The engagement took place in Ironbottom Sound off Tassafaronga Point on Guadalcanal’s northern coast. A U.S. Navy task force attempted to surprise and destroy Japanese destroyers dispatched to resupply Japanese ground forces on Guadalcanal. Utilizing their still relatively new surface-search radar, the U.S. task force located the Japanese ships and sank an enemy destroyer. However, the other Japanese warships reacted quickly and fired numerous very effective Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes, sinking one U.S. cruiser and heavily damaging three others. The Japanese were able to escape, but also did not land their supplies and reinforcements, with deleterious effects for their forces on Guadalcanal.
Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) Combat Narratives—Solomon Islands Campaign: VII Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942
U.S.S. Northampton (CA-26) Loss in Action Report, 30 November 1942
Vignette: Ensign Allen W. Bain and Minneapolis (CA-36)
Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942