Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II

A Japanese aircraft crashes (upper center) into the ocean near the U.S. cruiser Columbia on 2 November 1943, during air attacks on Allied ships off Bougainville, a few hours after the Naval Battle of Empress Augusta Bay.

Date	1–2 November 1943
Location	Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Territory of New Guinea
Result	United States victory

Belligerents

United States

Japan

Commanders and leaders

Aaron S. Merrill,
Arleigh Burke

Sentaro Omori,
Matsuji Ijuin

Strength

4 light cruisers
8 destroyers

2 heavy cruisers
2 light cruisers
6 destroyers
100 aircraft

Casualties and losses

1 destroyer heavily damaged,
19 killed
1 cruiser lightly damaged

2 destroyers moderately damaged

1 light cruiser sunk
1 destroyer sunk
1 heavy cruiser damaged
1 light cruiser damaged
2 destroyers heavily damaged
25 aircraft shot down
198–658 killed

1 destroyer heavily damaged,
19 killed
1 cruiser lightly damaged

The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on 1–2 November 1943—also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle off Bougainville Island (ブーゲンビル島沖海戦)—was a naval battle fought near the island of Bougainville in Empress Augusta Bay. The naval battle was a result of Allied landings on nearby Bougainville in the first action in the Bougainville campaign of World War II and may also be seen as part of the Solomons and New Guinea campaigns. The battle was significant as part of a broader Allied strategy—known as Operation Cartwheel—aimed at isolating and surrounding the major Imperial base at Rabaul. The intention was to establish a beachhead on Bougainville, within which an airfield would be built.

On 1 November 1943, the U.S. 3rd Marine Division landed at Cape Torokina in Empress Augusta Bay. The bay had been chosen because it was at the outer limit of Allied fighter plane range, and because the numerically-superior Japanese 17th Army was concentrated at other, more strategic sites in the north and the south. The Marines were backed by Task Force 39, composed of cruisers and destroyers, commanded by Rear Admiral Aaron S. "Tip" Merrill.

The Japanese responded with air attacks and a powerful naval force from Rabaul commanded by Admiral Sentaro Omori: Cruiser Squadron – heavy cruisers Myōkō and Haguro, 10th Cruiser Squadron – light cruiser Agano, destroyers Naganami, Hatsukaze, and Wakatsuki, 3rd Destroyer Squadron – light cruiser Sendai, and destroyers Shigure, Samidare,and Shiratsuyu. The Japanese formation was hastily assembled from whatever ships were on hand, many of which had never trained or fought together before.

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Wikipedia