Lawrence A. De Graw

Naval Encounters: 4
THE BATTLE OF SAVO ISLAND: 1942

The First Battle of Savo Island

~ Iron Bottom Sound ~

Early morning, sleeve of night; sleek and wary mile by mile,
Down “The Slot” they push their warships, never doubting all the while
The smack of success, the timing of surprise;
Battlecruisers close at “ten”, now horizoned to our eyes.

Battle Cruiser Fleet

Aboard the Quincy first we go – a cruiser less than none –
Fearless tasks she’d undergone, but nothing like this one
Harsh naval night, with velvet shroud around;
A blackened sea, with blackened sight, at Iron Bottom Sound.

Off Guadalcanal this place we’d find, of battles long ago;
With names like Florida and Lunga Point, Tulagi and Savo…
Itself a slice of isle in channel center – a cork in ocean blue;
But on this night, and on these seas… ‘tis August ‘42.

For on this slab of southern sea, the best of fleets collide,
And gun-to-gun and ship-to-ship, barrage and full broadside
Of full thirty ships of war, converging for the clash;
Now down The Slot the great foe steams, forged by storm and lash.

But Quincy waits, its orders fast: “To set the Northern screen”.
So, off deep Savo shoals we sit, our enemy unseen.
“Patrol, patrol… and keep your lookouts sharp!”, we hear;
So, scan we well the reach of sky and all our waters near.

To be alert – to keep our ken – to set a klaxon knell;
And to a man we’d stand our ground, and hold our station well.
We’d sound the alarm and salvo back, and bear the bites of war,
Engaged in forward battle like no pitched fight before.

So, sweep away, sweep away, sweep away far…
Main guns training in tandem and aiming “on-bar”.
With “8-inchers” hot loaded and guns swiveling free,
We wait for great fleet of Japan, both by air and by sea.

With calculation then they come; with cunning and iron will,
Great Mikawa stealthy sweeps his course from Bougainville.
In Solomons – a world apart – they push the mighty fleet,
Quick and quiet now they speed, their movements all discreet.

Now, battlecruisers, warships – dread escorts all―in shipping lanes of two,
Head undetected south by east – hot course “140-true”.
Seeking… searching… looking for a kill, they slice the waters blue;
Mikawa’s ships so soon arrive, and number ten and two.

Thus, north and west of Savo Isle the mighty ships do perch,
Each locked in dead of night, while each with each do search
The brackish waters dead ahead, and screening all about –
Engines scream in muted pitch, destroyers placed well out

In van of main Battle Force as they carve their way southeast;
Like ravaged mongrels and rankling curs, gluttoned by the feast
Of former routs and shallow wins – defeat upon high seas;
But even the loss of Guadalcanal would not bring us to our knees.

Now, six thousand marines – hold on seven thousand as told;
Securing the airstrip, watching sea battles unfold.
Some standing on shore as skirmish rages through night;
The burning silhouettes of ships they see, engaged in this fight

The U.S. cruiser Quincy on fire and sinking as a result of numerous gunfire and torpedo hits from attacking Japanese cruisers. The flames at the far left of the picture are probably from the U.S. cruiser Vincennes, also on fire from gunfire and torpedo damage.

Of fights – like never fought before. They push the dauntless run
And down The Slot advance the ships in a battle lane of one.
Mikawa on his Flagship slows and orders, “Hit them with the light!”
Now, searchlights scan horizon, trapping Quincy in their sight.

So, outgunned now we stand in way, proud Quincy soon is sought,
Vincennes and fleet Astoria now veering hard to port;
To guard our flank and “check our six”, they push themselves to stern;
Quincy now quick-turning well to starboard, while all our engines burn.

Now, heavy Cruiser cannonades are shot, that tear into our hull;
We sound “GQ” and move to guns, and brave our fate in full.
Deadly caught in fire crossed from three Mikawa ships,
“Full ahead!!”, our Captain roars, but to heel she slowly tips.

We turn and charge the very fleet – with intention now to ram;
We answer back with volley full, from men who gave no damn.
Now, gun directors come alive, men scrambling all in tandem;
“Ack-Ack” guns and fifty cals, with shells jacked back at random.

But even as we veer to angle, nosing out to come up true,
Lookouts clapped to masts on high yell, “Watch! Torpedoes two!!”
Their tracks well seen in flare of fight, we watch their silent running,
While still on deck our men stand fast with guts and deadly gunning.

In seconds then, this bout was through – a date for hardship known,
Vincennes was gone, the Quincy too; and proud Astoria blown.
In minutes thirty – maybe more – this deadly fight did claim,
Three heavy cruisers from our fleet, and Destroyers well in name.

The day would go to Mikawa; the action hot and fast;
The night would swallow up its ships, the men at peace at last.
And some would live a shallowed life, whilst some would fight anew;
To set the teeth and flash the eye, and prep for Battle Two…

~ Cape Esperance ~

Now the time is later, in months October through;
And time through hourglass has slipped, but still 1942.
By eleventh day, near fifteenth hour – patrol lanes now all hot;
Goto and Jojima’s ships with bombast cruise The Slot.

For now we lick our wounds and go our ways, our pulse a racing throb;
We bide our time and wait once more – the more to see the job
Full through: to rout the proud Jojima, to triumph here no less
Than the total demise of the Japanese fleet, and the death of the “Tokyo Express”.

“US Steel” by Randall Wilson

So at Iron Bottom Sound we wait, few ships at anchor found;
Our great Destroyers well at sea and screening through the Sound.
By 10pm on ticking clock, no moment left to gain,
Goto’s ships approach the cape at 30 knots in rain.

Thus, back to Savo Isle we go, to east of Russells fall;
Goto’s ships disperse themselves – all quiet, couched in squall.
Southeast due they move their column, driving down The Slot;
While up from South sails “64”, the Task Force of brave Scott.

So, to the Laffey now we fly – new colors to unfurl.
Our Destroyer once again is set to van, the sea a lapping curl
Of constant motion: roiling, rolling, crashing on the bow;
We move ahead to meet the foe as time and speed allow.

To port we see the Duncan – well out by most a mile,
Abaft and swift behind us sits brave Farenholt the while.
Then, right before us lay the Fleet at short 1000 yards;
A loss this day was not an option, and defeat not in the cards.

To battle stations then we fly, steel doors behind us clang,
Three ships now open fire with a volley soon that rang
From top to deck, resounding well – astonishing our eyes –
The hornet’s nest of Goto’s fleet we’d taken by surprise.

Five ships now converge on one, their heavy cruiser “Flag”;
With forty shells we pound their ship, soon slowing to a lag.
Aoba then is peppered – fierce broadsides through the night,
As Duncan spins to better vantage, and Laffey turns to fight.

With rattling salvo we hammer the ship, like artillery set on a ridge;
Full forty shots had been fired in anger – ‘least seven had torn through the Bridge
Of Aoba, now crippled, disabled at best; and Goto now mortally wounded;
Two more destroyers are hit in the scuffle, and a call to withdraw is now sounded.

So, break away, break away, break away fast…
To starboard and port fly their ships to the last;
Keel-turning on pivot, sailing right-left about,
As Goto’s great ships now only want out!

The firepower of a battleship demonstrated by USS Iowa (ca. 1984)

So, off to north they limp away in scattered tracks of two,
As full-ahead, at battle speed, our warships still pursue.
Well out of range the great fleet moves – up through The Slot they bore;
And even when they’d had enough, we sent them just one more!

This night had seen a battle – but two of five to come;
‘Round Guadalcanal they sailed their ships, but to “tactics” did succumb.
Esperance, they call this Cape; the battle flag we’d won,
But other battles yet there’d be before this fight was done.

~ 3rd and 4th Battles Of Savo Island ~

Across the sea obsidian, now some seventy miles from the strait,
Abè and Kondo now ride their ships – below the Americans wait.
This clock of war has moved a tick, as moments yet do fly.
Japan another hapless run prepares; a dash to resupply.

Tulagi-bound the ships now race, invasion force to land,
Seven thousand troops they bring to set on Channel sand.
Now, Henderson Field they make their target, wet snaking it down The Slot,
With eye to horizon and guns well trimmed, and rudders running hot.

Two battleships soon, but massive in size, come bullying down the Sound,
Behind them light cruisers converge and eleven destroyers are found.
With names like the Hiei, Nagara; Yudachi – all ill-fated names we’d soon find,
As each would haplessly pay a price, as we exacted our payback in kind.

So, at Zero-One-Hundred, November 13 – a date which both navies would hold –
Abè and Callaghan, Admirals both, now their presence so soon do make bold.
‘Neath darkest of moons, at light ebb of night, at each other the warships do charge;
They scatter their forces and mingle in knots, fighting from barge to barge.

Now hunting packs – Destroyers six – are first to see the fray;
With Cushing, O’Bannon and Laffey now lurching full out in harm’s way.
Then Atlanta is peppered in a “4-on-1” action – an armada of Kondo’s command –
And Admiral Scott, and much of his bridge, is ravaged now quite out at hand…

And bravely lost to the mailed fist of war – the ship they soon disable;
At Lunga Point they lose their Captain, but still we turn the table…
And attack the Hiei – with all hands – with broadsides now we flew,
Wounding now their pride of staff, brave Abè and his crew.

We salvo in tandem at targets we scan, yet seldom receiving report;
“You ships fire to starboard,” roars Callaghan, “The rest of you fire to port!”
A mêlée, a rumble, a slugfest bar none; a “brawl after lights had gone out”;
But even now as the smoke cleared away, it cleared away much doubt.

As to who would win the fight this day, as Laffey moves to ram;
Another ship we have in sight, prized Battleship to slam.
So, we ram the shells with speed and purpose; brave fleet we must defend;
when up from South rides gallant Lee, enraged to no end.

Thus, actioning with efforts bold, hot exploits not soon forgot,
“Ching Lee”, bold Vice Admiral, comes barreling up The Slot.
On proud Washington now he rides the crests, his ships move well on cue;
Over radio bands he squawks at his men, “Stand aside, I’m coming through!!”

And to the awe of his men and those standing on shore – as much for the enemy, too,
Ching Lee, on proud Washington, now blasts his way well into view.
And stands beside their mighty battleship, and toe to toe holds fast;
With forty hits they lob their shells – at ‘midships, hull and mast.

USS Washington fires upon Kirishima during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: November 15, 1942

At 3000 yards the guns open up – at a range far less than “point-blank”;
Great Kirishima now is targeted… and great Kirishima we sank.
So lee disengages, seeking others in fray, and to Russell Isle is bound,
To draw the force from stricken Dakota, ‘fore Dakota again could be found.

Then, they break off the action at zero-one-thirty – an hour past midnight they cease;
Departing the channel now battered and blown, their speed to the north now increase.
So this day might we claim a sharp victory; this day to Japan but defeat;
But the flames of this war would still not be dampened, nor the days of this battle complete.

Thus, these moments had seen much skirmish – wild engagements but seen by a few,
The Walke and Preston had been bottomed and lost, and the Benham in halves sunken too.
Yet, Battleship to Battleship had they toed the line, in this slugfest well at sea;
And only one force would this day be vanquished―and one force victor be.

~ Battle Of Tassafaronga ~

Tassafaronga they call this place – a promontory wide;
A line of sand that dots the coast on island’s leeward side.
Guadalcanal is the greater name, if name is ever heard;
But the battle for this scarp of land was a battle at its word.

Now, ships like Minneapolis, New Orleans – and dread Northampton too,
Join in force with the Fletcher and Drayton, and cruiser-class Honolulu…
That move up The Slot with Wright at the helm, “taffy six-seven” to be;
At stroke before midnight – at ebb of November – armadas set well out to sea.

A battle ferocious would soon rage this day… this day with hot blood anoint;
When two naval powers converge in the Strait, and those navies now meet at The Point.
So to west coast of Savo we sprint with our wings, the battle in order to view;
And find sly Tanaka, and eight of his ships, stealthy now menacing through.

Task Force 67 just before the Battle of Tassafaronga. USS Fletcher is in the foreground, followed by other destroyers and, in the distance, cruisers. At Tassafaronga, Japanese Admiral Tanaka’s destroyers gave us a lesson in torpedo skill. Our destroyer-cruiser tactics had not been advanced in peace to meet war exigencies of high-speed, limited-area surface night attacks.

They sit well in queue in a “one-after” line, with orders for Column-Ahead,
That bring them all in in single file; yet in single file are they dead.
So Takanami, heavy cruiser – wiser now for wear – stands off to port beneath;
With heavy guns and fearless crew, she dares us to the teeth.

Now come the ships to resupply, and drop to 12-knot slowing;
They drop their “drums” at Doma Reef, they think without us knowing.
But at 2240, just south of the Savo, Tanaka’s ships come into view;
By Destroyer Force Drayton and Fletcher, and USS Perkins, too.

They ask, “Weapons free?”, but the Captain says, “No!”; as our minutes go ticking by;
Then, quick as thought we get the nod and twenty torpedoes let fly;
With a jolt to each ship as they broach waters stark;
Of twenty Marks fired – twenty wide of the mark.

So they escape by the teeth and pull fast away, Takanami now well under fire;
And in less than four minutes, bombarded by all, the worst is made even more dire.
Hammered and hellbent she cripples away, but not without firing last…
All eight of her “fish” does she fire at random, to port she goes quick-wheeling fast.

Now full dead in the water, if but by design, the hapless Destroyer is thrown;
And Flagship Tanaka now enters the fray before its “sister” is blown.
Reversing its course with turn on a dime, thick smoke screen to choke up our aim;
While their other fast cruisers now slip into view, scheming to set an endgame.

But Minneapolis charges, with guns nearing meltdown, these moments no more would we see,
Firing all of her guns to all compass directions, engaging their warships three.
Then, on ninth salvo – guns tripled in action – torpedoes fly in with dread,
She’s deadly hit in the forward half, her forward half now dead.

So proud Orleans too soon is hit by Turret One, its magazine on fire,
Peppered well and well barraged, so soon they force retire.
The bow splits off and folds to starboard; now hangs at 70 degrees;
The terror of the moment was a moment in time, and to a man did make us freeze.

Then Pensacola comes astern – with dauntless Northampton, too;
But both are doomed and trapped it seems, by torpedoes more than few.
They each take hits ‘midships at waterline, and sit in deepened seas;
At end of battle, cold in water now they sit, and list by 10-degrees.

The night had been most horrid – of battle-hardened fame;
A loss for our side, perhaps they’d say; yet a win by other name.
With brave souls lost and good ships down, we’d paid the price in men;
But Japan the greater war had lost, and would never come again.

So thus had we seen these battles unfold; so thus had both forces soon found;
That the battle arena for this rumble at sea could only be Iron Bottom Sound.
A place that took its name from ships – from ships to bottom sent;
And on both sides in heat of war: full ninety ships are spent.

And now we see on maps of old, of battles long ago,
Red dots that mark a place of honor – a place but few men know.
Speckled well across the Sound, and set by Savo Isle,
This hallowed place of honor shall I now call “Angels’ Mile”.

The battle seen; the battle heard; a battle known firsthand;
By those who sailed these ships of war well off from Channel sand.
And, when we speak of valor – and of selfless deeds recall;
Let’s with our breaths but speak them fair, and offer tributes all.

Epic saga and Tribute ©Copyright Pending 2009 by Lawrence A. De Graw

IN MEMORIAM

USS Aaron Ward	USS Little
USS Astoria	USS LST-342
USS Atlanta	HMNZS Moa
USS Barton	USS Monssen
USS Benham	USS Northampton
USS Blue	USS Preston
HMAS Canberra	PT-37
USS Calhoun	PT-44
USS Cushing	PT-111
USS De Haven	PT-112
USS Duncan	PT-123
USS George F. Elliot	USS Quincy
USS Gregory	USS Seminole
USS Janis	USS Serpens
USS John Penn	USS Vincennes
USS Kanawha	USS Walke
USS Laffey	YP-284

“Wrecks in the Iron Bottom Sound”: Hand sketch by Wolfgang Wolny