Missing image Japanese_cruiser_Haguro_at_Rabaul.jpg Japanese cruiser Haguro at Rabaul Haguro under attack at Rabaul on 2 November 1943, showing damage received at Empress Augusta Bay that morning
Battle of Empress Augusta Bay
Conflict	World War II, Pacific War
Date	1 – 2 November 1943
Place	Off Bougainville in the Solomon Islands
Result	Decisive American victory
Combatants United States Japan Commanders Aaron S. Merrill Sentaro Omori Strength 4 cruisers, 8 destroyers 4 cruisers, 6 destroyers Casualties 1 destroyer damaged 1 cruiser sunk, 1 damaged, 1 destroyer sunk, 1 damaged
Solomon Islands campaign Guadalcanal – Savo – Eastern Solomons – Cape Esperance – Santa Cruz – Naval Guadalcanal – Tassafaronga – Rennell – Blackett Strait – New Georgia – Kula – Kolombangara – Vella – Horaniu – Vella Lavella – Bougainville – Empress Augusta Bay – Cape St. George

The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II fought on the night of 1 November, 1943 near the island of Bougainville in the Solomon Islands.

On 1 November 1943 the Americans landed a large amphibious force on Bougainville. The Japanese responded by dispatching a powerful force from Rabaul commanded by Admiral Sentaro Omori: heavy cruisers Myoko and Haguro, light cruisers Agano and Sendai, and destroyers Shigure, Samidare, Shiratsuyu, Naganami, Hatsukaze, and Wakasuki.

The Americans evacuated most of their landing craft and troop transports and lay in wait with a force of four light cruisers (Montpelier, Cleveland, Columbia, and Denver) and eight destroyers (Charles Ausburne, Dyson, Stanley, Claxton, Spence, Thatcher, Converse, and Foote) commanded by Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill. They made radar contact at 02:30 on 2 November 1943 and Merill dispatched his destroyers foward for a torpedo attack, after which his cruisers would open fire from a safe distance. The destroyers were seen by the Japanese, who dodged the torpedoes, but their evasive manoeuvres threw them out of formation.

At around 02:50 the American cruisers opened fire, quickly disabling Sendai. The destroyer Samidare launched a torpedo attack but in doing so collided with Shiratsuyu. Myoko collided with the destroyer Hatsukaze, slicing off her bows. The Japanese deficiency in radar meant that they a great deal of difficulty finding the American cruisers, but at 03:13 they made contact and opened fire.

Merrill turned away under cover of smoke, and Omori, believing that he had sunk a heavy cruiser, considered that he had done enough and turned away to the east. The damaged Sendai and Hatsukaze were found and sunk by gunfire.

External links

• Description by Vincent O'Hara (http://www.microworks.net/pacific/battles/empress_augusta_bay.htm)
• Order of battle (http://www.navweaps.com/index_oob/OOB_WWII_Pacific/OOB_WWII_Augusta-Bay.htm)