Battle baby: a pictorial history of the escort carrier U.S.S Savo Island (CVE-78)

Authors

United States Navy
William D. Anderson

Files

Description

The ship was named after two naval battles which were fought near Savo in August and in October, 1942. In the first of these battles our forces were surprised, mistakes were made. and four cruisers were lost. It was a hard lesson, well learned. A few months later, one of our cruiser divisions intercepted a Jap task force near Savo and sank at least six vessels, cruisers, and destroyers. No great damage was done to our ships. The enemy was surprised, one of his cruisers was sunk before her guns were even trained out, and he was out-fought in every phase of the battle. As a result, this body of water, Purvis Bay. is known as "Iron-Bottom Bay."

Savo Island is located in Sky Lark Channel between the Western extremities of Florida and Guadalcanal Islands. It is a product of volcanic upheavals, is only four miles in diameter, and consists of extinct volcanic peaks. Ships now anchor in waters that cover a village which subsided years ago as a result of an earthquake. Even today, there may be an occasional tremor. A few natives live on the island, and you will find very small villages and a mission station there.

Publication Date

1946

Keywords

United States Navy, World War 1939-1945, Regimental Histories, U.S.S. Savo Island, CVE-78

Disciplines

Military History

Comments

Contains roster of officers and enlisted men.

Recommended Citation

United States Navy and Anderson, William D., "Battle baby: a pictorial history of the escort carrier U.S.S Savo Island (CVE-78)" (1946). Regimental Histories. 133.
https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/133