Guadalcanal naval campaign

[Byron Angel]

"As it was Washington’s radars were unable to spot the fall of shot relative to the targets."

..... This is incorrect according to Washington's action report. Radar spotting of fall of shot was mentioned as having been done in the earlier part of the action for both main battery and secondary battery fire. In the shoot against Kirishima, it was simply noted that fall of shot was optically visible; no comment was made with respect to any inability of its FC radar to spot.

B

[Dave Saxton]

Hi Byron,

On pg 22 of the action report you will find this comment:

During the second phase (combat with Kirishima) no splashes were observed by FC (mk3) operators even though a particular attempt was made to do so.

Davis added that it was not known why this was so but speculated that it might have been that the receiver gain was set too high. It was more likely that the shells were landing within 400 yards of the target.

In the first phase splashes could be observed because the main battery was firing at a phantom radar contact. Splashes observed near the SB targets (Phase one) were 16" splashes from South Dakota falling outside of 400 yards of the target.

It is known that experienced radar operators can sometimes discriminate shell splashes and other over lapping echoes within the resolution cell on A-scopes by properly manipulating the gain of his receiver.

[Byron Angel]

..... Interesting. Missed that bit on p.22.

B

[Dod Grile]

Hi,

Actually Guadalcanal wasn't the first time that the IJN employed naval gunfire support against opposing land forces. They had done this in the NEI campaign earlier as a matter of fact.

[RF]

Hi,

Actually Guadalcanal wasn't the first time that the IJN employed naval gunfire support against opposing land forces. They had done this in the NEI campaign earlier as a matter of fact.

And also at Wake Island, which was assaulted immediately after the PH attack.

[aurora]

Shell splashes were counted optically. Lee estimated perhaps 8 hits. Some of the hits were extremely close together and probably occurred at the same time. Those shells which struck below the waterline were counted as misses.