Battle of Tassafaronga

Battle of Tassafaronga.
The Battle of Tassafaronga was fought on the night of November 30, 1942, between US Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy warships near Tassafaronga Point on the Pacific island of Guadalcanal. Five cruisers and four destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Carleton H. Wright (pictured) stalked eight Japanese destroyers under Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka that were en route to deliver food to their forces on the island. Using radar, the US warships gained surprise, opened fire, and sank one of the destroyers. Tanaka's ships reacted quickly, launching Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes that sank one US cruiser and heavily damaged three others. The rest of Tanaka's force escaped without significant additional damage, abandoning the intended supply mission. The battle had little strategic impact, and the Japanese were unable to recapture Guadalcanal from Allied forces.