Quiz #6
Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 26 March 1943. RAdm Charles H McMorris leading a small American force with cruisers Salt Lake City and Richmond and four destroyers was patrolling south of the Russian Komandorski Islands to intercept any Japanese convoys heading for Attu or Kiska. They spotted and chased a Japanese force which turned out to have four cruisers, including Nachi and Maya, four destroyers and two transports under the command of VAdm Bushiro Hosogaya. Sending the two transports away, Hosogaya turned and chased the Americans, with his superior gun power. Salt Lake City scored several hits on Nachi, but then was hit herself and temporarily stopped. The accompanying destroyers covered her with smoke and started a torpedo attack which encouraged a Japanese withdrawal. This tactical draw was the last daylight surface engagement of the war, and the failure to deliver supplies to the Aleutian garrison cost the Japanese admiral his job.
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