Visions

Visions -

Images of what it was like

This page contains images, with appropriate credits, as to what it might have looked like during a night action that the Atlanta, Juneau and other ships were involved in.

	View of a 1.1 inch mount during a night action in the Solomon's. The USS Atlanta/Juneau both had 4 mounts of these 1.1 inch AA guns. This is a scene that their crews would have seen. Taken from the book "This is Guadalcanal -The official Combat Photography".
	This is a photo of 5" gun fire during a night action in the Solomons, Oct 21 1943. Photographed by PhoM1/c Glenn Reed, USNR
	Titled "His Battle Station" displays the senselessness and horror of war. I selected this photo because my father always said he saw an exact scene aboard the Atlanta after the battle. The Atlanta had two 20mm mounts forward of the bridge that were completely destroyed! Photographed by PhoM1/c Arthur Green USCGR
	Interior compartment of the Light Cruiser USS Boise after the Battle of Cape Esperance, guadalcanal. She was hit numerous times by the Japanese Heavy Cruiser Kinugasa with 8" shells. The Atlanta's bridge and superstructure were also hit by as many ar two full salvos (18 shells) 8" shells from the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco in a friendly fire incident during the confusion of battle. Taken from the book "This is Guadalcanal -The official Combat Photography".
	What does a badly damaged ship look like? Japanese Heavy Cruiser Mogami after the battle of Midway. She was caught by American aircraft after colliding with her sister ship Mikuma (Mikuma executed an improper turn which caused the accident) Mogami was hit by six bombs. Her No. 5 turret was destroyed and 81 crewmen were killed. Photo was taken by USS enterprise aircraft
	USS Atlanta during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. Here she is seen covering the USS Enterprise matching her turn for turn to avoid bombs. Taken from the book "This is Guadalcanal -The official Combat Photography".
	Solomons - Savo Island - night fire by 5" mounts just before the Battle of Savo Island. notice how blinding the flash is and how easy it could be to mistake gun fire for explosions. When the Atlanta initially opened fire during the Naval Battleof Guadalcanal with 14 of her 16 5"/38 mounts, the trailing ship thought she had exploded! Taken from the book "This is Guadalcanal -The official Combat Photography".
	USS O'Brien as she is hit by a torpedo - she survived the explosioin. The Atlanta and Juneau were both hit by one destroyer launched long lance torpedo each causing significant damage. My father and other survivors said it felt like the ship was lifted out of the water when the Atlanta was hit. Taken from the book "This is Guadalcanal -The official Combat Photography".

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