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NAVAL BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL
 
12 thru 15 
November 1942

This battle was one of the turning point of WWII. 
The Japanese stopped their advance and 
started returning to their homeland.
It took them two years and 9 months 
more of our sweat and blood to get there.

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Red Rose = Ship Damaged and Men Killed In Action

     = Ship Sunk

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11/12/42 Thursday 
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Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (12-15 November) opens as transports (Rear Adm. R. K. Turner) unloading troops in Lunga Roads, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands,
under the protection of air and surface forces, are attacked by Japanese aircraft.

United States Naval Vessels Damaged:

Heavy cruiser SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38), by Japanese aircraft.

Destroyer Buchanan (DD-484), accidentally by United States naval gunfire.

11/13/42 Friday

Landing Support Group (Rear Adm. D. J. Callaghan) encounters Japanese 
Raiding Group, including two battleships, steaming to bombard Henderson Field,
Guadalcanal; a devastating naval action ensues in the darkness off Guadalcanal, 
Solomon Islands. Heavy damage is inflicted on United States force before 
Japanese Raiding Group retires northward. Carrier force (Rear Adm. T. C. 
Kinkaid) arrives close to battle area and launches air search and attacks against 
the enemy (Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-15 November).

United States Naval Vessel Sunk:

Light cruiser ATLANTA (CL-51), by naval gunfire.

Light cruiser JUNEAU (CL-52), by submarine torpedo, 
.......................as she leaves the Solomon Islands area to proceed to 
.......................Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, after Battle of Guadalcanal.
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The five Sullivan brothers were killed during this battle.

Destroyer CUSHING (DD-376), by naval gunfire.

Destroyer MONSSEN (DD-436), by naval gunfire.



Destroyer LAFFEY (DD-459), by gunfire and torpedo from surface craft.

United States Naval Vessels Damaged:

Heavy cruiser PORTLAND (CA-33) ,by torpedo from surface craft.

Light cruiser HELENA (CL-50), by naval gunfire.

Destroyer STERETT (DD-407), by naval gunfire.

Destroyer O'BANNON (DD-450), accidentally by United State naval gunfire.

Destroyer AARON WARD (DD-483), by naval gunfire.


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Japanese naval vessels sunk, Battle of Guadalcanal:

Battleship HIEI, by naval gunfire, carrier-based aircraft, and Marine land-based aircraft. 

Destroyer AKATSUKI, by naval gunfire. 

Destroyer YUDACHI, by naval gunfire.
 

11/14/42 Saturday

Japanese cruisers and destroyers engaged in night bombardment of Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, area attacked by motor torpedo boats. In the morning this enemy force, while retiring, is struck by Marine and Naval aircraft from Henderson Field, and aircraft from carrier ENTERPRISE (CV-6). The same aircraft sunk seven Japanese transports during the afternoon. Beginning shortly before midnight and continuing on 15 November, battleship force (Rear Adm. W. W. Lee) composed of 2 battleships and 3 destroyers engages and turns back large Japanese Naval Group (Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-15 November).

United States Naval Vessel Sunk:

Destroyer PRESTON (DD-379), by naval gunfire.

Destroyer WALKE (DD-416), by gunfire and torpedo from surface vessel.


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Japanese naval vessels sunk, Battle of Guadalcanal:

Heavy cruiser KINUGASA, by Naval and Marine aircraft.
 
 

11/15/42 Sunday

Naval Battle of Guadalcanal ends. [Although the United States suffered greater loss in warships, the Japanese withdrew and never again sent large naval forces into the waters around Guadalcanal; the ultimate outcome of the struggle for the island was decided.]

United States Naval Vessel Sunk:

Destroyer BENHAM (DD-397), damaged by torpedo from surface vessel and sunk by United States forces, off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.

United States Naval Vessels Damaged:

Battleship SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57), by naval gunfire.

Destroyer GWIN (DD-433), by naval gunfire.


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Japanese naval vessels sunk, Battle of Guadalcanal:

Battleship KIRISHIMA, by naval gunfire.

Destroyer AYANAMI, by naval gunfire.



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This Web Page was created by and
is maintained by Paul D. Henriott
Last updated 31 March 2005