The Battle of Tassafaronga was a naval battle fought between United States and Japanese forces on 30 November 1942. The last of the series of sea fights in the months-long Battle of Guadalcanal, US cruisers were badly mauled by a squadron of destroyers. The battle occurred in the channel between Guadalcanal and Savo Island, and was named after the Japanese base Tassafaronga on Guadalcanal, the destination of the destroyer squadron; this battle has also been called a later "Battle of Savo Island" or the "Battle of Lunga Point". USS Minneapolis (CA-36) at Tulagi with torpedo damage, 1 December 1942 Downloaded from [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The second USS Minneapolis (CA‑36) was laid down 27 June 1921 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched 6 September 1933; sponsored by Miss Grace L. Newton; and commissioned 19 May 1934, Capt. ... Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5. ... A modern torpedo, historically called a self propelled torpedo, is a self-propelled guided projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Pacific War, which is known in Japan as the Greater East Asia War and in China as the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (kang-Ri zhanzheng, literally Resist Japan War), occurred in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in Asia. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Guadalcanal, a 2,510 square mile (6,500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands, is largely a jungle. ... Raizo Tanaka was a Japanese naval commander during World War II, noted for his actions in the Battle of Tassafaronga during the Battle of Guadalcanal. ... The Battle of Guadalcanal was one of the most important battles of World War II. The assault on the Japanese-occupied island of Guadalcanal by the Allied navies and 16,000 United States troops on 7 August 1942, was the first offensive by US land forces in the Pacific Campaign. ... Battle of Savo Island Conflict World War II, Pacific Theater of Operations Date August 9, 1942 Place Vicinity of Savo Island Result Decisive Japanese victory The Battle of Savo Island was a naval battle of the Pacific Campaign of World War II, fought on August 9, 1942, between cruiser squadrons... Battle of the Eastern Solomons Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date August 24, 1942 – August 25, 1942 Place North of Santa Isabel, United States Japan Commanders William Halsey, Jr. ... Battle of Cape Esperance Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date October 11, 1942 – October 12, 1942 Place Off Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal Result Allied victory The Battle of Cape Esperance, originally known as the Second Battle of Savo Island, was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War... Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date October 25, 1942 – October 27, 1942 Place Santa Cruz Islands, United States Japan Commanders William Halsey, Jr. ... Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 13 November 1942 – 15 November 1942 Place Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Result Allied victory The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, which lasted from 13 November to 15 November 1942, was of one of a series of naval battles that took place... Battle of Rennell Island Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 29 January 1943 – 30 January 1943 Place Rennell Island, Solomon Islands Result Japanese victory The Battle of Rennell Island was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on 29 January – 30 January 1943 between... Battle of Blackett Strait Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 6 March 1943 Place Blackett Strait, Solomon Islands Result American victory The Battle of Blackett Strait was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on 6 March 1943 in the Blackett Strait, between Kolombangara... The eastern part of the Territory of New Guinea, and the northern Solomon Islands; the area in which Operation Cartwheel took place, from June 1943. ... The battle of New Georgia was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, and was fought in the New Georgia group of islands in the central Solomon Islands from 10 June 1943 to August 25, 1943 between forces of Japan and... Battle of Kula Gulf Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 6 July 1943 Place Kolombangara, United States Japan Commanders Walden L. Ainsworth Teruo Akiyama Strength 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers 10 destroyers Casualties 1 cruiser sunk 2 destroyers sunk, 2 damaged The Battle of Kula Gulf was a naval battle... Battle of Kolombangara Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 12 July 1943 – 13 July 1943 Place Kolombangara in the United States New Zealand Japan Commanders Walden Lee Ainsworth Shunji Izaki Strength 3 light cruisers, 10 destroyers 1 light cruiser, 5 destroyers Casualties 3 light cruisers damaged, 1 destroyer sunk... Battle of Vella Gulf Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date August 6, 1943 – August 7, 1943 Place Near Kolombangara in the United States Japan Commanders Frederick Moosbrugger Kaju Sugiura Strength 6 destroyers 4 destroyers Casualties — 3 destroyers sunk, 1 damaged The Battle of Vella Gulf was a naval battle... Battle off Horaniu Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date August 17, 1943 – August 18, 1943 Place Near Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands Result Japanese strategic victory The Battle off Horaniu was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of August... Battle of Vella Lavella Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date October 7, 1943 Place Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands Result Japanese victory The Battle of Vella Lavella was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of October 6, 1943 near... Battle of Empress Augusta Bay Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 1 – 2 November 1943 Place Bougainville, New Guinea Result Decisive Allied victory The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay was a land and naval battle in the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of 1... Battle of Cape St. ... The French battleship Orient burns, 1 August 1798, during the Battle of the Nile A naval battle is a battle fought using ships or other waterborne vessels. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Battle of Guadalcanal was one of the most important battles of World War II. The assault on the Japanese-occupied island of Guadalcanal by the Allied navies and 16,000 United States troops on 7 August 1942, was the first offensive by US land forces in the Pacific Campaign. ... USS Port Royal, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser, launched in 1994. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and manouverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... Guadalcanal, a 2,510 square mile (6,500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands, is largely a jungle. ... Savo Island is a minor island in the Solomon Islands group in the South Pacific ocean. ...

Background

Following the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal the Japanese command doubted their ability to retake the island and began to look at New Georgia, to the north of Guadalcanal, as a base from which they could thwart the American advance in the Solomons. The bombardments of Guadalcanal stopped but the Tokyo Express still made frequent supply and evacuation runs at night to the island and one of these runs led to the last major naval battle of the campaign. Naval Battle of Guadalcanal Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date 13 November 1942 – 15 November 1942 Place Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Result Allied victory The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, which lasted from 13 November to 15 November 1942, was of one of a series of naval battles that took place... Categories: Oceania geography stubs | Solomon Islands ... Guadalcanal, a 2,510 square mile (6,500 km²) island in the Pacific Ocean and a province of the Solomon Islands, is largely a jungle. ... The Tokyo Express was the nickname given by United States sailors and marines to the Japanese attempts to reinforce and resupply their forces during the battle of Guadalcanal and subsequent operations in the Solomon Islands in World War II. Airplanes from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal made it too dangerous for...

On November 30, 1942, Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka led a force of eight Japanese destroyers. Six of the destroyers were acting as transports, heavily loaded with supplies. Only Tanaka's flagship Naganami and Takanami were fully combat ready. November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... Raizo Tanaka was a Japanese naval commander during World War II, noted for his actions in the Battle of Tassafaronga during the Battle of Guadalcanal. ...

Task Force 67, a recently formed cruiser/destroyer force that comprised the heavy cruisers Minneapolis, New Orleans, Pensacola, and Northampton, the light cruiser Honolulu, and four destroyers (Fletcher, Drayton, Maury, and Perkins under the command of Rear Admiral Carleton H. Wright, steamed north from Espiritu Santo. Destroyers Lamson and Lardner returning from a escort assignment to Guadalcanal were ordered to join up with Task Force 67. Lacking the time to brief the commanding officers of the joining destroyers they were assigned a position behind the cruisers. A heavy cruiser is a type of large warship which originated with the British Hawkins class during World War I. They entered service after the war. ... The second USS Minneapolis (CA‑36) was laid down 27 June 1921 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched 6 September 1933; sponsored by Miss Grace L. Newton; and commissioned 19 May 1934, Capt. ... The USS New Orleans (CA-32) (formerly CL-32) was a United States Navy heavy cruiser, the lead ship of her class. ... The third USS Pensacola (CL/CA-24) of the United States Navy was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruiser. ... USS Northampton (CL–26) was laid down 12 April 1928 by Bethlehem Steel Corp. ... A light cruiser is a warship that is not so large and powerful as a regular (or heavy) cruiser, but still larger than ships like destroyers. ... The second USS Honolulu (CL-48) of the United States Navy was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser active in the Pacific War. ... USS Fletcher (DD/DDE-445), named for Admiral Frank F. Fletcher, was the lead ship of the Fletcher class destroyers, and served during World War II. Fletcher was laid down by the Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company at Kearny in New Jersey on 2 October 1941. ... Espiritu Santo (Spanish: Holy Ghost) is an island of the group known as New Hebrides, that now form the nation of Vanuatu. ...

Combat

Minneapolis made radar contact with the Japanese ships and, just after 23:00, three US destroyers launched twenty torpedoes while the American cruisers opened fire. The Takanami was hit by shells and sank but the American torpedoes missed and the gun flashes lit up the American ships and provided a clear target for the Japanese squadron, which quickly replied with twenty torpedoes of their own and turned to escape in the darkness. The American ships failed to manoeuvre to avoid the long lances and Minneapolis was hit by two 24-inch torpedoes, New Orleans was hit by one torpedo which severed her bow, Pensacola was also torpedoed and damaged but Northampton received two hits which caused her to sink later. The damaged heavy cruisers managed to reach Tulagi harbor where emergency repairs were carried out but all three were out of the war for more than nine months. Tulagi, less commonly Tulaghi, is a small island (5. ...

Aftermath

This battle underlined the American inferiority in night actions and led to much discussion in the Pacific Fleet about changes in tactical doctrine. The United States Pacific Fleet (USPACFLT) is part of the US Navy. ...

It is a painful truth that the Battle of Tassafaronga was a sharp defeat inflicted on an alert and superior cruiser force by a partially surprised and inferior destroyer force. - Samuel Eliot Morison

Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison, USNR (July 9, 1887 - May 15, 1976) was an American historian, notable for producing both authoritative scholarship and highly readable, an ability recognized with two Pulitzer Prizes. ...

References

• Morison, History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, vol. 5, chap. 13

The History of United States Naval Operations in World War II is a 15-volume account of the United States Navy in World War II, written by eminent historian Samuel Eliot Morison and published by Little, Brown between 1947 and 1962. ...

External links

• Order of battle (http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Tassafaronga.htm)