In the early hours of 6 July 1943, a US force under Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth met a Japanese destroyer reinforcement run off Kolombangara, in the Solomon Islands. The battle was inconclusive: the Japanese still landed most of their troops, and the US cruiser Helena was sunk.
A night action
The US force had three light cruisers and four destroyers. The Japanese had ten destroyers, in an escort group and two transport groups. Rear Admiral Akiyama went down with his flagship, the destroyer Niizuki.1
The Japanese landed about 1,600 soldiers at Vila.2
Losses and rescue
US losses were the cruiser Helena, sunk with 168 of her crew lost. Japan lost two destroyers, the Niizuki and the Nagatsuki, which ran aground and was later destroyed by US aircraft, and suffered the higher number of casualties. The destroyers Radford and Nicholas left the scene at dawn with 745 survivors of the Helena, and more were rescued over the following days.3
Also on this day
1495: Battle of Fornovo. In the Taro valley southwest of Parma, the Holy League army tried to stop King Charles VIII of France as he marched home from Naples, the first big set-piece clash of the Italian Wars.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the Battle of Kula Gulf?
It was fought in the early hours of 6 July 1943, off the east coast of Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands, during the New Georgia campaign.
Who won the Battle of Kula Gulf?
The result was inconclusive: the US sank two destroyers, but the Japanese still landed most of their troops at Vila.
How many men were lost?
The US lost the cruiser Helena and 168 of her crew. Japan lost two destroyers and suffered the higher number of casualties.
Notes
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