November 1942 (2)

One of the US battleships destroyed off Guadalcanal

 

14 November – the Japanese convoy enroute to Guadalcanal was hit by a strike from the USS Enterprise and sank the IJN Kinugasa and set the Isuzi ablaze.  The Maya was then damaged as well as the flagship Chokai.  IJN Admiral Mikawa ordered a retreat and the US aircraft went after the fleeing vessels.  Flying Fortresses alternated their attacks with the carrier aircraft.  Upon hearing these reports, Yamamoto ordered Adm. Kondo to go in with his last battleships and 5 cruisers to destroy Henderson Field.

RAdm. Willis A. Lee

15 November – Halsey determined that his only hope was Adm. Willis “Ching” Lee and his battleships.  As an expert with radar, Lee chose Cape Esperance as the confrontation site.  The cruiser Sendai, 9 miles away was the first vessel spotted ahead of KOndo’s battleships.  Lee’s 16″ shells were fired and the battle began.  Two US battleships sunk and another was damaged.  The South Dakota’s turrets were disabled, but her guns were not.  Her masts were swept away and fires broke out, and the Washington went on to continue fighting.  The radar operators located the Kirishima and bombed her into a shambles; with her rudders jammed, she circled helplessly.

IJN Adm. Kondo

The Atago signaled for a withdrawal.  Kondo had lost, but Tanaka’s 4 transports were ordered to run aground and unload the troops.  As approximately 10,000 men of the 38th Japanese Division began to climb down the ropes, the Cactus Air Force Avengers arrived to strafe and bomb them.  Only about 2,000 men made it to shore as their ships, laden with supplies and equipment, burned.  The enemy soldiers nicknamed Guadalcanal “Island of Doom.”

IJN Adm. Tanaka

From Adm. Tanaka’s view aboard ship: “…the general effect is indelible in my mind, of bombs wobbling down from high-flying B-17s, of carrier bombers roaring towards targets as though to plunge full in the water, releasing bombs and pulling out barely in time; each miss sending up towering columns of mist and spray; every hit raising clouds of smoke and fire as transports burst into flame and take the sickening list that spells their doom.  Attackers depart, smoke screen lift and reveal the tragic scene of men jumping overboard from sinking ships…”  [IMO – could anyone describe a naval battle more accurately or with such sorrow?]

Admiral Halsey

20 November – in Halsey’s native state of New Jersey, the church bells rang out in honor of his victory.  With the ground forces on Guadalcanal, the 7th Marines and units of the 164th Infantry Division, continued to attack and fend off offenses.  The Japanese discontinued their 2-point strategy, as the US kept receiving reinforcements from the 182th Infantry, 8th Marines and 2nd Raider Battalion.

 

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Military Humor – 

Sniper sense of humor

 

Oops – it’s a toll road!

 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

Joshua Barron – Spokane, WA; USMC, LCpl., 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit

Jonathan Falaniko – Pago Pago, Samoa; US Army, Iraqi Freedom, Pvt.

Jacob Hug – AZ; USMC, Nepal, Cpl., combat videographer

Ward Johnson IV – FL; USMC, Sgt., Nepal, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Dustin Lukasiewicz – NE; USMC, Nepal, Capt., 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Sara Medina – IL; USMC, Nepal, Cpl, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Eric Seaman – CA; USMC, Nepal, Sgt., 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Tapendra Rawal & Basanta Titara – Nepalese Army

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