Changes

Through October 1943, ''O’Bannon'' protected landings, carried out escort duties from Noumea and [[Espiritu Santo]] to Guadalcanal and [[Tulagi]], joined in bombardments at Guadalacanal, Munda, Kolombangara, and shouldered her share of the nightly patrols up the “Slot” between the Solomons, guarding against Japanese reinforcements. Retiring from such a run early 5 April, ''O’Bannon'' sighted on the surface and fired on Japanese submarine ''RO–34'', damaging the conning tower.  However, both vessels drifted so close to each other that ''O'Bannon's'' guns could not be depressed far enough to be effective, and the Japanese crew came out on deck to ready the sub's 5-inch gun.  Several sailors then grabbed hold of an unusual option: on deck was a crate of potatoes, and the sub was pelted with them.  Apparently thinking they were hand grenades, the sub crew darted back into their vessel, which was ordered to dive.  Unfortunately, the damage to the conning tower let water rush in and the sub sank.

Through October 1943, ''O’Bannon'' protected landings, carried out escort duties from Noumea and [[Espiritu Santo]] to Guadalcanal and [[Tulagi]], joined in bombardments at Guadalacanal, Munda, Kolombangara, and shouldered her share of the nightly patrols up the “Slot” between the Solomons, guarding against Japanese reinforcements. Retiring from such a run early 5 April, ''O’Bannon'' sighted on the surface and fired on Japanese submarine ''RO–34'', damaging the conning tower.  However, both vessels drifted so close to each other that ''O'Bannon's'' guns could not be depressed far enough to be effective, and the Japanese crew came out on deck to ready the sub's 5-inch gun.  Several sailors then grabbed hold of an unusual option: on deck was a crate of potatoes, and the sub was pelted with them.  Apparently thinking they were hand grenades, the sub crew darted back into their vessel, which was ordered to dive.  Unfortunately, the damage to the conning tower let water rush in and the sub sank.

But a week later, a second battle had to be fought in the same waters against a Japanese cruiser, five destroyers and four destrover-escorts. The same American force sank the Japanese cruiser and turned the smaller ships away, losing none themselves.

This duty was tense and demanded the best of men and their ships. In-port time was minimal—a few hours to fuel and reprovision, and the ships were off again. ''O’Bannon'' fought in many surface actions. The [[Battle of Kula Gulf]] (6 July), in which ''O’Bannon'' fought with three cruisers and three other destroyers against ten Japanese destroyers, swept the enemy from the area, though an American cruiser was lost. But a week later, a second battle had to be fought in the same waters against a Japanese cruiser, five destroyers and four destrover-escorts. The same American force sank the Japanese cruiser and turned the smaller ships away, losing none themselves.

For the next two months, ''O’Bannon'' spent most of her time in Vella Gulf, guarding landings, intercepting Japanese troop convoys and their covering escorts, and fighting off air attacks. With the aid of sister destroyers, she sank a number of barges, two submarine chasers, an armed boat, and a gun boat on various patrols. The climax of operations in the area was the [[Battle of Vella Lavella]], 6 October, brought on by Japanese attempts to evacuate their troops from that island. With ''Selfridge'' (DD–357) and ''Chevalier'' (DD–451), ''O’Bannon'' made the first attack on the evacuation force, a group of nine or ten destroyers and smaller armed craft. The three American ships contacted six enemy destroyers, shrugged at the odds, and raced at 33 knots to launch torpedoes and open gunfire. Japanese destroyer ''Yugumo'' was turned into a blazing hulk, but both ''Selfridge'' and ''Chevalier'' took torpedo hits. ''O’Bannon'' was close on ''Chevalier’s'' stern when the latter was struck, and the most radical maneuvers could not keep her from swinging into her sister’s side. The enemy retired with three newly-arrived American destroyers in pursuit, while ''O’Bannon'' guarded her stricken sisters, rescuing the survivors of ''Chevalier''.

For the next two months, ''O’Bannon'' spent most of her time in Vella Gulf, guarding landings, intercepting Japanese troop convoys and their covering escorts, and fighting off air attacks. With the aid of sister destroyers, she sank a number of barges, two submarine chasers, an armed boat, and a gun boat on various patrols. The climax of operations in the area was the [[Battle of Vella Lavella]], 6 October, brought on by Japanese attempts to evacuate their troops from that island. With ''Selfridge'' (DD–357) and ''Chevalier'' (DD–451), ''O’Bannon'' made the first attack on the evacuation force, a group of nine or ten destroyers and smaller armed craft. The three American ships contacted six enemy destroyers, shrugged at the odds, and raced at 33 knots to launch torpedoes and open gunfire. Japanese destroyer ''Yugumo'' was turned into a blazing hulk, but both ''Selfridge'' and ''Chevalier'' took torpedo hits. ''O’Bannon'' was close on ''Chevalier’s'' stern when the latter was struck, and the most radical maneuvers could not keep her from swinging into her sister’s side. The enemy retired with three newly-arrived American destroyers in pursuit, while ''O’Bannon'' guarded her stricken sisters, rescuing the survivors of ''Chevalier''.