Battle of the Komandorski Islands

Last updated
Battle of the Komandorski Islands
Part of World War II, Pacific War
USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) in action during the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on 26 March 1943 (80-G-73827).jpg
The heavy cruiser Salt Lake City, damaged by Japanese cruiser gunfire, starts losing speed prior to going dead in the water during the battle under a smoke screen laid by accompanying destroyers.
Date27 March 1943 [Note 1]
Location
off Komandorski Islands
Result American victory
Belligerents
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States Merchant flag of Japan (1870).svg  Japan
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charles McMorris Naval ensign of the Empire of Japan.svg Boshirō Hosogaya
Strength
1 heavy cruiser
1 light cruiser
4 destroyers 		2 heavy cruisers
2 light cruisers
4 destroyers
Casualties and losses
1 heavy cruiser severely damaged
2 destroyers slightly damaged
7 killed
20 wounded [Note 2] 		1 heavy cruiser moderately damaged,
1 heavy cruiser slightly damaged,
14 killed,
26 wounded [Note 3]

The Battle of the Komandorski Islands was a naval battle between American and Imperial Japanese forces which took place on 27 March 1943 in the North Pacific, south of the Soviet Komandorski Islands. The Japanese were escorting a three ship convoy, while the Americans were patrolling waters west of the Aleutian Islands. The battle was a daylight surface engagement in which air support played no role and in which the outnumbered American force escaped greater damage after the Japanese chose to withdraw.

Contents

Background

In June 1942, Japanese forces landed in the western Aleutian Islands of Kiska and Attu, as a northern pincer of the main attack on Midway Island. After the stunning Japanese defeat at Midway, the Japanese held the islands as a defensive shield against any American attempt against the Kuriles. As the U.S. was preparing its assault on the Japanese strongholds, Japanese shipping between Japan and the islands was harassed by submarines and aircraft. The Japanese Imperial Navy countered this threat by sailing at night or taking advantage of stormy weather. Aware of Japanese tactics, Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid deployed a surface force around Attu. On the night of 19/20 February 1943, the patrol force, consisting of the heavy cruiser Indianapolis and the destroyers Coghlan and Gillespie shelled and sank the Japanese transport ship Akagane Maru (3100 GRT) west of Attu. [1]

In a bid to defy the American blockade, Vice-Admiral Boshirō Hosogaya, in charge of the 5th Fleet and the northern theatre of operations, assembled a high-speed convoy with two fast merchant ships Asaka Maru (7399 GRT) and Sakito Maru (7158 GRT) and a slower transport, the Sanko Maru (5491 GRT). The latter and her escort, the destroyer Usugumo , were to make a rendezvous with the main force south of the Komandorski Islands. The ships carried materiel essential to complete the building of an all-weather airstrip at Attu. [1]

When Admiral Kinkaid became aware of Japanese plans to send a supply convoy to their forces on the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, U.S. Navy ships commanded by Rear Admiral Charles McMorris were sent to prevent this. The fleet consisted of the heavy cruiser Salt Lake City, the light cruiser Richmond and the destroyers Coghlan, Bailey, Dale and Monaghan. [2]

American intelligence estimated that the Japanese escort consisted of one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, and four destroyers. [1] However, the Japanese 5th Fleet had been reinforced by two more cruisers, so that the Japanese escort force actually consisted of the heavy cruisers Nachi and Maya, the light cruisers Tama and Abukuma, and the destroyers Wakaba, Hatsushimo, Ikazuchi, and Inazuma. Vice Admiral Boshirō Hosogaya hoisted his flag on Nachi. [3] Rear-Admiral McMorris didn't learn that he was facing a superior force until one hour after the first radar contact. [1]

Battle

On the early morning of 27 March 1943, the Japanese convoy was intercepted by the American picket line some 100 nautical miles south of the Komandorski islands and 180 nautical miles west of Attu, just to the west of the International Date Line. [4] Despite lacking radar, the Japanese cruiser squadron spotted the American force half an hour earlier than their enemies, in part because the southern horizon was lightening earlier than the northern, as well as the strict selection of lookouts of exceptional visual acuity by the Japanese navy. [5] Because of the remote location of the battle and its being a chance encounter on the open ocean, neither fleet had air or submarine assistance, making this one of the few engagements exclusively between surface ships in the Pacific Theater and one of the last pure gunnery duels between fleets of major surface combatants in naval history. [3] At one point, McMorris made a request for air support to the USAAF air base at Adak. However, the B-24 squadron sent to attack the Japanese force became lost in the fog and had to return home. [6] A spotter aircraft from Nachi directed fire on the American force for the whole battle. While the Japanese side criticized the observers' inability to deal with smoke screens, the US reports say that the accurate way in which the enemy gunners shifted their fire led the Americans to believe that one of the Japanese cruisers had fire control radar. [1]

Although the Japanese cruisers heavily outgunned the American force and inflicted more damage, the engagement was tactically inconclusive. The U.S. Navy warships escaped destruction after a Japanese misjudgment, when, with the Japanese fleet on the edge of victory, Admiral Hosogaya – not realizing the heavy damage his ships had inflicted and fearing American war planes would appear – chose to retreat, conceding a strategic victory to the US Navy. [4] [7] Indeed, the battle ended Japanese attempts to resupply the Aleutian garrisons by surface ship, leaving only submarines to conduct supply runs. [8] The airstrip at Attu was never finished. [1] Hosogaya was accordingly retired from active service after the battle and assigned to govern a group of South Pacific islands. [9]

Timeline of the battle

This is a timeline of the action, based upon authors O'Hara [1] [3] and Millsap. [10]

USS Bailey showing battle damage in the aftermath of the action Battle of the Komandorski - Bailey's damage.jpg
USS Bailey showing battle damage in the aftermath of the action

As the range closed, Bailey opened fire on Nachi at a range of 14,000 yd (13,000 m) and then switched to a light cruiser. Coghlan opened fire on Nachi at a range of 18,000 yd (16,000 m).

Salt Lake City fired 806 armor-piercing projectiles and then 26 high-capacity (explosive) shells after the supply of armor-piercing ammunition was exhausted. Powder and shells were manhandled aft from the forward magazines to keep the after guns firing. Salt Lake City′s rudder stops were carried away, limiting her to 10° course changes. [10]

Order of battle

United States Navy

Task Group 16.6 - RADM Charles McMorris, Commander, Task Group 16.6 (a subordinate Task Group of Task Force 16)

Destroyer Squadron 14 - CAPT Ralph Riggs

Imperial Japanese Navy

Northern Force - VADM Boshirō Hosogaya, Commander, Fifth Fleet (Northern Force) Cruiser Division One:

Destroyer Division 21: - CAPT Amano Shigetaka

D Convoy - RADM Tomoichi Mori, Commander, Destroyer Squadron One

Destroyer Division Six: - CAPT Takahashi Kameshiro

2nd Escort Force

Notes

  1. ↑ The date is often given as 26 March because the U.S. ships used Honolulu time which refers to the other side of the International Date Line. However, the local date at Komandorski Islands was 27 March
  2. ↑ Morison, Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, p. 33. Five were killed on Bailey and two on Salt Lake City, 7 hospital cases and 13 minor injuries, Coghlan was also hit once.
  3. ↑ Morison, Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, p. 33 and Hackett, CombinedFleet.com, . Thirteen were killed on Nachi and one on Maya.

Related Research Articles

USS <i>Salt Lake City</i> (CA-25) Pensacola-class heavy cruiser

USS Salt Lake City (CL/CA-25) of the United States Navy was a Pensacola-class cruiser, later reclassified as a heavy cruiser, sometimes known as "Swayback Maru" or "Old Swayback". She had 11 battle stars for the eleven engagements she participated in. She was also the first ship to be named after Salt Lake City, Utah.

Japanese cruiser <i>Nachi</i> Myōkō-class heavy cruiser

Nachi (那智) was the second vessel completed of the four-member Myōkō class of heavy cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), which were active in World War II. The other ships of the class were Myōkō, Ashigara, and Haguro. She was named after a mountain in Wakayama Prefecture.

Japanese destroyer <i>Ikazuchi</i> (1931) Fubuki-class destroyer

Ikazuchi was the twenty-third Fubuki-class destroyer, or the third Akatsuki class, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Midway order of battle</span>

This is the order of battle for the Battle of Midway, a major engagement of the Pacific Theatre of World War II, fought 4–7 June 1942 by naval and air forces of Imperial Japan and the United States in the waters around Midway Atoll in the far northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aleutian Islands campaign</span> World War II campaign between Allied and Imperial Japanese forces

The Aleutian Islands campaign was a military campaign fought between 3 June 1942 and 15 August 1943 on and around the Aleutian Islands in the American Theater of World War II during the Pacific War. It was the only military campaign of World War II fought on North American soil.

USS <i>Richmond</i> (CL-9) Omaha-class light cruiser

USS Richmond (CL-9) was an Omaha-class light cruiser, originally classified as a scout cruiser, of the United States Navy. She was the third Navy ship named for the city of Richmond, Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boshirō Hosogaya</span> Japanese admiral (1888–1964)

Boshirō Hosogaya was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

<i>Takao</i>-class cruiser Class of heavy cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy

The Takao-class cruiser (高雄型) was a class of four heavy cruisers of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) launched between May 1930 and April 1931. All served during World War II.

Organization of Japanese Alaskan Strike Group (Aleutians)

Japanese cruiser <i>Maya</i> One of four Takao class heavy cruisers built for the Imperial Japanese Navy

Maya (摩耶) was one of four Takao-class heavy cruisers, active in World War II with the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). These were the largest and most modern cruisers in the Japanese fleet, and were intended to form the backbone of a multipurpose long-range strike force. These ships were fast, powerful and heavily armed, with enough firepower to hold their own against any cruiser in any other navy in the world. Her sister ships were Takao, Atago and Chōkai.

USS <i>Coghlan</i> (DD-606) Benson-class destroyer

USS Coghlan (DD-606) was a Benson-class destroyer in the United States Navy during World War II. She was the second ship named for Joseph Bulloch Coghlan.

Japanese destroyer <i>Inazuma</i> (1932) Fubuki-class destroyer

Inazuma was the twenty-fourth Fubuki-class destroyers, or the fourth of the Akatsuki class, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the inter-war period. When introduced into service, these ships were the most powerful destroyers in the world. They remained formidable weapons systems well into the Pacific War.

Japanese cruiser <i>Abukuma</i> Imperial Japanese Navy light cruiser

Abukuma (阿武隈) was the sixth and last of the Nagara class of light cruisers completed for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN), and like other vessels of her class, she was intended for use as the flagship of a destroyer flotilla. She was named after the Abukuma River in the Tōhoku region of Japan. She saw action during World War II in the Attack on Pearl Harbor and in the Pacific, before being disabled in the Battle of Surigao Strait in October 1944, then bombed and sunk by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) off the coast of the Philippines.

Japanese destroyer <i>Hatsushimo</i> (1933) Hatsuharu-class destroyer

Hatsushimo was the fourth of six Hatsuharu-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the Circle One Program. Three were laid down in JFY 1931 and the next three in JFY 1933. The remaining six ships in the plan were built as the Shiratsuyu class.

Japanese destroyer <i>Wakaba</i> (1934) Hatsuharu-class destroyer

Wakaba was the third of six Hatsuharu-class destroyers, built for the Imperial Japanese Navy under the Circle One Program. Three were laid down in JFY 1931 and the next three in JFY 1933. The remaining six ships in the plan were built as the Shiratsuyu class.

Japanese cruiser <i>Tama</i> Kuma-class light cruiser of the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II

Tama (多摩) was the second of the five Kuma-class light cruisers in the Imperial Japanese Navy, which played an active role in World War II. Tama was named after the Tama River in Kantō region of Japan.

The 5th Fleet was a fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy, active during the early portions of the Second Sino-Japanese War, and again in World War II, primarily in the Aleutian campaign, during which it was augmented and designated the Northern Area Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japanese occupation of Kiska</span> Japanese military occupation

The Japanese occupation of Kiska took place between 6 June 1942 and 28 July 1943 during the Aleutian Islands campaign of the American Theater and the Pacific Theater of World War II. The Japanese occupied Kiska and nearby Attu Island in order to protect the northern flank of the Japanese Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiro Kawase</span> Japanese Navy vice admiral

Shiro Kawase was a vice admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. He was a torpedo expert and his extensive experience as a commander of destroyers and destroyer formations made him more knowledgeable about the escort of convoys than most Japanese commanders of his time. He is best known for his command of the 5th Fleet during the latter stages of the Aleutians campaign in the spring and summer of 1943.

<i>Sakito Maru</i>

Sakito Maru was a 7,126-ton Japanese troop transport that operated during World War II. She was sunk on 1 March 1944 with great loss of life.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 O'Hara, Vincent P. (2007). "Chapter 7: Alaska: Komandorski, March 1943". The U.S. Navy against the Axis : surface combat, 1941–1945. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Inst. Press. ISBN   978-1591146506 . Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Dull, Paul S. (2007). A battle history of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941–1945. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. pp. 261–265. ISBN   978-1-59114-219-5 . Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "Battle of Komandorski Island: 27 March 1943 by Vincent P. O'Hara". 2005-04-20. Archived from the original on 2005-04-20. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  4. 1 2 Lorelli, John A. (1984). The Battle of the Komandorski Islands, March 1943. Naval Institute Press. p. 58. ISBN   9780870210938.
  5. ↑ Stern, Robert C. (2015). "Chapter 5". Big Gun Battles: Warship Duels of the Second World War. Seaforth Publishing. pp. note 12. ISBN   978-1-4738-4935-8.
  6. ↑ Ritter, Jonathan Templin (2019). From Texas to Tinian and Tokyo Bay: The Memoirs of Captain J. R. Ritter, Seabee Commander during the Pacific War, 1942–1945. University of North Texas Press. p. 63. ISBN   978-1-57441-781-4.
  7. ↑ Olson, Michael (2010). Tales From a Tin Can: The USS Dale from Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay. Zenith Press. p. 142. ISBN   978-1-61060-077-4.
  8. ↑ Toll, Ian W. (2015). The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944 (Vol. 2) (The Pacific War Trilogy). W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN   978-0-393-24820-3.
  9. ↑ "The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Hosogaya Boshiro". pwencycl.kgbudge.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  10. 1 2 Millsap, Ralph H., CDR USN "Skill or Luck?" United States Naval Institute Proceedings Supplement March 1985 pp. 78–87

Bibliography

53°5′55″N168°12′46″E / 53.09861°N 168.21278°E / 53.09861; 168.21278

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.