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6 Jul 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • During Battle of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands, US cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Helena, USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS O'Bannon engaged a Japanese force of destroyers Niizuki, Yunagi, Suzukaze, Tanikaze, Amagiri, Hatsuyuki, Nagatsuki, Satsuki, Mochizuki, Mikazuki and Hamakaze in the early morning darkness. Helena fired on the incoming Japanese convoy at 0157 hours, but the many gun flashes in turn made Helena an attractive target for Japanese gunners. Suzukaze and Tanikaze each launched Type 93 torpedoes. One struck Helena at 0203 hours, followed by two more at 0205 hours. Helena would sink at 0225 hours. Niizuki is sunk by gunfire. Nagatsuki was badly damaged and beached near Bambari Harbor, Kolombangara. ww2dbase [Nicholas | Tanikaze | Solomon Islands Campaign | Walden Ainsworth | Helena (St. Louis-class) | Honolulu | Suzukaze | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | CPC]
7 Jul 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
8 Jul 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • In the early morning darkness off Kula Gulf in the New Georgia Sound (the “Slot”), Solomon Islands, destroyer USS Saufley detected a submarine on the surface. Saufley attacked with her 5-inch guns, torpedoes, and 40mm guns. The submarine submerged and Saufley pressed the attack with depth charges. Results were unobserved. ww2dbase [Saufley | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | DS]
12 Jul 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Chevalier joined with destroyers USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury. Together, these ships sailed up the New Georgia Sound (The “Slot”) toward Kolombangara. Yugure, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Kiyonami departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, escorting a troop transport mission involving light cruiser Jintsu to Kolombangara, New Georgia Group, Solomon Islands. The two forces engaged in the Battle of Kolombangara that lasted into the next morning. ww2dbase [Type 93 | Nicholas | Yugure | St. Louis | Yukikaze | Hamakaze | Maury | Honolulu | Solomon Islands Campaign | Jintsu | Walden Ainsworth | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | CPC]
13 Jul 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Shortly after midnight, cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O'Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS Chevalier, USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury engaged Japanese cruiser Jintsu and destroyers Yukikaze, Hamakaze, Yugure, Mikazuki, and Kiyonami in New Georgia Sound north of Kolombangara. Japanese Type 93 torpedoes damaged Honolulu, St. Louis, and Leander. Destroyers Woodworth and Buchanan were damaged in a collision. Jintsu was sunk by cruiser gunfire and a torpedo. Destroyer Yukikaze was damaged. Destroyer USS Ralph Talbot went to the aid of USS Gwin, badly damaged by a torpedo, and took aboard 155 officers and men. USS Maury took another 53 officers and men. Ralph Talbot then scuttled Gwin with torpedoes. The Japanese were able to land 1,200 men nevertheless. ww2dbase [St. Louis | Solomon Islands Campaign | Walden Ainsworth | Jintsu | Honolulu | Nicholas | Yugure | Ralph Talbot | Yukikaze | Hamakaze | Maury | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | DS]
  • During the Battle of Kolombangara, cruiser USS St. Louis was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the port bow, causing moderate damage. Down by the head, St. Louis withdrew to Tulagi Harbor, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [St. Louis | Solomon Islands Campaign | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | DS]
  • During the Battle of Kolombangara, cruiser USS Honolulu was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the starboard bow, causing 60 feet of the bow to fold and collapse downward so the deck was nearly vertical. Another torpedo crashed through Honolulu’s stern but did not explode. Down by the head, Honolulu withdrew to Tulagi Harbor, Solomon Islands. ww2dbase [Honolulu | Walden Ainsworth | Solomon Islands Campaign | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | DS]
15 Jul 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
1 Oct 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Just before midnight 10 miles northwest of Kolombangara, destroyer USS Saufley fired on a group of 10 Japanese barges, sinking 9. Minutes later, Saufley began steaming farther up the "Slot" at high speed on a report of Japanese destroyers. While underway, a Japanese airplane came up on Saufley from dead astern and dropped three bombs that exploded within 25 feet of the destroyer's port side. Saufley's hull above the waterline and superstructure were penetrated by bomb fragments in about 30 places and 13 men were injured. Saufley's gunners fired on the aircraft as it passed overhead and reported that the plane spiraled into the water, but this was never confirmed. Two of the injured men, one of them the ship's doctor, later died of their wounds. ww2dbase [Saufley | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | DS]
4 Oct 1943

British Western Pacific Territories
  • Destroyer USS Saufley departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands to return up the New Georgia Sound (the "Slot"), Solomon Islands for another night patrol. Once north of Kolombangara, Saufley joined with destroyers USS Grayson, USS Ralph Talbot, USS Taylor, and USS Lavallette. ww2dbase [Saufley | New Georgia Sound, Solomon Islands | DS]

Timeline Section Founder: Thomas Houlihan
Contributors: Alan Chanter, C. Peter Chen, Thomas Houlihan, Hugh Martyr, David Stubblebine
Special Thanks: Rory Curtis




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