CONSOLIDATION OF UNITED STATES CONTROL OVER . . . (1-2 November 1943)

Consolidation of United States control over the sea lanes and Japanese losses made it necessary for the enemy to support its forces at Kolombangara by barge traffic at night, running along the shores of Vella Lavella.  But Japanese impatience with these token measures brought a cruiser and three destroyers, escorting transports, into Vella Gulf on the night of August 6.  

Moosbrugger, Frederick, Captain, USN

This led to still another surface action in this area, for a task group under Commander Frederick Moosbrugger interposed itself and took the Japanese by surprise.  The resulting engagement, lasting about forty-five minutes, cost the enemy three destroyers severely damaged against none for the Navy––a resounding victory which paved the way for the invasion of Vella Lavella on August 15, and New Georgia on the 25th.

Location of Bougainville

    September was spent in the consolidating of our position.  No major surface action took place until October 6 when a task group of three destroyers under Captain F. R. Walker sighted a superior force of enemy ships south of Choiseul.  The enemy was disposed in two groups, outnumbering us about three to one.  At 10:30 P.M., when the enemy was almost dead ahead, Walker engaged.  

Walker, Frank R. Captain, USN

Selfridge, O’Bannon, and Chevalier fired torpedoes.  O’Bannon’s target, destroyer Yagumo, quickly burst into flames.  Scratch one.  However, this was offset when an enemy torpedo hit in under the No. 2 gun aboard Chevalier, blowing the bow forward of the bridge cleanly off.  Out of control, the destroyer plunged into the next ship ahead, O’Bannon.  Then Selfridge caught a torpedo.  Thus abruptly the battle ended––the Japanese racing for sanctuary, while a destroyer put a torpedo into the floating hulk of the doomed Chevalier. More than one hundred lives were lost this night.

Map showing
Empress Augusta Bay
on the western coast
of Bougainville

    Meanwhile, our advance toward fiddle-shaped Bougainville had already begun.  Daily air strikes by Mitscher’s forces since October 26 had softened up Kahili, Ballale and Karu.  The amphibious forces were ready to disembark on November 1 when another task force under Merrill bombarded enemy positions on Bougainville preparatory to the landings.  Following the bombardment Merrill was ordered to patrol. North of Vella Lavella, and to intercept enemy warships en route to disrupt landings.  This was the background of The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, detailed by Theodore Roscoe.

Roscoe, Theodore

From: The United States Navy in World War II
Compiled and edited by: S. E. Smith