Battle of the Komandorski Islands

Battle of the Komandorski Islands
Part of World War II, Pacific War
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.
Date 27 March 1943 Location off Komandorski Islands Result Tactically inconclusive Strategic United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Charles McMorris	Boshiro 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	1 heavy cruiser severely damaged, 1 heavy cruiser slightly damaged, 14 killed, 26 wounded

The Battle of the Komandorski Islands was one of the most unusual engagements of World War II. It was a naval battle which took place on 27 March 1943 in the North Pacific area of the Pacific Ocean, near the Soviet Komandorski Islands.

Background

When the United States became aware of Imperial plans to send a supply convoy to their foothold on the Aleutian Islands off the coast of Alaska, U.S. Navy ships commanded by Rear Admiral Charles McMorris were dispatched to intercept. The U.S. fleet consisted of the heavy cruiser Salt Lake City, the old light cruiser Richmond and the destroyers Coghlan, Bailey, Dale and Monaghan.

Unknown to the Americans, the Japanese had chosen to escort their convoy with two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and four destroyers commanded by Vice Admiral Boshiro Hosogaya. On the morning of 27 March, the Japanese convoy was intercepted by the U.S. picket line and combat ensued. Because of the remote location of the battle and chance encounter on 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 in naval history.

Although the Imperial cruisers outnumbered the U.S. group by two to one, the engagement was tactically inconclusive. Both sides suffered damage, with the U.S. force not being as badly damaged by the superior firepower of the Japanese as could have been the case. When the Japanese force was poised for victory, Admiral Hosogaya—not realizing the heavy damage his ships had inflicted on Salt Lake City, and fearing American air forces were en route—chose to retire without delivering a knockout blow. Withdrawal led to a strategic defeat for the Japanese because it ended their attempts to resupply their Aleutian garrisons by surface, leaving only submarines for resupply runs.

Hosogaya was retired from service after the battle.

Battle

• 0600: The United States ships were formed in a scouting line at six-mile intervals zig-zagging at 15 knots on base course 020°.
• 0730: Lead ships Coghlan and Richmond made radar contact with the two trailing Japanese transports and a destroyer on course 080° at 13 kn (15 mph; 24 km/h). A navigating officer on one of the transports visually observed the American force minutes later.
• 0740: The Americans changed course to 080° and the rear ships increased speed to operate as a compact group. Five radar contacts were counted.
• 0755: The Japanese turned northward to course 340° and the Americans came to course 000° to follow.
• 0811: The Americans visually identified the radar contacts as two transports, two light cruisers, and a destroyer.
• 0820: The Americans sighted the masts of four more Japanese ships on the horizon.
• 0835: The Americans identified the masts as two heavy cruisers and two destroyers and turned to course 240°.
• 0838: The Japanese transports swerved off to the northwest.
• 0839: The Americans increased speed to 25 kn (29 mph; 46 km/h).
• 0840: Nachi opened fire on Richmond at a range of 20,000 yd (18,000 m). The second and third salvos were straddles.
• 0841: Richmond opened fire on Nachi. The third salvo was a straddle.
• 0842: Salt Lake City opened fire on Nachi at a range of 21,000 yd (19,000 m). The second salvo was a straddle.

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).

• 0845: Nachi launched eight torpedoes. All missed.
• 0850: One of Richmond′s 6 in (150 mm) shells hit the starboard side of Nachi′s signal bridge, killing 11 and wounding 21. Another shell hit Nachi′s mainmast and severed the flagship radio communication.
• 0852: One of Richmond′s 6-inch shells hit Nachi′s torpedo compartment. Another of Richmond′s 6-inch shells hit Nachi′s control room, killing two and wounding five. Nachi dropped back after losing electrical power to ammunition hoists and gun mounts.
• 0903: Richmond ceased firing. Salt Lake City continued firing from stern turrets.
• 0910: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8 in (200 mm) projectile fired by Maya. The starboard observation plane caught fire and was jettisoned.
• 0920: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya. Two men were killed.
• 1010: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya.
• 1059: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya.
• 1103: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya. Salt Lake City transferred water to correct a list caused by flooding.
• 1152: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya.
• 1153: Salt water entered a fuel tank in use and extinguished Salt Lake City′s boiler fires.
• 1154: Salt Lake City slowed to a stop. Bailey, Coghlan and Monaghan approached the Japanese cruisers for a torpedo attack while Richmond and Dale made smoke to shield Salt Lake City.
• 1203: Salt Lake City restarted boilers and increased speed to 15 knots.
• 1213: Salt Lake City increased speed to 22 kn (25 mph; 41 km/h).
• 1225: Bailey launched five torpedoes at 9,500 yd (8,700 m). All missed. Bailey was hit twice by 8-inch shells and came to a stop with five dead. Coghlan was hit once.
• 1230: Japanese ships retired westward. Neither Coghlan nor Monaghan launched torpedoes.

Salt Lake City fired 806 armor-piercing projectiles and then 26 high-capacity 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.

Order of battle

United States Navy

Task Group 16.6 - RADM Charles McMorris, Commander, Task Group 16.6

• Salt Lake City - CAPT Bertram J. Rodgers (F)
• Richmond - CAPT Theodore Waldschmidt

Destroyer Squadron 14 - CAPT Ralph Riggs

• Coghlan - CMDR Benjamin Tompkins
• Bailey - LCDR John Atkeson (F)
• Dale - CMDR Anthony Rorschach
• Monaghan - LCDR Peter Horn

Imperial Japanese Navy

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

• CA Nachi - CAPT Akira Sone (F)
• CA Maya - CAPT Takeji Matsumato
• CL Tama - CAPT Zensuke Kanome

Destroyer Division 21:

• DD Wakaba
• DD Hatsushimo

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

• CL Abukuma - CAPT Shiro Shibuya (F)

Destroyer Division Six:

• DD Ikazuchi
• DD Inazuma
• Transport Asaka Maru
• Transport Sakito Maru

2nd Escort Force

• DD Usugumo (not engaged in the battle)
• Transport Sanko Maru

References

• D'Albas, Andrieu (1965). Death of a Navy: Japanese Naval Action in World War II. Devin-Adair Pub. ISBN 0-8159-5302-X. 
• Dull, Paul S. (1978). A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1941-1945. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-097-1. 
• Garfield, Brian (1995). The Thousand Mile War. Aurum Press. ISBN 1-84513-019-7. 
• Lacroix, Eric; Linton Wells (1997). Japanese Cruisers of the Pacific War. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-311-3. 
• Lorelli, John A. (1984). The Battle of the Komandorski Islands, March 1943. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-093-9. 
• Morison, Samuel Eliot (1951 (Reprint 2001)). Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944, vol. 7 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Champaign, Illinois, USA: University of Illinois Press. ISBN 0-316-58305-7. 

External links

• Battle of Komandorski Island: March 26, 1943
• USN Combat Narrative: The Aleutians Campaign Chapter 9:The Battle of the Komandorskis