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| Kula Gulf |
They were right, as the Allies mounted an offensive in August 1942. The Japanese occupation of the Solomon Islands threatened supply routs between the United States and Australia, and also hindered Allied efforts to take back the South Pacific.
Having lost Rendova to the Americans on 30 June 1943, the Japanese decided to concentrate their resupplies to Munda. As they could only resupply by sea, the Japanese used the sea route that went through the Kula Gulf.
Battle of Kula Gulf
On the afternoon of 5 July, American Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth received intelligence that the Japanese were reinforcing their occupied land via the Kula Gulf. He was given orders to intercept the Japanese. He led a task force of 3 light cruisers and 4 destroyers into the Kula Gulf, circling New Georgia from the north.
Near Visu Visu point, his task force encountered the Japanese convoy at 0100 of 6 July. The Japanese consisted of transport ships (carrying 2,600 troops) and ten destroyers. At 0157 using the element of surprise, the Americans fired 612 shells in 21 minutes and six seconds at the Japanese. This salvo sunk the flagship destroyer IJN Niizuki and killing Admiral Teruo Akiyama.
Nevertheless, this salvo exposed the USS Helena. At around 0203, three torpedos hit the cruiser, causing a possible magazine explosion and the engine to die. The hull started to split in half. Rescue for the surviving crew was delayed due to the darkness. The fate of USS Helena was only known to the Ainsworth at around 0230.
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| Visu Visu Point |
The Japanese then quickly launched a defensive smokescreen started to withdraw. IJN Nagatsuki was hit by a shell and ran aground on Kolombangara. The crew abandoned the vessel and was later destroyed the next day by American aircraft.
During the retreat, IJN Hatsuyuki suffered minor hits from two shells.
By 0330, Ainsworth gave the order to disengage, leaving behind a few ships to look for survivors. IJN Amagiri also remained to look for survivors.
At 0500, IJN Amagiri encountered destroyer USS Nicholas and exchanged fire. IJN Amagiri received 4 hits and withdrew from the site.
At 0615, USS Nicholas again encountered another Japanese vessel, IJN Mochizuki (a transport vessel). It fail to hit the enemy, as IJN Mochizuki deployed a smoke screen to flee. The battle was over.
Conclusion
This battle was considered to be either a draw or a minor victory for either side. The Japanese lost more men (324) and 2 destroyers compared to the Americans (168 men and 1 cruiser).
However, the Japanese did managed to land 1600 out of 2600 men, and about 90 tons of supplies. This ensured that the battle of New Georgia of the Solomon Islands would be a hard-fought one.
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