Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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u.s.s. ixjn(;a point CVK !»4 Riiilt By: Kaiser C ' ompnny. Tnr.. ' ,iiu()u cr. Washinntnii Keel Laid: K) |aiiuary 1(144. Launriicci: i 1 April iu. . Commissioned: 14 May 1(144. ' ' ' Captain (;. A. I , Washburn, USX, Oimmanding. The U.S.S. Ijinga Point is named for the battle which took place between American and Japanese Naval forces ofl the coast of Guadalcanal on the night of 30 November 1942. The main Japanese installation on Guadalcanal was an airfield built near Lunga Point, which, when captured by our forces, was named Lunga Field, and, finally, Henderson Field. It was at Lunga Point that the amphibious assault by the First Division of the United States Marine Corps, under the command of General ' andcgrift, was made on Guadalcanal, 7 August 1942. On the night of 30 November 1942, an American Task Force, under the command of Rear Ad- miral C. H. Wright, USN, was proceeding to Guadalcanal to intercept any Japanese force which might attempt to reinforce their garrison. This force consisted of five cruisers; the United States Ships Minneapolis, Aew Orleans, Pensacola, Honolulu and Northampton, and six destroyers: the United States Ships Perkins. Drayton, Fletcher, Maury, Lawson and Lnrdner. Upon arriving off Guadalcanal contact was made with the enemy approaching from the north of Lunga Point, presumably to re- inforce their troops ashore. The battle was fought that night, and the results, as regards the total number of Japanese ships sunk, are not known. It is believed that the Japanese lost at least two large destroyers or cruisers, four medium-sized destroyers, two transports, and one ammunition ship. Our losses were the Cruiser U.S.S. Xorthamplon, sunk, and the U,.S.S. Minneapolis, U.S.S. New Orleans and U.S.S. Pen- sacola, damaged. The Battle of Lunga Point, though now known officially as the Battle of Tassafaronga and some- times referred to as the Fourth Battle of Savo Island, was the last major Japanese attempt to rein- force their forces on Guadalcanal, and, thus, the turning point of the campaign for the .Solomon Islands.

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First Lieutenant Lieutenant Commander L L Smith, L SNR. Air Officer Commander E. G. Osborn, USN, U. S. N. A. Class of 1935 14 May 1944 — 2 February 1945 Chief Engineer Lieutenant J. H. Garrett, USN., Air Officer Lieutenant Commander W. E. Bertram, USN, 2 February 1945 —