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November 14,1942. Naval battle
alledan
Member Posts: 19,541
November 14, 15 1942To: The Navy Department Ref: The sinking of the Japanese((Kirishima)) and the loss of United States ships "Preston" and "Walke" U.S.S. South Dakota BB57 "GUADALCANAL"1942My name is Henry Stewart, 1 was a crew member of the United States ship South Dakota for four years. My rank was Radioman 2/C I was CDR. Archibald E. Uehlinger Radioman, our battlestations were high up in the super structure in (Second Con.) our view was prefect.This is the truth, and the way it all happen, if you care to know the truth, we were there.Our task, was running interference for a fast "Carrier", (The U.S.S. Interprise). This novel assignment for a Battleship produced the "Battle of Santa Cruz" on October twenty-six wherein we preserved the carrier from the heaviest air attack ever visited upon a Battlewagon, shooting down at least thirty-eight Jap aircraft. The taste of victory was sweet with officers and men of our ship, which cannot as yet be named for security reasons, as we hauled off to the southwest. The Capt. had shrapnel wound in his neck received at Santa Cruz, but recovered promptly, but his arm had to be put into a sling..The officers, many of them reservists, and the crew, 60 per cent boots, were honing for action after Santa Cruz, but spoiling as they were for a fight, I doubt if any foresaw the truth that fact was without precedent, no other American Battleship ever having fought twice within that brief span of time, it helped give our great ship its reputation, as phrased by leading officers of being "One of the most extraordinary Battleships in American History".We were ordered north in response to reports that heavy enemy concentrations were moving toward Guadalcanal from the north and northwest. On the night of November twelfth-thirteen, the enemy had made a stab in force toward Guadalcanal that was the night Rear Adm. Norman Scott and Rear Adm. Daniel Callaghan lost their lives and the Cruiser San Francisco led a gallant column against superior forces, we won the action, turning the enemy back.Our outfit arrived on the third night, whipping up after sundown from a rendezvous out of sight of Jap observers on Guadalcanal. Our own air scouts reported that the "Nips" forces moving south that afternoon contained two battleships, eight to ten cruisers, a great number of destroyers and more then twenty transports. The numerical odds were plenty long against us. It seemed possible and this we hoped that the enemy comanders believed he had disposed of whatever formidable United States strength might be in the vicinty and had now only to fight his way through a thin line and land his troops on Guadalcanal. We ask only a slight advantage of surprise to help even up the enemy's strength in ships. As it turned out, we did have some luck, but luck in war is always earned.Guadalcanal, running east and west, forms one side of a "V.' with Florida Island .. Admiral Lee, who was in "Washington" skillfully baited a trap. We had swept up to the west of Guadalcanal and we held our course northward until we passed "Savo" on our starboard.It was a pitch black night. Off in the northwest were gun flashes, indicating that some of ourforces surface or air, were attacking the transports.Passing "Savo", we headed southeast toward "Henderson Field", traversing the "V". having seen neither hide nor hair of the enemy thus far, We slowed down so as not to be too early at the meeting place appointed by ourselves, and we began reproaching the enemyThe Japs, however, was not very late, and as we headed out toward the open sea between "Savo"Island and Esperance our observers spied him. Strange ships were apparent to the east, southof "Savo". The Japs had been following us around Savo, but he seemed unaware of our presence.We reported by radio to the Admiral and the answer came back,(Fire when you are ready.)Our first two salvos hit both targets. A orange glow appeared in the center of each, black smoke rose and soon one of them burst into leaping flames.Before sighting this formation, radio operators had identified thirteen enemy talkers and I could almost swear one was a woman, since some of the talkers were no doubt ashore in the Jap installations on Guadalcanal....At 2252 hours: we changed course to (270). At 2316 hours we open fire and sank the "AYANAMI" At 2320 hours we had a power failure. We lost all power, a multibraker switch tripped. At 2333 hours all power was restored... At the time of the power outage, CDR. Uehlinger and I saw the "Washington" open fire to her starboard, The "Preston" a destroyer was hit and burning. and to us it looked as if the "Washington's fire" had caused the accident. I was told by Commander Uehlinger to forget what we just saw. The next day I told a friend in my division, Frank Romanek about what happen. He said (You did'nt tell me that) That was his advise to me.At 2345 hours we were firing constantly:: rounds of sixteens and five inches ..Someone sank the "Walke DD" on "Washingtons" starboard side.. At 2358 hours "Washington" changed course to 270 degreesAt 2400 hours:: "South Dakota changed course to 180 degrees and opened fire with three (Jolly Roger) shells, sixteen inch guns hitting the "Kirishma" a Jap battleship. The ship exploded as the shells hit her at the water line amidships. The magazines exploded and it went five hundred feet into the air.The "South Dakotan tried to reach the "Washington" by radio, as we were burning bad from forty eight shell hits in our super structure, We heard nothing from "Washington" She left us burning, with many of the crew dead.. The ship fire and shore batteries had done much damage to the "South Dakota" As we retired from the battle we had sank twenty four barges loaded with troops, a Cruiser, three Destroyers and a Battlewagon.We changed course to 180 degrees with the "Benhani DD" off our port beam. .( Where was the "Washington"?? Somewhere to the west of "Savo Island", alone, she had no destroyer escort screen with her.This is the true way that it happened, If it hurts anyone, I am deeply sorry, but it is time the truth came out. I have told no one for fifty years. I hope this will correct a wrong that has been done to a Battleship X and its crew. The South Dakota..Sincerely;Henry Stewart, Radioman Second ClassU.S.S. South Dakota crewmanC.R. Div.
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I Refuse to be a VictimGrumpy old man