Battle Of Empress Augusta Bay

TUE 2 NOV 1943
Pacific
Battle of Empress Augusta Bay* is fought during darkness as TF 39, comprising four light cruisers and eight destroyers (Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill), intercepts and turns back a Japanese force of two heavy and two light cruisers and six destroyers (Rear Admiral Omori Sentaro) steaming to attack transports off Bougainville, Solomons. Light cruiser Denver (CL-58) is damaged by 8-inch gunfire; destroyer Foote (DD-511) by torpedo; and destroyer Spence (DD-512) by gunfire and collision with destroyer Thatcher (DD-514). Destroyers Charles Ausburne (DD-570), Spence (DD-512), Dyson (DD-572), Claxton (DD-571), and Stanly (DD-478) sink Japanese destroyer Hatsukaze (already damaged in collision with heavy cruiser Myoko); U.S. gunfire sinks light cruiser Sendai and damages heavy cruisers Myoko and Haguro. Destroyers Shiratsuyu and Samidare are damaged in collision during this night surface action. Japanese planes attack TF 39 during its retirement from the scene of battle, damaging light cruiser Montpelier (CL-57).

Carrier task force TF 38 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) attacks enemy airfields in Buka area, Solomons.

Submarine Haddock (SS-231) engages Japanese submarine chaser Ch 28, 09°12'N, 150°13'E, but neither side damages the other.

Submarines Seahorse (SS-304), Halibut (SS-232), and Trigger (SS-237), each operating independently of the other, attack Japanese convoy south of Honshu; Seahorse sinks transport Chihaya Maru, 29°31'N, 134°50'E, and army cargo ship Yawata Maru, 28°30'N, 135°35'E; Halibut sinks army cargo ship Ehime Maru, 28°40'N, 135°35'E; Trigger sinks army transport Delagoa Maru, 28°30'N, 135°35'; Seahorse or Trigger sinks army cargo ship Ume Maru, 28°40'N, 135°35'E.

USAAF B-25s, escorted by P-38s, raid airfields and harbor at Rabaul, sinking Japanese stores ship Manko Maru and damaging heavy cruisers Haguro and Myoko, destroyer Shiratsuyu, stores ship Hayasaki, and minesweeper W.26.

Atlantic
Destroyer Borie (DD-215), damaged in battle with U-405 the previous day (during which the destroyer had rammed the enemy submarine), 1,000 miles east of Cape Race, Newfoundland, is scuttled by TBF (VC 9) from escort carrier Card (CVE-11), 50°12'N, 30°48'W after attempt to scuttle Borie with gunfire, by destroyer Barry (DD-248), fails.

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*"Also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle of Bougainville Bay Shore" it is claimed.