Battle of Kula Gulf
Soon thereafter, on 6 July, a task group of three cruisers and four destroyers under Rear Admiral W. L. "Pug" Ainsworth, tangled with 10 Japanese destroyers carrying troops and supplies to Kolombangara in the Battle of Kula Gulf. In the fierce night action, two Japanese destroyers, "Niizuki" and , were sunk as was "Helena" (CL-50) which fell victim to the dreaded "Long Lance" torpedoes.