An expedition crew aboard the Reserach Vessel R/V Petrel discovered the sunken World War II cruiser USS Helena in the Solomon Sea in late March.
The cruiser, which is the first-ever recipient of the Navy Unit Commendation, was sunk by Japanese cruisers in July 1943, during the Battle of Kula Gulf.
Researchers aboard Paul Allen’s R/V Petrel located the cruiser 860 meters below the surface, resting on the floor of the New Georgia Sound off the coast of the Solomon Islands.
“We do these missions as testament to the brave souls who served on these ships,” said Robert Kraft, director of subsea operations for Allen. “Each ship has a story that touches families and friends of those who perished or survived. It’s gratifying to hear those stories each time we announce a new discovery.”
Over 730 of the 900 crew of USS Helena survived the sinking with help from nearby ships and coast watchers.
It took ten days of rescue efforts to rescue all of the 732 crew. When her bow rose into the air after the sinking, many of them clustered around it, only to be fired on. Two American destroyers, the USS Nicholas (DD 449) and USS Radford (DD 446) were dispatched to rescue the surviving crew.
The first group of about 275 survivors was aided by volunteers and small boats left on scene by the two destroyers. Helena’s commanding officer, Capt. Cecil, who survived the sinking, organized a small flotilla of three motor whaleboats each towing a life raft, carrying 88 men each, to a small island about 7 miles. This group was rescued the next morning by USS Owin (DD 433) and USS Woodworth (DD 460).
The second group, numbering nearly 200, clung to the slowly sinking bow of Helena. When things were looking bleak, a Navy Liberator dropped lifejackets and four rubber lifeboats. The wounded were placed aboard the lifeboats, while the able-bodied surrounded the boats and did their best to propel themselves toward a nearby island. Wind and current, however, carried them away from the island, and ever further into enemy waters. American search planes who eventually arrived could not locate the drifting flotilla, and some of the wounded began to perish under the harsh circumstances. Another night passed, and in the morning the island of Vella Lavella was within reach. Survivors landed safely on the island. Two coast watchers and loyal natives cared for the survivors as best they could, and radioed news of them to Guadalcanal.
The remaining 165 sailors took to the jungle to evade Japanese patrols. Finally, Nicholas and Radford, augmented by USS Jenkins (DD 447) and USS O’Bannon (DD 450) set off July 15, 1943 to sail further up the slot than had been attempted before. On the night of July 16, the rescue team brought out the 165 Helena men, along with 16 Chinese who had been in hiding on the island.
In addition to becoming the first-ever recipient of the Navy Unit Commendation, Helena earned the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign medal with seven stars.