MANY ENEMY SHIPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1943, Page 4

MANY ENEMY SHIPS

SUNK BY AMERICANS OFFICIAL REPORT GIVES DETAILS. . ACTION SOUGHT WITH ENEMY FLEET. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) WASHINGTON, February 16. A Navy Department communique states: “During the latter part of January, United States reconnaissance planes located heavy Japanese fleet units, including battleships and air-craft-carriers between Truk and the Solomons. Simultaneously, reports were received of large groups of enemy destroyers in the island area and of an unsually heavy concentration of aircraft at all the Japanese bases in the Solomons-New Britain area. It appeared possible that the Japanese fleet might accept a decisive battle. Subsequent events indicate that the enemy was solely concerned with the evacuation of his troops from Guadalcanal and interference with the movements of American troop transports landing soldiers on Guadalcanal shortly before the collapse of enemy resistance there. Active operations by the enemy surface forces were confined to movements of destroyer detachments, under heavy air cover, between Guadalcanal and enemy bases in the Northern Solomons. “During the evening of January 29, a force of United States cruisers and destroyers, covering transport movements and operating about 70 miles southward of Guadalcanal, in the vicinity of Rennell Island, was attacked by enemy torpedo-planes. The Chicago was hit by torpedoes, severely damaged and taken in tow by another cruiser. The tow was latei- transferred to a tug.' During the afternoon of January 30, the Chicago was again attacked by 13 enemy torpedo-planes and sunk. United States aircraft' shot down twelve enemy planes, but were too late to ward off the attacks on the Chicago. “On January ’3l, a force of United States bombers and fighters attacked an enemy formation of one destroyer, one corvette and one large cargo vessel in the Vella Gulf. The three enemy vessels were left dead in the water, burning and listing. On February 1, a force of United States dive-bombers, torpedo-planes and fighters attacked an enemy formation of four destroyers in the Northern Solomons area. Two destroyers are believed to have been sunk and a third was left burning. The United States aircraft were attacked by ten Zeros, two of which were shot down. Two United States fighter planes were lost. In air combat, at least 20 Japanese planes were destroyed in the Guadalcanal area during the day and ten United States planes were lost. “During the afternoon ■of February 1, a force of enemy dive-bombers, escorted by Zeros, attacked and sank a United States destroyer between Cape Esperance and Savo. During the night of February 1 an enemy force of about twenty destroyers approached Guadalcanal. They were attacked by United States torpedo-boats. At least one destroyer was sunk and two. others are believed to have been sunk. Three United States torpedo-boats were lost. “On the morning of February 2, a force of Dauntless dive-bombers and Avenger torpedo-planes attacked 16 enemy destroyers north-eastward of Kilombandara. One bomb hit was scored on an enemy destroyer and 1 a near hit on another. One Avenger was damaged by anti-aircraft fire. During the evening of February 2, a force 1 of Flying Fortresses, escorted by Lightnings and Warhawks, scored hits on a large enemy cargo ship off Shortland Island. The vessel was left burning and listing. Our planes were attacked! by 20 enemy fighters. Nine, or possibly ten,' enemy planes were shot down. All the United States planes returned. “During the afternoon of February 4, a force of United States torpedo-planes, dive-bombers and fighters attacked an

enemy formation of twenty destroyers, 200 miles north-westward of Guadalcanal. One destroyer was sunk and another badly damaged. An enemy destroyer was later observed burning. In this attack seven Zeros were shot down and five others probably destreyed. Four United States torpedoplanes, one bomber and one fighter were lost. In a second attack, Dauntless dive-bombers, escorted by Wildcats and Warhawks, attacked 18 enemy destroyers, which were covered by 22 Zeros. Two hits were scored on one destroyer and one hit on another. Ten enemy Zeros were shot down and two others probably destroyed. Three United States fighters and one divebomber were lost. “The above account includes all the known United States and Japanese losses. Events subsequent to February 4 centred on the collapse of Japanese resistance on Guadalcanal, as announced in previous communiques.” The Secretary for the Navy (Colonel Knox) told the Press thgii the Navy communique itself clearly explained why the Navy had held up details.