| Historical Information | |||||||||
| Caption | Bow-on view of torpedo damage to destroyer USS Selfridge. This damage occurred the night of 6/7 Oct 1943 off Vella Lavella. Note collapsed No. 2 turret and exposed twin 5-inch/38 caliber guns. 8 Oct 1943 photo. ww2dbase | ||||||||
| WW2-Era Location Name | Purvis Bay, Solomon Islands, British Western Pacific Territories | ||||||||
| Date | 8 Oct 1943 | ||||||||
| Photographer | Unknown | ||||||||
| Source Information | |||||||||
| Source | ww2dbaseUnited States Navy | ||||||||
| Link to Source | Link | ||||||||
| Identification Code | 80-G-274873 | ||||||||
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| Photos on Same Day | 8 Oct 1943 | ||||||||
| Licensing Information | |||||||||
| Licensing | Public Domain. According to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government". Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you. |
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| Metadata | |||||||||
| Added By | David Stubblebine | ||||||||
| Photo Size | 5,683 x 4,476 pixels | ||||||||
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"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 16 Mar 1945
1 Mar 2025 11:17:31 PM
Note also four sailors sitting in the wreckage between the guns. This damage was received during the Battle of Vella Lavella. During this engagement, Japanese Type 93 Long Lance torpedoes took the bow off destroyers USS Selfridge (seen here) and USS Chevalier. When Chevalier’s bow was blown off, her after section turned suddenly and drastically into the path of destroyer USS O’Bannon which unavoidably collided with Chevalier’s stern. O’Bannon sustained substantial bow damage and is seen here next to Selfridge, while both ships were alongside USS Argonne in Purvis Bay, Florida Islands, Solomon Islands. After O’Bannon rammed Chevalier, O’Bannon picked up over 250 Chevalier survivors before Chevalier was scuttled.