Battle of Savo Island

The Battle of Savo Island took place during August 8-9, 1942, between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval forces, as part of the Pacific Campaign of World War II.

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  Japanese cruiser Chokai before the war.
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  Japanese cruiser Tenryu before the war.
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  Japanese cruiser Yubari before the war.
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  Ralph Talbot escorting Guadalcanal invasion convoy, early August, 1942.
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  Astoria steaming towards Tulagi on August 6, 1942.
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  HMAS Canberra underway off Tulagi, during the landings there, 7-8 August 1942.
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  Ironbottom Sound. Savo Island is in the center and Guadalcanal (Cape Esperance) is on the left.
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  Japanese Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa
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  U.S. Vice Admiral Richmond Turner
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  Map of New Britain, New Ireland, and Solomon Islands area.
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  Route of approach of Mikawa's ships for the battle.
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  U.S. Navy map from 1943 showing disposition of Allied ships before the battle on August 8-9, 1942.
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  U.S. Navy map from 1943 showing engagement between Japanese and Allied "southern force" ships during the battle on August 8-9, 1942.
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  View from the Japanese cruiser Chokai of the battle with the Allied "southern" force as aerial flares illuminate the Allied cruisers Canberra and Chicago.
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  U.S. Navy map from 1943 showing engagement between Japanese and Allied "northern force" ships during the battle on August 9, 1942. The Japanese ships actually split into two distinct groups during this part of the battle which isn't depicted on this map.
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  Same map modified to show that the Japanese force split into two groups.
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  Chart of the Battle of Savo Island showing Japanese movements based on testimony from surviving Japanese participants.
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  Same chart modified to show participation of Yubari and track of Yunagi.
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  Japanese, Type 93, "Long Lance" torpedo, on display outside U.S. Navy headquarters in Washington, DC, during World War II.
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  Japanese cruiser Yubari shines searchlights towards the northern force of Allied warships during the battle.
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  Photographed from a Japanese cruiser during the Battle of Savo Island, off Guadalcanal, 9 August 1942. Quincy, seen here burning and illuminated by Japanese searchlights, was sunk in this action
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  Destroyers (Blue and Patterson) removing crew from the HMAS Canberra after the Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942
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  Canberra burning and sinking on August 9, 1942. Savo Island is in the background.
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  Chicago and other ships maneuver off Tulagi on August 9, 1942 after the Battle of Savo Island.
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  Chicago under field repair the day after the battle, 9 August 1942
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  Destroyer Blue off Tulagi with survivors from the battle, August 9, 1942.
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  Japanese war art entitled "Night Operations of the Battle of Savo Island" (8 August 1942). Burning American Warships, illuminated by searchlights, take additional fire.