The Battle of Savo Island was part of Guadalcanal Campaign and was fought on 9 August 1942 in the waters around Savo Island by forces of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and Allies' Guadalcanal—Tulagi invasion force composed of ships from the United States Navy (USN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN). The battle resulted in a major Allied defeat, losing four heavy cruisers. The Japanese lost no ships but failed to capitalize on the temporary strategic advantage gained from the battle, leaving the unprotected Allied transports unharmed.
Because the Japanese had the tactical initiative, their forces are listed first.
Vice Admiral Gunichi Mikawa in heavy cruiser Chokai
1 heavy cruiser
1 :
Top speed: 34.25 knots
Main battery: 10 × 8-inch
Secondary btty.: 8 × 5-inch
Anti-aircraft btty.: 8 × 25mm, 4 × 13mm
Torpedo tubes: 16 × 24-inch
1 destroyer
1 :
Top speed: 37.25 knots
Main battery: 4 × 4.7-inch
Anti-aircraft btty.: 2 × 7.7mm
Torpedo tubes: 6 × 21-inch
Rear Admiral Aritomo Gotō in heavy cruiser Aoba
4 heavy cruisers
2 : ,
2 : ,
Top speed: 33 knots
Main battery: 6 × 8-inch
Secondary btty.: 4 × 4.7-inch
Anti-aircraft btty.: 8 × 25mm, 4 × 13mm
Torpedo tubes: 8 × 24-inch
Rear Admiral Mitsuharu Matsuyama in light cruiser Tenryū
2 light cruisers
1 :
Top speed: 33 knots
Main battery: 4 × 5.5-inch
Anti-aircraft btty.: 1 × 3-inch, 2 × 13mm
Torpedo tubes: 6 × 21-inch
Top speed: 35.5 knots
Main battery: 6 × 5.5-inch
Anti-aircraft btty.: 1 × 3-inch, 2 × 13mm
Torpedo tubes: 4 × 24-inch
Rear Admiral Victor Crutchley (RN) in heavy cruiser Australia
Southern Force
Captain Howard D. Bode (USN) in heavy cruiser Chicago
3 heavy cruisers
2 / Kent-subclass: ,
Top speed: 31.5 knots
Main battery: 8 × 8-inch guns
Secondary btty.: 8 × 4-inch
Anti-aircraft btty.: 8 × 2-pounder, 8 × 50-cal.
Torpedo tubes: 8 × 21-inch
1 :
Top speed: 32.7 knots
Main battery: 9 × 8-inch guns
Secondary btty.: 8 × 5-inch/25-cal. dual-purpose
2 destroyers
2 destroyers: ,
Top speed: 36.5 knots
Main battery: 4 × 5-inch/38-cal.
Anti-aircraft btty.: 4 × 1.1-inch
Torpedo tubes: 16 × 21-inch
Northern Force
Captain Frederick L. Riefkohl (USN) in heavy cruiser Vincennes
3 heavy cruisers
All : , ,
Top speed: 32.7 knots
Main battery: 9 × 8-inch guns
Secondary btty.: 8 × 5-inch/25-cal. dual-purpose
2 destroyers
1 :
1 :
Top speed: 36.5 knots
Main battery: 4 × 5-inch/38-cal.
Anti-aircraft btty.: 4 × 1.1-inch
Torpedo tubes: 16 × 21-inch