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NAVAL BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL
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12
thru 15
November 1942
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This battle was 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.
Red Rose = Ship Damaged and Men Killed In Action
= Ship Sunk
11/12/42 Thursday
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.
.
.
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.

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.

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.

Japanese naval vessels sunk, Battle of Guadalcanal:
Battleship KIRISHIMA, by naval gunfire.
Destroyer AYANAMI, by naval gunfire.
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