Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 8 – The Battle from the Japanese Perspective)

Disaster at Savo Island, 1942 by Lieutenant Colonel David E. Quantock United States Army USAWC Class of 2002 U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA These excerpts are from a Report called Disaster at Savo Island, 1942. This unique perspective of the battle is taken primarily from the Japanese point of view. “Mikawa’s approach […]

41 For Freedom – SSBN Memories 41 Years Later

Its funny how an old picture can bring back so many memories. Whether a boomer sailor sailed out of Scotland, Guam, Rota or Charleston many of the events they experienced were similar. I don’t know how many hundreds of ballistic missile patrols were made. I am sure there were a lot. Since the 1960s, strategic deterrence has […]

Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 7 – The Marines on Shore and the Consequences)

The operation at Guadalcanal was named “Watchtower” but to the Marines involved, it would forever be known as Operation Shoestring. As history records, the entire operation was put together in a hurry with limited resources and even less intelligence. One misstep after another compounded their misery and the disastrous events of the First Battle of […]

Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 6 – The Day of 9 August and Observations )

THE DAY OF 9 AUGUST During the battle our aircraft carriers were south of San Cristobal Island, roughly 150 miles from Savo. Although they had on the evening of the 8th requested permission to retire, it was not received from COMSOPAC until 0330 on the 9th. This was, of course, more than an hour after […]

Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 5 – End of the Canberra and Astoria)

Part 5 END OF THE CANBERRA When the enemy left the Canberra she was lying helpless and afire approximately 5 miles southeast of Savo Island. Capt. Getting was fatally wounded, and the executive officer, Comdr. J. A. Walsh, R. A. N., took command. He at once initiated measures to save the ship. Gasoline tanks were […]

Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 4 – The XRAY Transports and the Destroyers)

Part 4 “XRAY” TRANSPORTS The enemy had ceased fire on the Vincennes group about 0215, and headed out to sea, briefly engaging the Ralph Talbot about 0320-23. Within half an hour both the Quincy and the Vincennes had gone down. The Canberra remained afloat until morning, when she was sunk by our own destroyers, and […]

Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 3 Attack on The Northern Group )

THE NORTHERN GROUP Our northern cruiser group was patrolling its square at a speed of 10 knots. The Helm was 1,500 yards on the port bow and the Wilson 2,000 yards on the starboard bow of the Vincennes. The Quincy and Astoria followed rather closely in order to […]

Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 2 Attack on The Southern Group )

August 8-9 Battle of Savo Island: ATTACK ON OUR SOUTHERN GROUP No more than half an hour elapsed from the time enemy ships appeared without warning around the southern corner of Savo Island till they ceased fire and passed back out to sea. In that short interval they crossed ahead of our southern cruiser group, […]

Diamond Anniversary – The First Battle of Savo Island (Part 1)

The following information comes from the Official US Navy Records: “The Battle of Savo Island and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons comprise one of a series of twenty-one published and thirteen unpublished Combat Narratives of specific naval campaigns produced by the Publications Branch of the Office of Naval Intelligence during World War II. Selected […]

Through the haze of history… the dark underside of race relations in the US Navy

Memories… I have many wonderful memories of serving in the US Navy. All of the research I do leads me to long lost information and occasionally I find things that bring back some not so good memories. This story is one of those. I should warn you. It is long. The story comes from a […]