9 August 1942
In August 1942, the RAN heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra operated with the US Navy in support of the American landings on the strategically vital islands of Guadalcanal and Tulagi. These operations ended with the loss of Canberra in the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.
In order to protect the Allied transports against Japanese attack, a screening force of cruisers and destroyers was deployed to patrol the waters around Guadalcanal. This included:
- HMAS Australia (II)
- HMAS Canberra (I)
- HMAS Hobart (I).
At 1:30am on 9 August, a powerful Japanese force sighted the Southern Screening Force off Savo Island, with Canberra the lead ship. The Japanese force consisted of:
- 5 heavy cruisers
- 2 light cruisers
- a destroyer.
Japanese aircraft dropped flares over the area. This immediately silhouetted Canberra and USS Chicago, and the Japanese opened fire with all weapons. Canberra received almost the full force of the Japanese barrage. It was struck by 2 torpedoes on its starboard side and over 20 salvoes of 8-inch shellfire. With power lost and the ship listing, the wounded and survivors were transferred to the US destroyers Patterson and Blue. Chicago was also badly damaged, but still operational.
After rendering the Southern Screening Force ineffective, the Japanese continued their sweep around Savo Island. They split into two columns and approached the Northern Screening Force at high speed. The Japanese ships opened fire on the American ships at very close range and sunk 2 more cruisers: Quincy and Vincennes. Unaware of the location and strength of the remaining Allied naval forces, the Japanese did not press home their advantage and withdrew.
Dawn revealed to the Allies the full extent of the battle:
- The cruisers Quincy and Vincennes had been sunk.
- Two more cruisers Canberra and Astoria were badly damaged.
- Two destroyers Ralph Talbot and Patterson were badly damaged.
The Allied commander, Rear Admiral Richmond K Turner USN, ordered that Canberra be abandoned and sunk if she could not raise steam. Once all survivors had been evacuated, USS Selfridge fired 263 5-inch shells and 4 torpedoes into the cruiser in an attempt to sink her. Eventually, a torpedo fired by the destroyer USS Ellet administered the final blow.
Just over 1,000 Allied sailors lost their lives, and another 700 were wounded, as a result of the Battle of Savo Island. Canberra alone suffered 193 casualties – 84 dead and 109 wounded.