WARSHIPS LOST IN SOLOMONS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 16, 14 October 1942, Page 5

WARSHIPS LOST IN SOLOMONS

August Night Drama THREE AMERICAN CRUISERS

Point-Blank Shelling

(British Official Wireless.) (Received October 13, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, October 12.

The Aliled losses in the naval battle of the Solomon Islands in August were three United States cruisers, in addition to the Australian cruiser Canberra, whose loss was previously announced. This is disclosed by the United States Navy Department. The communique says: “Certain phases of the Solomon Islands campaign which have not been . announced previously for military reasons can now be reported.

“Reconnaissance in June and July revealed enemy activity of much significance in the Japanesecontrolled Solomons. An airfield was in -progress of construction on Guadalcanal Island, and the facilities at other nearby bases were being expanded rapidly. This expansion, together with increased activity in eastern New Guinea, clearly indicated that the enemy was -attempting to establish and maintain control of the nir and sea in the Solomons aiea.

“Tlie establishment of such control would have put the Japanese in a position to launch a seaborne invasion of Darwin and Australia, and would have seriously threatened our supply lines with Australia and New Zealand, as well as the island bases in New Guinea and the Fiji Islands.

“It was necessary, therefore, that these enemy designs should be blocked by our capturing and utilizing his key positions in the south-eastern Solomons. This was accomplished on August 7, wheu United States forces surprised and captured Japanese positions on Guadalcanal and in the Tulagi area. U.S. Naval Screen.

“Vigorous opposition was offered to the consolidation of our positions. Throughout August 7 and 8 enemy planes raided our shore positions, transports, aud fleet units, but these did not prevent the United States marines from seizing most of the key positions on Guadalcanal and Tulagi by the afternoon of August 8. ‘Meanwhile, additional troops, supplies and equipment were being unloaded from transports and supply ships, and it was imperative that these operations should be successfully completed. To this end screening groups of Allied cruisers and destroyers were placed on both sides of Savo Island, and additional screening forces were placed near the transports. . n “Early in the morning of August a enemy aircraft dropped flares oyer our transports and supply ships. Simultaneously a force of enemy cruisers and destroyers skirted the south coast of Savo Island at high speed and headed in tlie direction of the transports and supply ships, which were silhouetted in the illuminated areas. Rapid Enemy Action.

“Rapidly the enemy sighted our covering unit located to the southeast of Savo and opened fire with guns and torpedoes, seriously damaging and setting fire to the Australian cruiser Canberra. Later it became necessary to abandon the Canberia, which wink on the following morning. “After a brief engagement with our south-eastern screen, the Japanese altered their course to proceed through the passage north-east of Savo Island. Here the Japanese force encountered our north-east screen of cruisers and destroyers, and a closerange battle resulted. “The action was fought, with gune and torpedoes, with the targets illuminated by searchlights and star-shells. The enemy tire was heavy and accurate, and the United States cruiser Vincennes was hit repeatedly and sank during the night. A third cruiser, the Astoria, was badly damaged and burnt during the night and sank on the following morning. The cruiser Quincy was also lost. “It has not been possible to determine the extent of the damage inflicted on the Japanese ships by our screening forces. The enemy withdrew to the north-west, without attempting to attack our transports and supply ships. “Though the majority of the personnet were there were still many casualties as a result of the sinking of the four Allied cruisers. “Tlie loss of these has now been offset by an appropriate reallocation of ships, which lias been made possible by the new ship construction."

the loss of the Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes, makes a total of . nine American ships announced sunk in lhe Solomons—three cruisers, two destroyers, and four transports, in addition to two destroyers damaged. The Japanese suffered 38 ships sunk or damaged.

All the shins were heavy cruisers. The loss of the Canberra (9850 tons) was announced in Sydney on August 2(). Out of 81 (> officers and men 84 had died or were missing, and 109 were wounded. The Vincennes and Quincy belonged to the Quincy class of 9400 tons, and mounting nine Sin. guns and eight sin. A.A. guns. They wore five years old. The Astoria was the name ship of a class of 9950-ton cruisers mounting the same armament and eight years old.