Reference Entry
BATTLE OF THE KOMANDORSKI ISLANDS
In the Second World War, the Aleutian Islands campaign unfolded in harsh seas and fog, far from the better-known fronts of Europe and the central Pacific. On March 26th, 1943, an American cruiser-destroyer force under Rear Admiral Charles McMorris intercepted a Japanese convoy near the Komandorski Islands, northwest of the Aleutians. The enemy escort included heavier cruisers, giving the Japanese an advantage in guns and armor.
Dated Historical Context
A RECORDED MOMENT IN HISTORY
Battle of the Komandorski Islands
In the Second World War, the Aleutian Islands campaign unfolded in harsh seas and fog, far from the better-known fronts of Europe and the central Pacific. On March 26th, 1943, an American cruiser-destroyer force under Rear Admiral Charles McMorris intercepted a Japanese convoy near the Komandorski Islands, northwest of the Aleutians. The enemy escort included heavier cruisers, giving the Japanese an advantage in guns and armor. Over several hours of long-range gunnery, the United States flagship USS Salt Lake City was hit and badly damaged, yet American ships maneuvered skillfully, laid smoke, and launched torpedo attacks to keep the enemy off balance. In the end, the Japanese commander chose to break off and withdraw rather than risk further damage, leaving his convoy to turn back as well. The battle ensured that Japanese garrisons on Attu and Kiska would remain cut off, setting the stage for later American landings to retake those remote islands.
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