Underdog Battles 1: Battle of Tassafaronga

Everybody loved an underdog story. You know, the story about some men / women who defies all odds and triumphs in the end? Hollywood make plenty of that.

But who need fictions if our military history is so rich with such tale? Here I will write some of my personal favorite underdog battles, and NO, I will NEVER include Leonidas' "Battle of Thermopylae." That battle sucks compared to other underdog battles, because Leonidas and his 299 soldiers were wiped out! None of that happened in the underdog battles, I am about to write. These are going to be the true underdog stories when the underdogs managed to outwit or outfight their smug opponent.

Battle of Tassafaronga

Where and When: Nearby Guadalcanal, 30/11/1942

Who: US Navy vs Tokyo Express

Background:
Pacific War is one of the most epic war in our history. Basically, the first phase of the war is the Japanese kicked everyone's ass in December 1941-mid 1942, followed by "Turning Point" during August 1942 - February 1943, and ended by the "US Navy whooped the Japanese' ass back to Japan" phase (February 1943 - August 1945.)

Map of Solomon Islands

This is a story that happened during the "Turning Point": The Guadalcanal campaign. (In the Map on the right Guadalcanal located nearby the Feb 9, 1943 line, on the bottom-right of the map.)

Like the name "Turning Point" implied, this phase is the time when the Imperial Japanese Navy and the US Navy fought at equal footing for ca. 6 months. The Japanese try to drive out the Americans who landed their Marines there at 7th of August 1942 while the Americans were determined to hold the island. This resulted in land, aerial, and naval battles from 7/8/1942 - 9/2/1943.

During broad daylight, it is hard to contest the US aerial and naval supremacy around Guadalcanal. US bombers could bomb any incoming Japanese ship from the sky since they managed to build an aerodrome, Henderson Fields, on the island. Even when the Japanese could slipped their transport ships during the night, these slow ships fell victim to the bombers in the next morning. The Japanese need a creative way to supply their troops on the island.

That's why they created the "Rat Transportation." The US called this "Tokyo Express." In essence, their plan was to put all the food, ammunitions, and other supplies on large drums, carried by fast destroyers. Those destroyers would slip through darkness, botched the drums, and return to the Japanese base as fast as possible, while the Japanese troops grabbed those floating drums.

Of course the US didn't let this happened so easily. The US routinely patrolled the sea around Guadalcanal with their warships. The Tokyo Express repeatedly bumped into these ships, the Battle of Tassafaronga was one of such encounter, occurred during the night of the 30th of November 1942.


The US Navy vs Imperial Japanese Navy
There were stark differences between the US and Imperial Japanese Navy of that time.

First was the way they conducted night naval battle. The Japanese navy trained hard before and during the war in storm-infested seas of North Pacific. This training gave them a crucial edge during the first phase of the campaign, especially during the first battle, "The Battle of Savo Island" when they managed to sink 4 US and Australian Cruisers without losing one ship. The americans however catch-up with them, not with training, but with new technology: radar. The Japanese also had radar, but theirs was very primitive in comparison with the US. So, the Japanese basically used optical equipments to aim their shot, while the US already start practicing with radars.

Second was how they fight. The US put primacy in cannons/guns, while the Japanese became the best torpedo operators in the world of that time. It is harder to avoid guns, but torpedo could cause far more damage when it hits. In other words, In point blank battle, torpedoes trumps guns, while guns is superior in long range battle. The US really neglected their torpedo so bad that most of the time their torpedo didn't explode after they hit OR they exploded prematurely. The Japanese torpedo of that time was the best torpedo on earth, infamous "Type 93" or the "Long Lance". It had at least double the range, speed, and explosives in comparison with the US torpedoes.

Third, the US had another advantage: they had superior intelligence. First, they already deciphered the Japanese communication of that time. Second, the US got tons of information about the Japanese fleet movements from indigenous coastwatchers that lived on Islands Northwest of Guadalcanal.


The Opposing Forces
During that night, the US forces was superior, since they had 5 Cruisers and 4 destroyers, led by Rear Admiral Carleton H. Wright. He faced the Japanese Tokyo Express which brought 8 destroyers, led by Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka.

The combat capability of the Japanese was also reduced by the fact that 6 destroyers carried hundreds of drums. Not only they had to fight with deck crowded with drums, they also had to reduce their torpedoes. That means only 2 out of 8 destroyers were at full-combat-capability.

Admiral Wright battle-plan was simple: let the radar-equipped destroyer scout ahead to locate the enemy. Once the Japanese fleet was located, the destroyer could launch their torpedoes and retreat, while the cruisers used their superior guns, bombarded the Japanese ship from afar.

On the other hand, Tanaka himself was not aware that his enemies intels already made sure that his arrival was no surprise. He still counted on surprise since he knew that his destroyers could hardly faced the US Cruisers.


The Battle
When the Tokyo Express arrived in Guadalcanal's water, they sailed directly to their dropping point, unaware of the trap. Wright's scout destroyer spotted the Japanese first. Their commanders asked for permission to launch their torpedoes, but Wright hesitated for 2 minutes before complaining about the range. The commander reply that he got no problem with range. Wright hesitated for another 2 minutes before he gave his permission, and at the same time ordered his cruisers to open fire too. 


At the same time when Wright hesitated, the Japanese finally spotted the US ships with their eyes. and reacted with vigorous response. They canceled their unloading operation, turned back 180 degree, and shot all their torpedoes. 

When the US destroyers launched their torpedoes, it was too late. At that time, the range was already too far to be overcame by the torpedoes, hence no damage was done by them. Their guns on the other hand, concentrated on the nearest ship, the destroyer Takanami. Poor Takanami was swiftly devastated by the bombardment.

But wait! The Japanese "Long Lance"s scored some hits! Four out of five US Cruisers were ripped by them, including Wright's ship, USS Minneapolis. Those explosions understandably created chaos among the US ships. The machine gunners in one Cruiser even mistakenly strafed 2 US Destroyers!

Tanaka himself tried to contact Takanami, but he gave up when 2 other destroyers report they saw that Takanami was already a burning wreck at that time, and the US already approached them. Tanaka hit the gas and return to his headquarter, leaving 1 US cruiser sinking, and 3 other Cruisers heavily damaged.

In the end, the Japanese lost 1 destroyer, while the US lost 4 cruisers: 1 was sunk, another 3 were heavily damaged.

The Aftermath

Despite losing this battle, the Americans tightened their grip on Guadalcanal. The Japanese evacuated from the island in February 1943.

American admirals praised Tanaka for his victory, but Tanaka said that this battle was won by his crews, not by him.

Wright got a Navy Cross for his bravery during this battle, but after that he was relegated into shore duty in Washington.

The US haven't realize the full capability of the Japanese Long Lance. Wright even thought that some Japanese submarines torpedoed his Cruisers.


Next Underdog Battle: Battle of Watling Street