Editor in Chief Bill | 21 Nov 2011 10:34 a.m. PST |
Which of the naval (and naval-air) battles fought near Guadalcanal is your favorite? |
Dances with Clydesdales | 21 Nov 2011 10:53 a.m. PST |
Santa Cruz Oct 26, 1942. Mix of fleet and light carriers. |
CharlesRollinsWare | 21 Nov 2011 11:07 a.m. PST |
My favorite is the carrier battle that did not happen – the mid-September (13th?) battle between the US CV TF's built around USS Hornet (CV-8) and USS Wasp (CV-7) opposed by Nagumo's Kido Butai with Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Zuiho. The IJN air search for the US CVs did not spot the US CVs and Nagumo turned around which resulted in the US strike groups not making contact. Of course, on the 15th Wasp was torpedoed and the next carrier fight did not occur until late October. It is the best "what-if" of the period IMO. It helps that I am a real fan of the Wasp and her Air Group. :) Mark E. Horan |
skippy0001 | 21 Nov 2011 11:30 a.m. PST |
Which battle was it where a USN destroyer raked the bridge of the IJN Kongo(?) with 20mm fire at night. They were that close, vaguely remember reading this somewhere. Correct me , please. Was the Kitikami in one of the battles? It's my favorite WWII ship. |
HistoryPhD | 21 Nov 2011 11:35 a.m. PST |
First Phase, Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. I find the wild melee as the two sides became intermingled really interesting. |
Florida Tory | 21 Nov 2011 11:40 a.m. PST |
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, second phase, 14-15 November 1942. The first phase would be my second choice. But I wouldn't say "favorite" – they were both hellish to say the least – I'd would use the term "most interesting." Rick |
KSmyth | 21 Nov 2011 12:15 p.m. PST |
First phase naval battle of Guadalcanal. It's all there including friendly fire casualties. I agree with Foriday Tory, both of the night actions were hellish. Just finished reading Hornfischer's Neptune's Inferno. It'll make you cry. K |
marcus arilius | 21 Nov 2011 1:22 p.m. PST |
Skippy it was the Hiei that had it's bridge raked with mg fire. Also the blast from the BB'S guns knocked over the stack on the Destroyers. The Kongo Bombarded Henderson field a few weeks before this battle. |
marcus arilius | 21 Nov 2011 1:27 p.m. PST |
here is the history of the Kitkami. link |
Marcus Maximus | 21 Nov 2011 2:15 p.m. PST |
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21eRegt | 21 Nov 2011 3:01 p.m. PST |
I suppose 1st Guadalcanal because of the "knife fight" nature of it. That almost carrier battle sounds like it is worth researching though. |
skippy0001 | 21 Nov 2011 8:50 p.m. PST |
Thank you marcus arilius. |
brass1 | 22 Nov 2011 8:48 a.m. PST |
My favorite is the carrier battle that did not happen – the mid-September (13th?) battle between the US CV TF's built around USS Hornet (CV-8) and USS Wasp (CV-7) opposed by Nagumo's Kido Butai with Shokaku, Zuikaku, and Zuiho. A group of us actually gamed this almost-battle back in the '70s. Thanks to the US players' lack of any sort of recon (they launched scout planes but never actually searched for anything), the Japanese were able to sink Wasp and almost all the rest of the American fleet and damage Hornet so severely it would have been out of service for months without taking any losses themselves. They then made a feint against Henderson Field, leading the American commander there to launch all his aircraft without having an actual target; once the planes were gone, a Japanese cruiser force reduced the airfield to a smoking hole in the ground. All told, it was a good day to be Japanese (I played Nagumo ). LT |
Omemin | 22 Nov 2011 1:21 p.m. PST |
Eastern Solomons. It gives the option to have Wasp there, possibilities for night surface actions (up to battleships), a convoy with escort, and a real chance to do better for both sides. What's not to like? |
EHeise | 22 Nov 2011 5:02 p.m. PST |
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EHeise | 23 Nov 2011 11:39 a.m. PST |
Cape Esperance: to elucidate; the first time an Americam admiral got his poo together, made a plan while considering the limitations of his radar, his fleet, and the environment
And sought to confront the Japanese, at night. Fortuitous maneuvering allowed the US fleet to 'see' the Japanese before the enemy was aware of the US prescence and cross the T. USS Boise gave the Aoba hell
and then the Furutaka. Still communication was not the best and the US destroyer van lost contact with the rest, but made their own attack. This fight raised spirits at a time when the defenders of Guadalcanal were wearing thin. A great story, read about it! |
Texas Jack | 23 Nov 2011 1:56 p.m. PST |
I agree with EHeise, Esperance was a great use of radar by a commander with, well, groin-area fortitude. |