December 28th - The Day of Infamy, Part XV

The Solomons Campaign, Part IV

At dawn, as the Japanese turned to depart, they were surprised by nine PT’s of MTB Squadron 11 and five from MTBRon 9. Under the Squadron 11 CO LtCDR Taylor, who had gathered the various anti-barge patrols during the night, the 14 wooden boats came charging out of the rising sun at over 40 knots. The Japanese, tired from the high speed run, earlier engagement, and hours of sustained gunnery, were slow to notice the attack. Only two destroyers and one cruiser managed to open fire before the PT’s salvoed their deadly fish at close range. Fifty-three torpedoes raced through the water. Thanks to tender modifications to their firing pins and an almost unhindered firing run, the torpedoes achieved excellent results: twelve hits on eight targets, with every hit detonating. Kongo had been hit twice more, Haruna three times, Takao twice, Chokai once, and four destroyers had been hit once each. Only one destroyer sank as a direct result of the torpedo attack, but the Japanese had been hamstrung; most of their heavy ships were damaged - Haruna and Takao could barely make 10 knots and still keep ahead of the flooding. PT160 from MTBRon 9 was the only loss to the US, though two other boat’s, including Taylor’s, were damaged by near-misses. Taylor had deliberately spread his attacks in hopes of achieving this exact result: Halsey’s force was moving to cut off their escape at flank speed, and no damaged Japanese ship could hope to avoid them. LtCDR Taylor would be awarded the Navy Cross for this action.

From dawn to dusk a furious running air battle shifted and eddied around New Georgia and the waters nearby as the Japanese threw every plane available into action in a desperate effort to save their exposed capital ships. Suicidal attacks were made on the US carrier force and only slightly better odds were faced by fighters trying to break through escorting Hellcats to engage Dauntless and Avenger bombers as they methodically crushed the Bombardment Force. Almost 100 Japanese aircraft were lost in the effort in trade for a dozen US aircraft and a pair of hits on US ships; one bomb that exploded on the edge of USS Yorktown’s flight deck, smashing one of her anti-aircraft galleries but leaving her able to operate aircraft and a torpedo that struck USS San Francisco midships, causing major flooding and forcing the ship to turn for home. The losses to the Japanese were far worse. Air attacks sank Kongo, Haruna, Takao, and Maya along with three of the six remaining destroyers. Chokai, badly damaged, was finished off by gunfire from USS Iowa and USS Massachusetts the next day.

Only Kirishima, Agano, and three destroyers managed to reach Rabaul, all but Agano damaged to some extent.

Two IJN submarines were swept aside by the US fleet’s screen without loss.

Halsey was eager to capitalize on this victory, and proposed to his staff a strike on Rabaul, which he noted must have been emptied of aircraft in the day’s fighting. His staff, while agreeing with his analysis of the situation, to a man counseled caution. Follow up on the victory with the planned bombardment of New Georgia and sail for home with a solid victory. Halsey, reluctantly, ordered this course of action.

With Japanese air power in the area devastated and rotating cover from US carriers, the Marines were able to resume their advance in New Georgia. In early November reinforcements and supplies began to arrive in large numbers, while air and sea patrols increasingly isolated the Japanese. Smith was promoted to Lt. General and placed in command of the newly formed I Amphibious Corps, consisting initially of the 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions, 1st Marine Air Wing, and various support and combat support units. By the end of November organized resistance on New Georgia had ended. The island began fulfilling its intended function, though well behind schedule: serving as a base to attack Japanese forces in the area and prevent them from conducting additional operations.

On December 3rd the first squadron of B-24 Liberators landed on New Georgia, followed over the next week by the rest of the 25th Bombardment Group (Heavy). Liberators raided Rabaul for the first time on the 10th, beginning a series of regular attacks on Japanese bases. The 17th Bombardment Group (Medium) followed with B-25 Mitchells. The 95th Bomb Squadron from this group was the first to use skip-bombing in combat on the 18th, sinking an IJN destroyer transport near Bougainville.

With operations in the Solomon Islands now running smoothly and in US favor, Nimitz turned his attention to the next major target.

Yamamoto was forced to accept the neutralizing of the Solomons, but his carrier and battleship forces were once again ready for action. The next major move by the USN would be countered in force.