The Battle of the Komandorski Islands was a naval battle between American and Imperial Japanese forces which took place on 27 March 1943 in the North Pacific, south of the Soviet Komandorski Islands. The Japanese were escorting a three ship convoy, while the Americans were patrolling waters west of the Aleutian Islands. The battle was a daylight surface engagement in which air support played no role and in which the outnumbered American force escaped greater damage after the Japanese chose to withdraw.

Background

In June 1942, Japanese forces landed in the western Aleutian Islands of Kiska and Attu, as a northern pincer of the main attack on Midway Island. After the stunning Japanese defeat at Midway, the Japanese held the islands as a defensive shield against any American attempt against the Kuriles. As the U.S. was preparing its assault on the Japanese strongholds, Japanese shipping between Japan and the islands was harassed by submarines and aircraft. The Japanese Imperial Navy countered this threat by sailing at night or taking advantage of stormy weather. Aware of Japanese tactics, Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid deployed a surface force around Attu. On the night of 19/20 February 1943, the patrol force, consisting of the heavy cruiser and the destroyers and , shelled and sank the Japanese transport ship Akagane Maru (3100 GRT) west of Attu.

American intelligence estimated that the Japanese escort consisted of one heavy cruiser, one light cruiser, and four destroyers. However, the Japanese 5th Fleet had been reinforced by two more cruisers, so that the Japanese escort force actually consisted of the heavy cruisers and , the light cruisers and , and the destroyers , , , and . Vice Admiral Boshirō Hosogaya hoisted his flag on Nachi. Because the battle was a chance encounter in a remote location on the open ocean, neither fleet had air or submarine assistance, so that it was one of the few engagements exclusively between surface ships in the Pacific Theater and one of the last pure gunnery duels between fleets of major surface combatants in naval history. At one point, McMorris sent a request for air support to the USAAF air base at Adak. However, the B-24 squadron sent to attack the Japanese force became lost in the fog and had to return home. A spotter aircraft from Nachi directed fire on the American force for the whole battle. While the Japanese side criticized the observers' inability to deal with smoke screens, the US reports say that the accurate way in which the enemy gunners shifted their fire led the Americans to believe that one of the Japanese cruisers had fire control radar. Indeed, the battle ended Japanese attempts to resupply the Aleutian garrisons by surface ship, leaving only submarines to conduct supply runs. The airstrip at Attu was never finished.

Timeline of the battle

This is a timeline of the action based on accounts by O'Hara

  • 0600: The United States ships were formed in a scouting line at six-mile intervals zig-zagging at 15 knots on base course 020°.
  • 0700: While the Japanese formation was turning 180° to a northern course, the destroyer Inazuma, still heading south, spotted unknown ships 27000 yards to port. A navigating officer on one of the transports visually observed the American force minutes later.
  • 0715: As the day dawned, the ships were identified as American.
  • 0730: Hosogaya ordered a turn to starboard, to the southeast, while the two fast transports were ordered to withdraw north-northwest, escorted by Inazuma.
  • 0730: The lead ships Coghlan and Richmond made radar contact with the two trailing Japanese transports and a destroyer on course 080° at .
  • 0740: The Americans changed course to 080° and the rear ships increased speed to operate as a compact group. Five radar blips were counted.
  • 0755: The Japanese turned northward to course 340° and the Americans came to course 000° to follow.
  • 0811: The Americans visually identified the radar contacts as two transports, two light cruisers, and a destroyer.
  • 0820: The Americans sighted the masts of four more Japanese ships on the horizon.
  • 0835: The Americans identified the masts as two heavy cruisers and two destroyers and turned to course 240°.
  • 0838: The Japanese transports swerved off to the northwest.
  • 0839: The Americans increased speed to .
  • 0840: Nachi opened fire on Richmond at a range of . The second and third salvos were straddles.
  • 0840: Nachi launched her spotter aircraft to direct fire on the US force.
  • 0841: Richmond opened fire on Nachi. The third salvo was a straddle.
  • 0842: Salt Lake City opened fire on Nachi at a range of . The second salvo was a straddle.

[[File:Battle of the Komandorski - Bailey's damage.jpg|thumb|198x198px|USS Bailey showing battle damage in the aftermath of the action

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As the range closed, Bailey opened fire on Nachi at a range of and then switched to a light cruiser. Coghlan opened fire on Nachi at a range of .

  • 0845: Nachi launched eight torpedoes. All missed.
  • 0850: One of Richmond′s shells hit the starboard side of Nachi′s signal bridge, killing 11 and wounding 21. Another shell hit Nachi′s mainmast and severed the flagship's radio communication.
  • 0852: One of Richmond′s 6-inch shells hit Nachi′s torpedo compartment. Another hit Nachi′s control room, killing two and wounding five. Nachi dropped back after losing electrical power to ammunition hoists and gun mounts.
  • 0903: Richmond ceased firing. Salt Lake City continued firing from stern turrets.
  • 0910: Salt Lake City was hit by an projectile fired by Maya. Two men were killed, while the starboard observation plane caught fire and was jettisoned.
  • 1010: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya.
  • 1059: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya.
  • 1103: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya. Salt Lake City transferred water to correct a list caused by flooding.
  • 1152: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya.
  • 1153: Salt water entered a fuel tank in use and extinguished Salt Lake City′s boiler fires.
  • 1154: Salt Lake City slowed to a stop. Bailey, Coghlan and Monaghan approached the Japanese cruisers for a torpedo attack while Richmond and Dale made smoke to shield Salt Lake City.
  • 1203: Salt Lake City restarted boilers and increased speed to 15 knots.
  • 1213: Salt Lake City increased speed to .
  • 1225: Bailey launched five torpedoes at . All missed. Bailey was hit twice by 8-inch shells and came to a stop with five dead. Coghlan was hit once.
  • 1230: Japanese ships retired westward. Neither Coghlan nor Monaghan launched torpedoes.

Salt Lake City fired 806 armor-piercing projectiles and then 26 high-capacity (explosive) shells after the supply of armor-piercing ammunition was exhausted. Powder and shells were manhandled aft from the forward magazines to keep the aft guns firing. Salt Lake City′s rudder stops were carried away, limiting her to 10° course changes.