Naval Battle of Vella Lavella

Battle of Vella Lavella
Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II
The destroyers USS Selfridge and O'Bannon at Noumea after the battle.
Date 6 October 1943 Location Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands Result Japanese victory
Belligerents
United States	Empire of Japan
Commanders and leaders
Frank R. Walker	Matsuji Ijuin
Strength
6 destroyers	9 destroyers, 20 barges, auxiliary ships
Casualties and losses
1 destroyer sunk, 2 destroyers heavily damaged, 64 killed 47 wounded 36 missing	1 destroyer sunk, 138 killed

The Battle of Vella Lavella (第二次ベララベラ海戦, Dainiji Berarabera kaisen^?) was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of 6 October 1943, near the island of Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands.

After their defeats on New Georgia and in the Battle of Vella Gulf, the Japanese had evacuated their garrisons in the central Solomons. A staging post had been established at Horaniu on the north tip of Vella Lavella for the evacuation barges. In October 1943, 600 soldiers remained, and a force of three older destroyer-transports - Fumizuki, Matsukaze, and Yūnagi - escorted by six modern fully combat-ready destroyers — Akigumo, Isokaze, Kazagumo, Yūgumo, Shigure, and Samidare — was dispatched under Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin to rescue them.

At 22:30, they spotted a U.S. force of three destroyers—Selfridge, Chevalier, and O'Bannon, commanded by Captain Frank R. Walker—approaching from Vella Gulf. A second division of three U.S. destroyers—Ralph Talbot, Taylor, and La Vallette— had been detached from convoy duty further South in the Solomons with orders to join up with Walker. These three additional ships were making speed up the west coast of Vella Lavella towards his division. Walker did not wait for his other three destroyers to come up, however, but attacked immediately. Both sides launched torpedoes and opened fire at about 23:00.

...
Wikipedia