Battle of Empress Augusta Bay

Battle of Empress Augusta Bay
Part of the Bougainville Campaign of the Pacific Theater (World War II)
View forward from the US light cruiser Columbia towards the US light cruiser Cleveland as both ships fire at Japanese warships during the battle
Date 1–2 November 1943 Location Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, Territory of New Guinea 6°24′S 155°9′E / 6.400°S 155.150°E / -6.400; 155.150 Result United States victory
Belligerents
United States	Japan
Commanders and leaders
Aaron S. Merrill Arleigh Burke	Sentaro Omori Matsuji Ijuin
Units involved
Task Force 39	Cruiser Division 5
Strength
4 light cruisers 8 destroyers Land-based combat air patrol	2 heavy cruisers 2 light cruisers 6 destroyers 100 aircraft
Casualties and losses
1 cruiser damaged 2 destroyers damaged 19 killed[1]	1 light cruiser sunk 1 destroyer sunk 1 heavy cruiser damaged 1 light cruiser damaged 2 destroyers heavily damaged 25 aircraft shot down 198–658 killed[2][3][Note 1]

The Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, on 1–2 November 1943 – also known as the Battle of Gazelle Bay, Operation Cherry Blossom, and in Japanese sources as the Sea Battle off Bougainville Island (ブーゲンビル島沖海戦) – was a naval battle fought at night in Empress Augusta Bay near Bougainville Island. The naval battle was a result of Allied landings at Cape Torokina in the first action in the Bougainville campaign of World War II. It may also be considered as part of the Solomons and New Guinea campaigns. The battle was significant as part of a broader Allied strategy—known as Operation Cartwheel—aimed at isolating and surrounding the major Japanese base at Rabaul. The intention was to establish a beachhead on Bougainville, within which an airfield would be built.

The naval battle took place at the end of the first day of the landings around Cape Torokina, as the Japanese sortied a large force from Rabaul in an effort to replicate the success they had achieved at Savo Island in August 1942, in response to Allied amphibious landings in the eastern Solomon Islands. Ultimately, the covering force of US warships was able to turn back the Japanese force, and the landings around Cape Torokina were successful.

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