The following copy of this pamphlet provided by Charles McClelland. S1c. USS Helena CL-50. 1941 - 1943.
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FRONT COVER
ABBREVIATIONS CAN BE FOUND ON PAGE 10
U.S.S. HELENA LAUNCHED AT NEW YORK NAVY YARD COMMISSIONED AT NEW YORK NAVY YARD SUNK IN ENEMY ACTION AT COMMANDING OFFICERS
CAPTAIN M. B. DEMOTT, USN *CAPTAIN R. H. ENGLISH, USN *CAPTAIN O. M. READ, USN *CAPTAIN G. C. HOOVER, USN *CAPTAIN C. P. CECIL, USN * LATER PROMOTED TO REAR ADMIRAL |
ACTION NO: 1 PEARL HARBOR FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: CASUALTIES: |
JAPAN: CASULTIES: LOST 29 PLANES (S) 5 MIDGETR SUBS |
PAGES 1 and 2
ACTION NO: 2 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: TWO TASK FORCES |
JAPAN |
ACTION NO: 3 BATTLE OF CAPE ESPERANCE TIME: 2346 11 OCTOBER 1942 FORCES ENGAGED U.S: (HD) CA SALT LAKE CITY (HD) CL BOISE (S) DD DUNCAN (D) DU FARENHOLT ACTION NO: 4 FORCES ENGAGED U.S:
(HD) CA CHESTER ACTION NO: 5 FORCES ENGAGED U.S: |
JAPAN: (K) RADM GOTO (HD CA AOBA (F) (S) CA FURITAKA (S) DD FUBuki (D) DD Hatsuyki SS I-176 |
PAGES 3 and 4
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ACTION NO: 6 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: ACTION NO: 7 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: |
JAPAN: 25 VT BETTYS 24 LOST U. S. CONTINUED: DMS HOVEY DMS SOUTHARD AP CRESCENT CITY AP NC CAW LEY (F) AP PRESIDENT ADAMS AP PRESIDENT JACKSON AKA BETELGEUSE AKA LIBRA |
ACTION NO: 8 BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL TYPE ACTION: NIGHT SURFACE ENGAGEMENT LOCATION: 8 MILES NW OF LUNGA POINT TIME: 0148 13 NOVEMBER 1942 FORCES ENGAGED U.S: ACTION NO: 9 TIME: 1109 13 NOVEMBER 1942 FORCES ENGAGED U.S: |
JAPAN: VADM ABE RADM KIMURA RADM TAKAMA (S)* BB HIEI (FF) (D) BB KIRISHIMA (D) CL NAGARA (F) (S) DD AKATSUKI (D) DD AMATSUKAZE DD ASAGUMO (F) DD HARUSAME (HD) DD IKAZUCHI DD INAZUMA (HD) DD MURASAME DD SAMIDARE DD TERUZUKI (S) DD YUDACHI DD YUKIKAZE *Foundered following night 5 miles NE Savo Island JAPAN: SS 1-26 |
PAGES 5 and 6
ACTION NO: 10 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: ACTION NO: 11 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: |
JAPAN: 6 VB VALS 3 LOST |
ACTION NO: 12 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: ACTION NO: 13 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: RADM AINSWORTH |
JAPAN: UNKNOWN NO. of VTS |
PAGES 7 and 8
ACTION NO: 14 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: MINE LAYING GROUP: ACTION NO: 15 FORCES ENGAGED
U.S: |
JAPAN: 2 DDs |
ACTION NO: 16 BATTLE OF KULA GULF TYPE ACTION: NIGHT SURFACE ENGAGEMENT LOCATION: 8 MILES NE OF TUKI POINT, TIME: 0154 6 JULY 1943 FORCES ENGAGED U.S: ABBREVIATIONS ADM = ADMIRAL |
JAPAN: (K) RADM AKI YAMA (D) DD AMAGIRI (D) DD HATSUYUKI (S) DD NAGATSUKI (S) DD NIIZUKI (F) DD SATSUKI (HD) DD SUZUKASE (D) DD TANIKASE (D) DD MOCHIZUKI ABBREVIATIONS CV = AIRCRAFT CARRIER BB = BATTLESHIP CA = HEAVY CRUISER CL = LIGHT CRUSIER CLAA = LIGHT CRUSIER DD = DESTROYER SS = SUBMARINE CM = MINELAYER DM = DESTROYER MINE- AG = TARGET SHIP AKA = CARGO SHIP AP = TRANSPORT AR = REPAIR SHIP AV = SEAPLANE TENDER |
PAGES 9 and 10
BOX SCORE OF DAMAGE INFLICTED BY U.S. AND
FOUR OF THE EIGHT ADMIRALS PARTICIPATING IN THE ACTIONS WERE KILLED THE GAME WAS FOR KEEPS! |
PAGE 11
"THE FIGHTIN'EST SHIP"
SERVICE ROUNDS FIRED BY USS HELENA IN ENEMY ACTIONS *ESTIMATED
AT THE TIME OF THE SINKING OF THE HELENA, IT WAS ACKNOWLEDGED |
PAGE 12
On 20 December 1944, the Secretary of the Navy with the approval of the President of the United States CITATION
"For outstanding heroism in action against enemy
Japanese forces afloat in the Solomon Islands -
New Georgia Areas. Gallantly carrying the fight to the enemy, the USS HELENA opened the night Battle of Cape Espereance on 11-12 October 1942 boldly sending her fire into the force of enemy warships, sinking a hostile destroyer and holding to a minimum the damage to our destroyers in the rear of the Task Force. She engaged at close quarters a superior force of hostile combatant ships in the Battle of Guadalcanal on the night of 12-13 November 1942, rallying our own forces after the Flag Ship had been disabled and contributing to the enemy's defeat. In her final engagement in the pre-dawn battle of 5-6 July 1943, the HELENA valiantly sailed down the restricted and submarine-infested waters of Kula Gulf under the terrific torpedo and gun fire of the enemy to bombard Kolombangara and New Georgia while covering the landing of our troops at Rice Anchorage, and twenty-four hours later, her blazing guns aided in the destruction of a vastly superior enemy naval force before she was fatally struck by Japanese torpedos. Her brave record of combat achievement is evidence of the HELENA'S intrepidity and the heroic fighting spirit of her officers and men.
made the first award of the newly created NAVY UNIT COMMENDATION to the USS HELENA.