THE BATTLE of CAPE ESPERANCE. 11/12 October 1942
by
Marii Chernev
Used with permission. The Military Art Gallery
Ed Kaminski, Gallery Director
At 2346 Hrs on the night of 11 Oct 1942, the USS Helena, which was part of Rear-Admiral Norman Scott's Task Force 64, opens fire on the IJN Destroyer Hatsuyuki. The resulting battle with the Japanese Fleet off the critical island of Guadalcanal led to the sinking of two Japanese ships and the damage to three others. U.S. Navy casualties consisted of the Destroyer USS Duncan.
To view the Military Art Gallery web page click on the "The Battle of Cape Esperance" picture.
THE LAST BATTLE of the U.S.S. HELENA
by
Tom W. Freeman
Used with permission. William Henderson.
While assisting the occupation in the Solomon Island Campaign the USS Helena was torpedoed and sunk off New Georgia Island in the early morning of 6 July 1943.
She was later awarded the Navy Unit Citation posthumously, for gallantry in action during the Solomon Island Campaign.
To read the citation, click here.