Ironbottom Sound

Ironbottom Sound photographed on August 7, 1942 the day Allied forces landed on Guadalcanal and Tulagi. In the center is Savo Island with Guadalcanal at far left.

Map of the location of shipwrecks in the Ironbottom Sound

"Ironbottom Sound" (alternatively Iron Bottom Sound or Ironbottomed Sound) is the name given by Allied sailors to Savo Sound, the stretch of water at the southern end of The Slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island of the Solomon Islands, because of the dozens of ships and planes that sank there during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942-43. Prior to the war, it was called Sealark Sound. Every year on the battle's anniversary, a US ship in the area cruises into the waters and drops a wreath to commemorate those who lost their lives.

See also

Battles

• Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942
• Battle of Cape Esperance, 11–12 October 1942
• Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13–15 November 1942
• Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942

Sunken ships

Allied

• Aaron Ward (US Gleaves-class destroyer)
• Astoria (US New Orleans-class cruiser)
• Atlanta (US Atlanta-class anti-aircraft cruiser)
• Barton (US Benson-class destroyer)
• Blue (US Bagley-class destroyer)
• Canberra (Australian Kent-class cruiser)
• Colhoun (US Wickes-class destroyer)
• Cushing (US Mahan-class destroyer)
• De Haven (US Fletcher-class destroyer)
• Duncan (US Gleaves-class destroyer)
• George F. Elliot (US Heywood class transport)
• Gregory (US Wickes-class destroyer)
• Jarvis (US Gridley-class destroyer)
• John Penn (US miscellaneous class Attack Transport)
• Kanawha (US Kanawha/Cuyama class fleet oiler)
• Laffey (US Benson-class destroyer)
• Little (US Wickes-class destroyer)
• Moa (New Zealand Bird class corvette)
• Monssen (US Gleaves-class destroyer)
• Northampton (US Northampton-class heavy cruiser)
• Preston (US Mahan-class destroyer)
• PT-37 (US PT boat)
• PT-44 (US PT boat)
• PT-109 (US PT boat)
• PT-111 (US PT boat)
• PT-112 (US PT boat)
• PT-123 (US PT boat)
• Quincy (US New Orleans-class cruiser)
• Seminole (US Navajo-class oceangoing tug)
• Serpens (United States Coast Guard-manned Liberty ship)
• Vincennes (US New Orleans-class cruiser)
• Walke (US Sims-class destroyer)
• YP-284 (US Yard Patrol craft)

Japanese

• Akatsuki (Japanese Akatsuki-class destroyer)
• Ayanami (Japanese Fubuki-class destroyer)
• Fubuki (Japanese Fubuki-class destroyer)
• Furutaka (Japanese Furutaka-class cruiser)
• Hiei (Japanese Kongō-class battleship)
• Hirokawa Maru (Japanese military transport)
• Kasi Maru (Japanese freighter)
• Kinugawa Maru (Japanese military transport)
• Kirishima (Japanese Kongō-class battleship)
• Makigumo (Japanese Yugumo-class destroyer)
• Takanami (Japanese Yugumo-class destroyer)
• Teruzuki (Japanese Akizuki-class destroyer)
• Toa Maru (Japanese military transport)
• Yudachi (Japanese Shiratsuyu-class destroyer)

References

• The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal, Robert D. Ballard, ISBN 0-446-51636-8

External links

• Casualties: U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Vessels, Sunk or Damaged Beyond Repair during World War II, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945

• National Geographic: The Lost Fleet of Guadalcanal, Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

See also

• List of shipwrecks