Battle off Horaniu
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| Battle off Horaniu | |||||||||||||||||
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| Conflict | World War II, Pacific War | ||||||||||||||||
| Date | August 17, 1943 – August 18, 1943 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place | Near Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands | ||||||||||||||||
| Result | Japanese strategic victory | ||||||||||||||||
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The Battle off Horaniu was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of August 17, 1943 near the island of Vella Lavella in the Solomon Islands
After their defeat in the battle of Vella Gulf, the Japanese had decided to evacuate their garrisons in the Eastern Solomons. An evacuation convoy escorted by four destroyers (Sazanami, Hamakaze, Isokaze, Shigure) commanded by Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin set out from its staging base at Horaniu on the northern tip of Vella Lavella on August 17 to evacuate the island of Kolombangara to the east.
At about 23:30 they were attacked by planes and were still in some disorganization when they were spotted at 00;29 by an American force of four destroyers (Nicholas, O'Bannon, Taylor, Chevalier) commanded by Captain Thomas J. Ryan. After an ineffective exchange of torpedoes and gunfire at long range, the Japanese retreated at about 01:00.
The Japanese had saved their barges and were able subsequently to evacuate 9,000 troops from Kolombangara.
