo island from the japanese point of view. Part of the guadalcanal campaign, the battle of savo island saw japanese ships conduct a night action against allied vessels off the island. Courage and will were never lacking, but the imperial japanese navy was about to hand the u. The battle of savo island in august 1942 is one such event. Task force met the japanese fleet with disastrous results. The battle of savo island took place on august 89, 1942 and was the first major naval battle of the guadalcanal campaign by the allies. It was the first surface encounter for a coordinated american force in nearly half a century and a very bad start. Cover image the battle of savo island august 9, 1942 strategical and tactical analysis. Pacific wrecks naval battle of guadalcanal third battle of. The battle of savo island began on august 8th, 1942, and came to a close on august 9th, 1942. Other articles where battle of savo island is discussed.
This paper examines the naval battle of savo island from a historical perspective and extracts the lessons learned from a strategic, operational and tactical perspective. Uss astoria, uss quincy, uss vincennes, hmas canberra. This time halsey, tired of bringing knives to a gun fight, sent in his two modern, fast battleships, the washington and south dakota to. Not until mid1943, with tactics attributed to captain later admiral arleigh burke that exploited the radar advantage in full, did the u.
Mikawa seemed to do a very aggressive job of sinking and or damaging most of the fleet guarding the guadalcanal. It was the most lopsided defeat in modern american naval history. Strategy lessons from guadalcanal and the battle of savo. Aug 08, 2012 the battle of savo island was one of the last major battle successes of the japanese during the pacific campaign. The battle of savo island, also known as the first battle of savo island and, in japanese sources, as the first battle of the solomon sea, daiichiji soromon kaisen, and colloquially among allied guadalcanal veterans as the battle of the five sitting ducks, was a naval battle of the pacific campaign of world war ii between the imperial japanese navy and allied. Battle of savo island august 9th, 1942 strategic and tactical analysis. Wartime history during the night of august 89, 1942 as allied cruisers and destroyers were patrolling between guadalcanal and savo. The japanese refer to this action as third battle of the solomon sea.
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