Navy Department Communique No. 191

NOVEMBER 13, 1942

South Pacific (all dates are east longitude).

On November 12th:
- (a) At about dawn U. S. naval forces commenced bombardment of enemy positions to the westward of our positions on Guadalcanal Island. Shore batteries were silenced and large fires were started. Seventy-five Japanese landing boats, some of which had been previously damaged, were found at Tassafaronga. Thirty large landing boats were destroyed by ships’ gunfire and several others were damaged.
- (b) At 2:15 p. m., the bombardment was interrupted by an enemy air attack. Twenty-three Japanese torpedo bombers, escorted by 8 “Zero” fighters, attacked our surface ships in the vicinity of Guadalcanal. Twenty-eight Grumman “Wildcats” intercepted and shot down 16 enemy bombers and 5 “Zeros”. Nine enemy planes were shot down by ships’ antiaircraft fire.
- (c) During the above attack a Japanese plane, disabled and burning, crashed into the U. S. S. San Francisco (heavy cruiser), killed 30 of her personnel, and damaged the ship slightly. A 5-inch shell from an enemy shore battery damaged the U. S. S. Buchanan and killed 5 of her crew. The San Francisco and the Buchanan were the only U. S. ships damaged in this action. The next of kin of those killed and wounded will be notified by telegram immediately upon receipt of information.

Caribbean area.

On November 12th (Washington, D. C., date) the U. S. S. Erie (gunboat) was damaged during an attack by an enemy submarine. The Erie was beached off the southern coast of Curacao. No report of casualties has been received but next of kin will be notified immediately upon receipt of information.