USS Craven DD-382

The Most Perfect Torpedo Attack in U.S. Naval History

Vella Gulf

Contributed by the USS Craven Reunion Association

In August 1943 the Allied troops were fighting back to the north from Tulagi towards the Solomon Islands. The Japanese were bringing in fresh troops and supplies to their garrisons by destroyers and barges called the Tokyo Express from Bougainville down through "The Slot" near Vella Lavella.

Commander Moosbrugger was in charge of ComDesDiv12 of the destroyers Craven, Dunlap and Maury with Commander Simpson in charge of ComDesDiv15 of destroyers Lang, Sterett and Stack. They were ordered to intercept the "Express" which always moved during the night.Div12 and Div15 left Tulagi at 1130 hours August 6 for the "Slot", entered Gizo Strait at 2230 hours, then through Blackett Strait, turning on course 000 degrees at 2250 hours up the slot at 25 knots along the Kolombangera coast.

This is the same area that 15 PT boats had attacked the Express three nights earlier, fired 30 torpedoes at 4 destroyers, and only damaged the propeller of the Amagiri after it had plowed through and sunk John F. Kennedy's PT-109.

At 2330 hours, Dunlap made radar contact on 4 ships at 10 miles heading south at 25 knots at 180 degrees. These ships later were identified as the Hagikaze and Arashi of the Kagero Class destroyer, the latest model of their largest destroyers and the Kawakaze and Shigure of the Shiratsuyu Class destroyer comparable to the existing U.S. destroyers. The first 3 ships were loaded with replacement troops and supplies for the garrison at Kolombangera that were trying to stop the Allies. The 4th ship, Shigure, was trailing behind as a protection of the others.

The range closed at 50 knots as the two groups of ships headed at each other. Div12 ships advanced for a torpedo attack and Div15 spread out for a shelling attack after the torpedoes hit. At 2340 hours Craven, Dunlap and Maury each fired 8 torpedoes at ranges of 4,300 to 4,800 yards. All torpedoes were away by 2344 hours. Div15 ships then turned 90 degrees to starboard to give a smaller target to any possible torpedoes fired from the enemy. Shigura did fire a torpedo in a general direction but did not come close to our ships.

At 2346 hours, torpedoes started hitting the enemy. The 3 lead ships were hit. Hagikaze exploded and went down within minutes. Arashi and Kawakaze burned violently and were then shelled by Div15. Kawakaze capsized soon after and Arashi blew up and sank at 0010 hours. All of this happened in forty minutes of sighting the enemy and 25 minutes after the torpedoes hit. The Captain of the Shiguro turned tail for Bougainville instead of helping his own people.

No damage or casualties were reported by Div12 or Div15. The Japanese lost 3 ships, approximately 600 sailors, 900 soldiers and 50 tons of supplies. Approximately 310 survived by swimming to the adjacent island. This battle stopped the Tokyo Express and was called the most perfect torpedo attack in U.S. Naval history, and was required study at the U.S. Naval Academy for years.

A new strategy in naval warfare emerged where destroyers were recognized that they can carry out a battle by themselves without being the escort ships for the larger cruisers, battleships and carriers. This strategy paid off during the next months and the Allies moved faster up the chain of islands toward Japan. Lt. Commander Williamson, captain of the Craven, received the Navy Cross for his part of this battle.

From the Ship's Log

8/6/43 - Anchored off entrance to Purvis Bay near Hutchins point, Solomon Islands. We got underway at 0831 and proceeded to Tulagi Harbor, where we moored portside to YO-44 at 0852. Fueled ship and got underway at 1133, proceeding to sea astern of Maury, and taking station on Dunlap. At 1315, Stack, Lang and Sterett joined the formation; base course to westward, speed 25 knots.At 1810 we formed Division-Column formation. Order of ships in Division A-1 is: Dunlap, ComDesDiv 11 (OTC), Craven and Maury. Order of ships in Division A-2 is: Lang, ComDesDiv 15, Sterett and Stack. Division A-2 is in column formation astern of Division A-1. At 1823 we darkened ship and set condition III on torpedo battery. Changed course to 307 T. by column movement. At 2119, changed course to due north. At 2139, we passed Ganoga Island abeam to port. At 2146, we manned all battle stations for search of Vella Gulf for enemy vessels and small craft. Changed course by column movement at 2154 to 050 T. for passage through Gizo Strait. At 2227, changed course to 124 T., Division A-2 took station bearing 150 T. at 4,000 yards. Changed course at 2329 to 030 T., speed 25 knots.At 2335, made radar contact on four enemy vessels bearing 349 T. at 17,000 yards, (The Slot). At 2336, Division A-1 changed course to 335 T. to close and attack enemy force; Division A-2 turning to cross ahead of enemy formation. At 2342, Division A-1 commenced torpedo fire to port at approximately 4,000 yards range. Eight torpedoes expended by this ship, 24 torpedoes in all, no casualties. Changed course by ship's turn to 080 T. for retirement.At 2345, observed three definite and one possible torpedo hits on enemy force composed of one heavy Cruiser* and three Destroyers. (Note*: It was later determined that the formerly identified Cruiser was a large, new-type Destroyer). At 2347, Division A-2 commenced firing on enemy. At 2349, changed course to 180 T. At 2357, commenced firing with gun battery at range of approximately 8,000 yards.8/7/43 - Steaming on course 000 T. at 25 knots in company with Dunlap and Maury in Division A-1. Division A-2 is operating in immediate vicinity as a unit, with both divisions under tactical command of Commander Moosbrugger, ComTaskGroup 31.2. Ship is at General Quarters and engaging a Japanese force of three Destroyers and a heavy Cruiser* with gun battery.At 0005, changed course to 320 T. and ceased firing. At 0007, we observed a heavy explosion on the enemy Cruiser*. Changed course at 0020 to 090 T. Course changed at 0028 to 000 T. Changed course at 0035 to 210 T. to search area of burning ships for any enemy vessel attempting to escape. At 0052, changed course to 290 T. Course changed at 0055 to 320 T. At 0057, commenced maneuvering on various courses searching for any surviving enemy ships. Results: Three enemy Destroyers sunk (Hagikaze, Arishi and Kawakaze) within 25 minutes after torpedoes hit. The fourth ship, Shigura, turned tail and got away during all the explosions and shelling. No damage to our task groups. The Japs had only fired two or three shots and one torpedo. At 0114, Division A-1 in column formation, altered course to 050 T. and commenced retirement from Vella gulf; Division A-2 maneuvering in area in attempt to pick up survivors. At 0125, changed course to 090 T., then to 105 T. at 0145. At 0242, formation speed changed to 20 knots, conforming to maximum speed of Maury. Took station on starboard bow of Maury at 1,500 yards, Dunlap screening port bow. At 0251, changed speed to 21 knots, changed course to 130 T. at 0300 and changed speed to 25.5 knots at 0346. Made several more course changes throughout the first watch enroute back to Tulagi, and at 1115, moored starboard side to Stack in company with YO-644 and commenced receiving fuel from the oiler. Completed fueling at 1312, and at 1500, commenced receiving replacement torpedoes aboard from the Torpedo Storage Depot, Tulagi Harbor. At 1722, ship got underway and moved to anchor in Berth #6 in 26 fathoms of water. 8/8/43 - Anchored as before in Berth 6, Tulagi Harbor, British Solomon Islands (BSI). Ship is darkened with #3 and #4 boilers on one-hour notice. Various units of the Pacific Fleet are present. At 1005, we got underway to shift Berth to Purvis Bay, where we anchored at Berth #7. At 2315, Task Group 36.2 stood into harbor.

Postscript

As as a result of this battle, the U.S. Navy commissioned an Aegis Class cruiser September 18, 1993 at Norfolk, VA and named it the U.S.S. Vella Gulf, CG 72.

This cruiser was named after the Battle of Vella Gulf at a 50-year commemorative reunion for the crews of the destroyers involved in the battle.  Because of the available mailing list of the Craven reunions, the Navy invited the group to the commissioning.   Mrs. Francis Williamson, widow of the Craven's Captain at the time, her son and family, were also guests.  The Craven shipmates were invited to tour the ship and visit with the crew and officers.  Their veteran crew presented the battle ensign (flag), that actually flew on the Craven during the battle, to the cruiser.  It was raised at the same time of the commission pennant.  It was then encased and put on permanent display in the crew's mess hall along with pictures of the six destroyers.

As one Craven shipmate put it, "It's a memory
that makes an old veteran feel proud."