SERIES OF NAVAL BATTLES RAGES IN SOLOMONS; TUNIS FIGHTING INTENSE AS ALLIES APPROACH (11/15/42)

Microfilm-New York Times archives, Monterey Public Library | 11/15/42 | Charles Hurd, F. Tillman Durdin, P.J. Philip, David Anderson, Hanson W. Baldwin, Raymond Daniell

[CougarGA7]

• In a nighttime engagement, the battleships South Dakota and Washington engaged Admiral Kondo's battleship Kirishima and four cruisers. The South Dakota suffered a power failure that rendered it unable to fire and essentially became a target ship for the Kirishima. It survived 42 large caliber hits. The Washington had established a radar lock on the Japanese battleship and nailed her with nine 16 inch and forty 5 inch rounds in seven minutes. The Kirishima was left sinking. The Americans had lost three destroyers in the engagement, but the South Dakota was able to return to port for repairs.

[taterjay]

The destroyer USS Walke was sunk in this battle. My wife’s grandfather was one of 75 killed. John Riley Bussard was his name.