1943-08-18
Battle off Horaniu
Off the north coast of Vella Lavella
Eleven nights after Vella Gulf, four Japanese destroyers covered barges bound for Horaniu, on Vella Lavella. Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin flew his flag in Sazanami, with Hamakaze, Isokaze, and Shigure. Four American destroyers intercepted them. Torpedoes from both sides missed, including four that Chevalier fired at Shigure. Hamakaze and Isokaze were nicked by gunfire. Nothing hit Sazanami, and Shigure was not hit. Most of the barges still landed their troops.
Sunk in this fight
No ship in the catalog was sunk in this fight.
Chart: New Georgia Group, in Solomon Islands Campaign: XI, Kolombangara and Vella Lavella, 6 August-7 October 1943, Combat Narratives, Office of Naval Intelligence. Public domain. This is a map of the place only. It shows Vella Lavella, Gizo Strait, and the New Georgia Group. It does not show the fight off Horaniu. No chart of that action was found.
