August 25, 1942 - Tuesday - 80 years ago today

Status - John Skinner - USS O'Brien: 

 Task Force 17 was still proceeding south to join Task Force 61.  It was nearing the Solomons on the 25th, and was ordered to refuel and prepare for action.  Here is the description from the Hornet's history:

Once TF-17 crossed the equator, Commander South Pacific Force (ComSoPac) (Vice Adm. Robert L. Ghormley) ordered it to proceed to an area west of Guadalcanal and prepare for “offensive operations further to [the] westward.” Guadalupe fueled the task force on 25 August 1942, completing the replenishment by moonlight at 2200, then, with Hughes as escort, was detached.

Operation Watchtower - Battle of the Eastern Solomons .

The Japanese now sent a new invasion force that was accompanied by a naval task force with two fleet carriers and a smaller carrier, and a heavy force of battleships and cruisers.  The US navy had two fleet carriers; Wasp had been sent south to refuel, and Hornet (Task Force 17) had not yet arrived in the South Pacific.

The ensuing carrier battle became known as the Battle of the Eastern Solomons.  The Enterprise was heavily damaged, and was forced to return to Pearl Harbor.  The Japanese lost the light carrier Ryujo, and one of the larger carriers was damaged.  More importantly, their invasion force had to retreat and did not reach Guadalcanal.

U. S. Navy Task Forces:

• Task Force 17 (Hornet) was in transit the South Pacific but did not arrive in time for the battle.  It would replace the damaged Enterprise (Task Force 16) on arrival.
  
• Combined Task Force 61 fought the Battle of the Eastern Solomons and was able to repel the Japanese invasion force moving toward Guadalcanal.
  
• Task Force 16 (Enterprise) returned to Pearl Harbor to repair battle damage to Enterprise.
  
• Task Force 11 (Saratoga) -> TF 61
• Task Force 18 (Wasp) -> TF 61

More Information:

• Official Navy Chronology, pp. 243-245.
  
•  The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign,  John B. Lundstrom, pp 97-164.
• The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 70-104.
• Neptune's Inferno, The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, James D. Hornfischer, pp. 114-118.
  

 

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