Searching Iron Bottom Sound: 13 WW2 Shipwrecks off Guadalcanal

The stretch of water between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island earned its grim name, Iron Bottom Sound, in 1942, when the surface churned with fire, steel, and wreckage during the desperate naval battles of the Guadalcanal campaign. For months, American, Australian, and Japanese ships fought night actions at point-blank range in terms of traditional naval engagements. When the shooting stopped, dozens of ships lay shattered on the seabed. 

Recent deep-water expeditions have returned to these waters to discover the resting places of these vessels. Using modern sonar, remotely operated vehicles, and painstaking archival research, exploration teams set out to locate and identify long-lost wrecks—ships whose names were stamped in naval history, but whose resting places remained uncertain for decades.

The Expedition

The search focused on Iron Bottom Sound, where intense fighting occurred during key engagements, including the Battle of Savo Island, the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, and the Battle of Tassafaronga. These night battles were chaotic, often decided in minutes, and left little opportunity for rescue or recovery.

The expedition brought together maritime archaeologists, naval historians, oceanographers, and technical crews operating deep-submergence vehicles capable of descending thousands of feet. Their goal was both historical and human: to document the wrecks accurately, preserve their stories, and honor the sailors who never returned home.

Over the course of the survey, thirteen WWII shipwrecks were identified—American, Australian, and Japanese—each one a chapter in the larger Guadalcanal story.

The Ships of Iron Bottom Sound

1. USS Vincennes (CA-44)

The New Orleans-class heavy cruiser USS Vincennes (CA-44) steaming toward Guadalcanal in August 1942, bound for the coming battles in Iron Bottom Sound.

Launched: 21 April 1937

Class: New Orleans-class heavy cruiser

Unit: Task Force 62 / Cruiser Division 6

USS Vincennes was the final ship of the New Orleans-class heavy cruisers—modern, powerful treaty-era cruisers designed for speed and surface combat. Named for Vincennes, Indiana, she was laid down at Bethlehem Shipbuilding’s Fore River yard in Quincy, Massachusetts, and commissioned in early 1937. Her first years at sea were consumed by shakedown cruises, fleet exercises, and deployments that carried her from the Atlantic to the Pacific, reflecting America’s global naval commitments in the fragile years before war came.

During the late 1930s, Vincennes participated in fleet problems and Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic. They even carried gold bullion from French Morocco to the United States to help pay for Allied arms purchases—a small but evocative prelude to the conflict that would soon engulf the world. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, she was escorting convoys and quickly transitioned from neutrality duties to full wartime operations.

In 1942, Vincennes took her place in some of the Pacific War’s pivotal early battles. She screened carriers during the Doolittle Raid, helping protect the task force that launched America’s first air attack on the Japanese home islands. At Midway, she again served in a screening role, her anti-aircraft batteries and heavy guns helping to guard the carriers and later aiding survivors from the shattered carrier Yorktown.

By July 1942, Vincennes had steamed into the Guadalcanal campaign as the flagship of Task Group 62.3. Off the transport area, she provided gunfire support for the first American landings on Guadalcanal. She repelled repeated Japanese air attacks on August 7–8, claiming several enemy aircraft with her anti-aircraft batteries. At sundown on 8 August, she and her fellow cruisers Quincy and Astoria retired to patrol the northern approaches to Iron Bottom Sound, alert for the expected Japanese surface counterattack.

In the early hours of 9 August 1942, a powerful Japanese cruiser force entered Iron Bottom Sound under the cover of darkness and rain. Vincennes and the other vessels, part of the American and Australian force, were caught before they could effectively organize their defenses. Illuminated by enemy searchlights, Vincennes was struck again and again by heavy guns; within minutes, she was dead in the water, her engines and power knocked out, her decks burning.

During the savage exchange, she was hit by at least 85 shells of 8-inch and 5-inch caliber, fires raged out of control, and ammunition began to cook off in the heat of battle. Captain Frederick Riefkohl ordered the crew to abandon ship after a brutal 20-minute engagement; at about 0250 hours, Vincennes rolled over and sank into Iron Bottom Sound. Three hundred thirty-two of her crew of nearly 950 were lost that night.

Today, Vincennes lies upright on the seabed, her stern at more than a thousand meters beneath the waves—one of Iron Bottom Sound’s many silent witnesses to the ferocity of the Guadalcanal campaign. Her service and sacrifice are commemorated both at sea and ashore: she earned two battle stars for her wartime service, and memorials in her namesake city honor the men who served aboard her.

2. USS Astoria (CA-34)

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Astoria (CA-34) steaming with Task Force 16 as it closed on Tulagi in early August 1942.

Launched: 16 December 1933

Class: New Orleans-class heavy cruiser

Unit: Task Force 62

USS Astoria entered service during the interwar years and quickly became a familiar presence in the Pacific. Before World War II, she took part in fleet exercises, diplomatic port visits, and goodwill missions.

One such mission would highlight how quickly peacetime can end. In April 1939, Astoria was assigned a special diplomatic duty: transporting the ashes of Hiroshi Saitō, Japan’s former ambassador to the United States, back to his homeland. Entering Yokohama Harbor on 17 April, the cruiser flew the United States ensign at half-mast with the Japanese flag at the fore. Astoria fired a 21-gun salute, which was formally returned by the Japanese light cruiser Kiso. That afternoon, American sailors carried the ceremonial urn ashore, and funeral rites were held the following morning—a solemn moment of respect between two nations not yet at war.

With the outbreak of war in December 1941, Astoria shifted abruptly from diplomacy to combat. In early 1942, she screened U.S. aircraft carriers during raids against Japanese-held positions. She participated in the Battle of Midway, helping protect American flattops during one of the war's most decisive engagements. Though she emerged unscathed, the battle marked the beginning of a relentless operational tempo for her crew.

By August 1942, Astoria was assigned to Task Force 62 in support of the Allied landings on Guadalcanal and Tulagi—the first major offensive undertaken by U.S. forces against Japan. Along with other Allied cruisers and destroyers, she took up patrol stations north of Savo Island, guarding the vulnerable transport anchorage.

In the early hours of 9 August 1942, a Japanese cruiser force slipped into Iron Bottom Sound undetected, launching the devastating Battle of Savo Island. Astoria was illuminated and struck repeatedly by accurate shellfire at close range. Fires broke out amidships, communications failed, and casualties mounted as the crew fought desperately to save their ship.

Despite determined damage-control efforts that continued into daylight, the fires could not be contained. On 9 August 1942, USS Astoria capsized and sank. Fifty-four sailors lost their lives.

3. USS Quincy (CA-39)

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39) in New York Harbor following her final overhaul, with the British escort carrier HMS Biter (D97) visible in the background. Quincy is shown wearing her modified Measure 12 camouflage scheme.

Launched: 19 March 1935

Class: New Orleans-class heavy cruiser

Unit: Task Force 62

The heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39) was built at the Bethlehem Shipbuilding yards in Quincy, Massachusetts, and commissioned just before the storm clouds of global war fully gathered. In the years before America’s entry into World War II, Quincy served far beyond the Pacific.

She carried out Neutrality Patrols in the North Atlantic, escorted convoys, and operated as far afield as Iceland and the Caribbean as tensions mounted across Europe. After a refit at the New York Navy Yard in spring 1942, she transited the Panama Canal to the Pacific. She became the flagship of Rear Admiral Norman R. Scott, commander of U.S. cruisers assigned to the coming campaign in the Solomons.

By July 1942, Quincy had joined other ships assembling for the invasion of Guadalcanal. On the eve of the landings, she took part in a pre-invasion bombardment of Lunga Point, silencing Japanese positions and destroying installations as Marines prepared to come ashore on 7 August. Through the first days of the campaign, her guns supported the assault, and her anti-aircraft batteries helped repel Japanese air attacks.

But the gravest test was yet to come. In the early hours of 9 August 1942, while patrolling the channel between Florida Island and Savo Island in Iron Bottom Sound, Quincy and her sister cruisers were ambushed in the Battle of Savo Island. The Japanese force, expertly trained in night combat, closed with the American and Australian naval force. Searchlights snapped on, and Quincy was illuminated alongside Vincennes and Astoria. Though her captain ordered the guns to open fire, the ship was quickly struck by heavy salvoes from the cruisers Aoba, Furutaka, and Tenryū; fires broke out, and chaos ensued.

In a desperate attempt to fight back, Quincy steamed toward the Japanese column and managed to fire her main batteries, even scoring a hit on the heavy cruiser Chōkai. But the damage was already overwhelming. Shellfire and torpedoes pummeled the ship; at 02:10, incoming shells killed or wounded much of the bridge crew, including Captain Samuel N. Moore.

A torpedo strike shortly afterward silenced Quincy’s guns completely. With the cruiser rapidly flooding and down by the bow, surviving sailors abandoned ship. At 02:38, Quincy sank bow first into Iron Bottom Sound. Of her crew, 370 were killed and 167 wounded—one of the heaviest single-ship losses for the U.S. Navy that night.

In July–August 1992, the wreck of Quincy was rediscovered by an expedition led by Dr. Robert Ballard. Sitting upright on the seabed in roughly 2,000 feet of water, the ship’s bow is missing forward of her number one turret, her bridge and superstructure heavily damaged.

USS Quincy earned one battle star for her service in World War II. She rests now among the many steel monuments of Iron Bottom Sound—an enduring reminder of the price paid in the early, desperate days of the Guadalcanal campaign.

4. USS Northampton (CA-26)

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA‑26) refueling from the fleet oiler USS Cimarron (AO‑22) during preparations for the Doolittle Raid. This photograph was taken on 18 April 1942, the day the raid’s aircraft launched against Japan. By this time, Northampton’s forward smokestack had been shortened.

Launched: 5 September 1929

Class: Northampton-class cruiser

Unit: Cruiser Division 6, Task Force 67

USS Northampton was the lead ship of her class, designed under the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty as a fast, heavily armed cruiser capable of long-range operations. During the 1930s, she conducted fleet exercises across the Pacific and Atlantic, including training cruises, goodwill visits, and maneuvers that prepared her crew for the challenges of modern naval warfare.

With the outbreak of war in December 1941, Northampton shifted from peacetime operations to active combat service. She participated in early raids in the Pacific and joined Task Force 16, supporting carrier operations and providing escort duties during the initial stages of the Pacific War. Notably, she played a role in the preparations for the Doolittle Raid in April 1942.

Later in 1942, Northampton was assigned to the Guadalcanal campaign and took part in the Battle of Tassafaronga on 30 November. During this engagement, Japanese destroyers executed a devastating torpedo attack. Two torpedoes struck Northampton and, despite determined damage control, she capsized and sank. The loss of Northampton underscored the ferocity of night surface actions in the Solomons and the deadly effectiveness of the Japanese "Long Lance" torpedoes. She earned one battle star for her service.

5. USS Laffey (DD-459)

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Laffey (DD‑459) in harbor, likely at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, carrying survivors from the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV‑7), which had been sunk by a Japanese submarine on 15 September 1942. In the left background is the light cruiser USS Helena (CL‑50), with a destroyer moored alongside her starboard side.

Launched: 13 November 1941

Class: Benson-class destroyer

Unit: Destroyer Squadron 6

USS Laffey was a Benson-class destroyer, fast, heavily armed for her size, and designed to operate alongside larger cruisers and carriers in fleet actions. Named in honor of Commander Bartlett Laffey, a Medal of Honor recipient from the American Civil War, she embodied the U.S. Navy’s emphasis on multi-role destroyers capable of anti-aircraft, anti-submarine, and surface combat operations.

Shortly after commissioning, Laffey steamed into the Pacific theater amid the desperate early months of the war. In September 1942, she was assigned to Task Force 18, escorting the aircraft carrier USS Wasp (CV‑7). When Wasp was sunk by Japanese submarine I-19 on 15 September 1942, Laffey helped rescue survivors, demonstrating the US military's excellence in life-saving operations during high-risk missions compared to the Japanese. The ship likely carried these survivors to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, reflecting the harrowing conditions of wartime logistics and personnel recovery.

Laffey’s first fleet action came in the Battle of Cape Esperance on 11–12 October 1942, part of Admiral Norman Scott’s cruiser group tasked with intercepting Japanese reinforcements to Guadalcanal. Forming the van with two other destroyers, Laffey engaged the Japanese cruiser Aoba, raking her with three of her 5-inch guns, demonstrating her effectiveness in night surface combat.

In November, Laffey escorted transports from Nouméa to Lunga Point, arriving on 12 November. During the disembarkation, the task group came under a heavy air attack. On 13 November, she was placed in the van of a column of eight destroyers and five cruisers under Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan. Early in the midwatch, radar contact revealed a Japanese force of two battleships, one light cruiser, and fourteen destroyers under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, marking the start of the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

At the height of the chaotic night engagement, Laffey nearly collided with the battleship Hiei, passing within just 20 feet (6 meters) of each other. Undeterred, she launched torpedoes and raked the battleship’s bridge with all available firepower, wounding Admiral Abe and killing his chief of staff, effectively limiting Japanese command for the remainder of the battle.

Surrounded by a battleship on her stern, a second on her port beam, and the destroyers Yukikaze and Teruzuki on her port bow, Laffey fought with her remaining three main guns in a point-blank duel. A 14-inch shell from Hiei struck her, then a torpedo from Yukikaze blew off her fantail, finally putting her out of action. An explosion tore the ship apart as the order to abandon ship was passed, and she sank almost immediately.

Of the 247 crew members aboard, 59 were killed, including her commanding officer, William E. Hank, and 116 were wounded. Laffey’s extraordinary performance that night earned her the Presidential Unit Citation, a rare honor reflecting her courage and tenacity against overwhelming odds.

6. USS De Haven (DD-469)

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS De Haven (DD‑469) off Savo Island, photographed from USS Fletcher on 30 January 1943, just two days before she was lost in action.

Launched: 28 June 1942

Class: Fletcher-class destroyer

Unit: Destroyer Squadron 21

USS De Haven was a Fletcher-class destroyer, fast, heavily armed, and versatile—capable of anti-air, anti-submarine, and surface combat operations. She was named for Ensign Edwin J. De Haven, an Arctic explorer and naval officer, carrying forward a legacy of daring service.

After commissioning in late 1942, De Haven sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, and reached Tongatapu, Tonga Islands, on 28 November 1942 to escort a convoy of troopships to Guadalcanal, relieving the Marines who had been holding the island since the initial August invasion. She screened the transports off Guadalcanal from 7 to 14 December, then sailed out of Espiritu Santo and Nouméa, taking part in the ongoing Solomon Islands operations.

De Haven patrolled the Southern Solomons to intercept the nightly Japanese supply runs known as the “Tokyo Express”, and participated in two bombardments of Kolombangara Island in January 1943. Her crew had grown accustomed to high-tempo operations, alternating between escort, patrol, and shore bombardment missions under constant threat from enemy aircraft and warships.

On 1 February 1943, De Haven screened six LCTs and a seaplane tender, establishing a beachhead at Maravovo on Guadalcanal. While escorting two of the landing craft back to their base, the destroyer was warned of an impending air attack by Japanese forces supporting Operation Ke. She sighted nine enemy planes, opening fire as six dived toward her. Her gunners shot down three, but all six dropped their bombs. De Haven was struck by three bombs and further damaged by a near miss. One hit the superstructure squarely, instantly killing her commanding officer. The ship began settling rapidly and sank in Ironbottom Sound, about two nautical miles east of Savo Island. One of the LCTs she had escorted rescued survivors.

Of the crew aboard, 167 were killed and 38 wounded, a heavy loss for a ship that had been in service only a few months. Despite her brief career, USS De Haven exemplified the courage and resilience of Fletcher-class destroyers in the Pacific.

7. USS Preston (DD-379)

The U.S. Navy destroyer USS Preston (DD‑379) at Mare Island Navy Yard in 1942.

Launched: 22 February 1936

Class: Mahan-class destroyer

Unit: Destroyer Squadron 12

USS Preston was a Mahan-class destroyer. She carried a balanced armament capable of engaging surface ships, submarines, and aircraft, making her a versatile component of the U.S. Navy’s prewar fleet. Named for Samuel W. Preston, a naval officer and Medal of Honor recipient during the American Civil War, the destroyer carried forward a tradition of service and valor.

In the early months of World War II, Preston was deployed to the Pacific theater, where she joined Task Force 62 and undertook convoy escort, patrol, and screening duties. She helped safeguard troop and supply movements supporting the Allied advance in the Solomon Islands, often operating in waters threatened by Japanese air and naval forces.

Preston saw her first major combat during the Battle of Cape Esperance on 11–12 October 1942, part of efforts to interdict Japanese reinforcements moving toward Guadalcanal. Operating with Admiral Norman Scott’s cruiser group, she engaged enemy forces at night, demonstrating the increasing skill of U.S. destroyers in night surface actions.

During the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942, Preston was part of the frontline destroyer screen under Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan. She faced a Japanese force of two battleships, one light cruiser, and fourteen destroyers under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe. In the fierce, chaotic night engagement, Preston exchanged gunfire and torpedoes at point-blank range, contributing to the damage inflicted on enemy ships. Despite the bravery of her crew, she was struck multiple times and eventually sunk in Iron Bottom Sound.

8. USS Walke (DD-416)

Off Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 24 August 1942, showing the ship’s distinctive camouflage pattern.

Launched: 28 September 1939

Class: Gridley-class destroyer

Unit: Destroyer Division 8, Task Force 67

USS Walke was a Gridley-class destroyer, named for Rear Admiral Henry A. Walke, a distinguished officer of the Civil War. She reflected the Navy’s emphasis on destroyers capable of both offensive and defensive roles in fleet actions.

After commissioning, Walke conducted shakedown and training along the U.S. West Coast before deploying to the Pacific theater. She arrived in the Solomon Islands in 1942 to join operations supporting the Allied campaign to secure Guadalcanal. The destroyer performed patrol, escort, and screening duties, constantly working to protect transports and larger warships from Japanese air, surface, and submarine threats.

Walke saw action in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942, operating as part of Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan’s task force. During the chaotic night engagement against a Japanese force that included two battleships, one light cruiser, and multiple destroyers under Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe, Walke fought at close range in extremely dangerous conditions. She maneuvered aggressively, exchanging torpedoes and gunfire with superior enemy forces.

Despite a valiant defense, Walke was struck by multiple enemy shells and torpedoes, suffering catastrophic damage. Fires and explosions spread rapidly, and the crew was forced to abandon ship. Walke sank in Iron Bottom Sound, joining the many other vessels lost during the ferocious struggle for control of the waters off Guadalcanal.

Of her crew, 80 were killed, including several officers, and many others were wounded. Walke’s brief but intense service highlighted the critical role of destroyers in night engagements, convoy protection, and fleet defense during the Solomon Islands campaign, leaving a legacy of courage and sacrifice that endures among the warships of Ironbottom Sound.

9. HMAS Canberra (D33)

The Royal Australian Navy heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra (D33) departing Wellington, New Zealand, on 22 July 1942, en route to participate in the invasions of Guadalcanal and Tulagi.

Launched: 31 May 1927

Class: County-class heavy cruiser

Unit: Royal Australian Navy, Task Force 62

HMAS Canberra was a County-class heavy cruiser, originally built for the Royal Navy and later transferred to the Royal Australian Navy. Named after Australia’s capital city, she was armed with eight 8-inch guns and a robust secondary battery, designed for long-range engagements and to project naval power across the Pacific.

By mid-1942, Canberra was fully engaged in the Allied effort to secure the Solomon Islands. Departing Wellington, New Zealand, on 22 July 1942, she steamed to participate in the invasions of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, providing naval gunfire support for landing forces and guarding the task force against Japanese surface and air threats.

On 9 August 1942, during the Battle of Savo Island, Canberra was assigned to screen the Allied cruiser line against a surprise night attack by a Japanese force consisting of heavy and light cruisers. In the chaos of battle, she was heavily targeted by Japanese gunfire. Despite determined maneuvering and return fire, Canberra was struck repeatedly, suffering catastrophic damage to her hull and superstructure. Fires and flooding overwhelmed the ship, and she eventually sank, becoming one of the first major Allied warship losses in the Guadalcanal campaign.

Canberra’s sacrifice came at a high human cost: 84 crew members were killed, with many others wounded or taken prisoner. Her loss underscored the ferocity of night surface combat in the Solomons and highlighted the vulnerability of even well-armed cruisers to surprise attacks.

10. IJN Destroyer Yūdachi

The Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Yudachi, the second warship to carry that name, underway on 30 November 1936.

Launched: 30 November 1936

Class: Shiratsuyu-class destroyer

Unit: Destroyer Division 2, 2nd Fleet

The Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Yudachi was the second vessel to bear that name, a member of the Shiratsuyu class, a series of fast, heavily armed destroyers designed for night attacks and torpedo warfare. With a main battery of five 5-inch guns and formidable Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes, Yudachi was intended to operate in concert with Japan’s main battle fleet, striking Allied ships in night surface actions.

During the early months of World War II, Yudachi participated in operations throughout the Pacific, including escort duties, anti-submarine patrols, and engagements against Allied forces in the Solomons. She was present during multiple key actions of the Guadalcanal campaign, including night battles where Japanese destroyers sought to reinforce and resupply their troops via the “Tokyo Express” runs.

On 9 August 1942, Yudachi took part in the Battle of Savo Island, one of the first major surface actions around Guadalcanal. She engaged Allied cruisers, contributing to the surprise Japanese victory that night. Yudachi’s aggressive maneuvering, torpedo attacks, and coordinated firepower exemplified the Japanese Navy’s tactical doctrine of fast, decisive night strikes.

Her service ended on 12 November 1943 during the Battle of Cape St. George, when American destroyers sank her in a night engagement. Despite her loss, Yudachi demonstrated the lethal capability of Japanese destroyers in night operations and the dangers faced by Allied ships in the early Solomon Islands campaign.

11. Unidentified Japanese Landing Barge

I was hard-pressed to find photos of what this could've been. However, these barges were likely used during resupply missions to Guadalcanal; this wreck reflects the desperate logistics of the campaign. Japanese barges braved air and naval attack nightly to deliver troops and supplies—many never made it ashore.

12. USS New Orleans (CA-32)

Launched: 12 April 1933

Class: New Orleans-class heavy cruiser

Unit: Task Force 67

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (CA‑32) navigating a sharp turn in Elliot Bay, Washington, on 30 July 1943, following repairs and overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

USS New Orleans was a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser, heavily armed with nine 8-inch guns and designed to balance firepower, armor, and speed within the constraints of the Washington Naval Treaty. She served as a versatile warship, capable of long-range fleet operations, convoy escort, and shore bombardment missions.

By 1942, New Orleans had already participated in key early Pacific campaigns, including the Battle of Tassafaronga off Guadalcanal on 30 November 1942. During the battle, she was heavily damaged by Japanese torpedoes, losing steering and suffering extensive flooding. Despite the damage, her crew’s skillful damage control efforts kept her afloat, allowing her to withdraw to port for repairs. Her resilience in this engagement became legendary, earning the ship recognition for outstanding performance under fire.

Following temporary repairs in the Solomons, New Orleans steamed to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a full overhaul, returning to the Pacific in mid-1943. On 30 July 1943, she was photographed navigating a tight turn in Elliot Bay, Washington, after completing repairs and modernization work. The overhaul improved her survivability, anti-aircraft armament, and overall combat readiness, preparing her for continued service in major Pacific operations.

Throughout World War II, New Orleans participated in numerous pivotal campaigns, including the Marianas, Leyte Gulf, and the Philippines, providing naval gunfire support, carrier screening, and surface action capability. Her robust design and crew proficiency allowed her to withstand repeated engagements, cementing her reputation as one of the U.S. Navy’s most durable and effective cruisers.

USS New Orleans earned 17 battle stars for her service in the Pacific War, reflecting her long and distinguished combat record and her critical role in the island-hopping campaigns that led to Allied victory.

Read My Blog On the Discovery Of Her Bow

13. IJN Destroyer Teruzuki

IJN Destroyer Akizuki, the lead of her class, seen here in 1941.

Launched: 21 June 1942

Class: Akizuki-class destroyer

Unit: 10th Destroyer Squadron

The Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Teruzuki was an Akizuki-class destroyer, built for high-speed fleet escort and anti-aircraft defense. She was heavily armed with eight 3.9-inch dual-purpose guns, designed to protect carriers and larger warships from air and surface threats while remaining fast and maneuverable.

Teruzuki saw early service throughout the Pacific, performing escort, patrol, and night-fighting operations. She was involved in numerous engagements in the Solomon Islands, protecting Japanese transport and reinforcement convoys attempting to supply troops during the Guadalcanal campaign.

On 12 November 1943, during operations in the Solomons, Teruzuki was attacked by U.S. destroyers in a night engagement. Struck by torpedoes and naval gunfire, she was sunk, demonstrating both the lethality of Allied destroyer tactics and the dangers faced by Japanese warships attempting to reinforce isolated garrisons. Her loss marked the end of a short but active operational life, reflecting the intensity and attrition of naval warfare in the Solomon Islands.

In December 2023, the wreck of Teruzuki was located, 83 years after her sinking, providing a rare opportunity to study a Japanese destroyer lost in World War II. The discovery highlighted the durability of her design and the enduring interest in the naval history of the Pacific theater.

Read My Blog On Her Discovery

The Importance of Underwater Discovery

The discovery of these 13 shipwrecks in Iron Bottom Sound offers a profound window into the ferocity and human cost of the Guadalcanal campaign. Each vessel—whether a U.S. Navy cruiser like Vincennes or New Orleans, a destroyer such as Laffey or De Haven, the Royal Australian cruiser Canberra, or Japanese warships like Yudachi and Teruzuki—carries its own story of bravery, sacrifice, and the relentless pressures of naval warfare in the Pacific.

By exploring and documenting these sites, historians, archaeologists, and naval enthusiasts not only preserve the memory of those who served but also gain invaluable insight into the strategies, technologies, and conditions of World War II naval combat. Iron Bottom Sound remains a sacred underwater battlefield.

The legacy of these 13 shipwrecks endures, connecting the past to the present and reminding us of the courage, resilience, and ultimate sacrifice of all who served in the crucible of the Pacific War.

Sources

1. EABaker. (n.d.). Teruzuki wreck discovered: Japanese WWII destroyer found 83 years after sinking. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://www.eabaker.org/post/teruzuki-wreck-discovered-japanese-wwii-destroyer-found-83-years-after-sinking

2. EABaker. (n.d.). Torn off at Tassafaronga: The night USS New Orleans almost died. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://www.eabaker.org/post/torn-off-at-tassafaronga-the-night-uss-new-orleans-almost-died

3. U.S. Navy. (2023, December 13). Expedition reveals thirteen shipwrecks from WWII battles off Guadalcanal. U.S. Department of Defense. https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/display-news/Article/4272152/expedition-reveals-thirteen-shipwrecks-from-wwii-battles-off-guadalcanal/

4. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). HMAS Canberra (D33). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Canberra_(D33)

5. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Japanese destroyer Teruzuki (1941). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_destroyer_Teruzuki_(1941)

6. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Japanese destroyer Yūdachi (1936). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_destroyer_Y%C5%ABdachi_(1936)

7. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS Astoria (CA-34). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Astoria_(CA-34)

8. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS De Haven (DD-469). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_De_Haven_(DD-469)

9. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS Laffey (DD-459). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Laffey_(DD-459)

10. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS New Orleans (CA-32). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_New_Orleans_(CA-32)

11. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS Northampton (CA-26). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Northampton_(CA-26)

12. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS Preston (DD-379). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Preston_(DD-379)

13. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS Quincy (CA-39). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Quincy_(CA-39)

14. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS Vincennes (CA-44). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vincennes_(CA-44)

15. Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). USS Walke (DD-416). In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 16, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Walke_(DD-416)

Images

1. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). View from the Japanese cruiser Chōkai during the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_from_the_Japanese_cruiser_Chokai_during_the_Battle_of_Savo_Island_on_9_August_1942.jpg

2. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). Akizuki [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Akizuki.jpg

3. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). HMAS Canberra (D33) leaving Wellington, New Zealand, on 22 July 1942 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HMAS_Canberra_(D33)_leaving_Wellington,_New_Zealand,_on_22_July_1942_(80-G-13454-A).jpg

4. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS Astoria (CA-34) underway in August 1942 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Astoria_(CA-34)_underway_in_August_1942.jpg

5. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS De Haven (DD-469) off Savo Island, January 1943 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_De_Haven_(DD-469)_off_Savo_Island,_January_1943.jpg

6. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS Laffey (DD-459) in harbour with survivors of USS Wasp (CV-7) on board, in September 1942 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Laffey_(DD-459)_in_harbour_with_survivors_of_USS_Wasp_(CV-7)_on_board,_in_September_1942_(NH_97865).jpg

7. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS New Orleans (CA-32) underway in Puget Sound on 30 July 1943 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_New_Orleans_(CA-32)_underway_in_Puget_Sound_on_30_July_1943_(NH_94847).jpg

8. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS Northampton (CA-26) refueling from USS Cimarron (AO-22) in April 1942 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Northampton_(CA-26)_refueling_from_USS_Cimarron_(AO-22)_in_April_1942.jpg

9. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS Preston DD 379 at Mare Island [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Preston_DD_379_at_Mare_Island.jpg

10. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS Quincy (CA-39) in New York harbour on 23 May 1942 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Quincy_(CA-39)_in_New_York_harbour_on_23_May_1942_(19-N-30731).jpg

11. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS Vincennes (CA-44) in the Solomons, 1942 [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Vincennes_(CA-44)_in_the_Solomons_1942.jpg

12. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). USS Walke (DD-416) [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USSWalkeDD416_h97911.jpg

13. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. (n.d.). Yudachi II [Photograph]. Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yudachi_II.jpg