The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-16
TWO JAP SHIPS
SUNK BY NAVY
CONTINUED from Page y

CONTINUED from Page y
oped the enemy was solely inter-
ested In evacuating It's beleaquered
forces from Guadalcanal and Inn
pairing our efforts to land reinforce
fnents on that island.
There were no actions between
heavy forces" the communique add
ed. active operations Of enemy
surface forces were confined mainly
to movements Of destroyer detach.
ments under heavy air cover be.
tween Guadalcanal and enemy bases
In the northern Solornons."
Here Is q breakdown Of losses by
both sides in the scattered encount-
ers:
Japanese
Sunk-Two destroyesS;
Probably Sunk-Four destroyers;
Danaged--Six destroyers, one cor
vette and two cargo ships.
Planes-De Destroyed, 28 or 90 zeros,
IL torpedo planes and 20 unidenu-
fed types: probably destroyed
seven ZeroS.
United States
Sunk--Heavy cruiser Chicago; I'm.
identified destroyer; three motor
torpedo boats.
Damaged-Uot reported.
PlaneS-Six fighters, four torpedo
planes, two bomberS and 10 uniden-
titled types.
The first action occurred On the
evening Of January 40, the Navy
said, when O force Of U. 8.
cruisers and destroyerS escorting
transports was attacked by enemy
torpedo planes about 70 miles south
Of Guadalcanal near Rennell Is
land.
The Chicago was severely dam
aged by torpedoes and taken In tow
by another cruiser. Later q tug took
on the Job Of towing the Chicago.
The next day, the enemy sent q
flight Of 10 torpedo planes against
the crippled Chicago. The cruiser
went down under this attack, al
though American aircraft shot down
all but one Of the attacking aircraft.
The communique said this perform
ance by American planes was mot
in time to ward of the attack" on
the Chicago.
On the succeeding day, January
81 (Island time), American planes
had their first real inning, attack
ing an enemy formation Of one des-
troyer, a corvette and q large cargo
vessel in the Vella Gulf. This Is
approximately 200 miles northwest
Of Guadalcanal. The Navy said all
three Of the ships were left dead
in the water. burning and listing.
These ships were listed as dam
aged.
February marked o great in
crease in aerial activity. American
aircraft were attacked In some I'M
disclosed place by 10 zeros. Two OF
the attackers were shot down but
the Americans also lost two craft.
In the Guadalcanal area, 20 Jap-
anese planes were destroyed during
the day. Ten American aircraft were
lost.
Divebombers Blamed
The afternoon Of the same day, q
force Of zero escorted enemy dive
bombers sank the United States
destroyer between Cape Esperance
on the northwest tip Of Guadalcanal
and Savo Island.
That night and during the early
morning hours of the next day, an
enemy force Of about 20 destroyers
approached Guadalcanal. U. s. mo-
tor torpedo boats dashed out at 1t
At least one destroyer was sunk and
two others were believed sunk
Three of the little y. 8. craft were
lost.
With daylight on February 2, a
force of dauntleSs dive bombers and
avenger torpedo planes swarmed II
on 10 enemy destroyers northeast Of
Kolombangara, In the Central Sol
onions. They scored q bomb hit or
one enemy destroyer and a near hi
on another. The Navy counted only
one destroyer damaged In this al.
fair. One avenger was damaged BY
anti-aircraft fire.
That night. q force Of Flying
EOhbgcbScss eSCOIVc1 W GOCkIircu
Lightning and Curtiss Warhawk
Fighters. scored hits on a large
enemy cargo ship on Shorthand
Island. more than 800 miles to the
northwest OF 0uadalcanal. Tho
cargo ship. left burning and listing,
was counted as damaged. Twenty
enemy fighters sought to intercept
and nine or possibly 10 OF them
were shot down. AL our planes re.
turned.
After q lapse OF one day without
any reported encounters, American
torpedo planes. dive bolnbers and
fighters on the afternoon Of Feb. 4
attacked o group Of about 20 Jap
anese destr0yerB 800 miles north
vest OF 0uadalcanal. one destroyer
was sunk and another was badly
damaged. Later, an enemy destroy
81 was observed burning. Seven
Zeros were shot down and hye
others probably destroyed IN this
action. Pour y. s. torpedo planes,
Q bomber and . fighter failed 70
return.
~ 8 sseond attack. dauntlons dive
- 81 - ~Ima41aalrama.