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The '''Battle of Rennell Island''' was a naval-aerial battle between [[Japanese]] and American forces in [[World War II]].  It was the last battle of the [[Guadalcanal]] campaign.

The '''Battle of Rennell Island''' was a naval-aerial battle between [[Japanese]] and American forces in [[World War II]].  It was the last battle of the [[Guadalcanal]] campaign.

[[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marines]] had landed on the island of Guadalcanal in August of 1942, and they and the Japanese had engaged in several bitter contests over it.  By the end of the year, however, the Japanese admiralty realized that it would be impossible to hold onto the island, and made plans to evacuate their remaining troops.  In preparation for the mission, Japanese activity at and around their bases increased markedly.

[[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marines]] had landed on the island of Guadalcanal in August 1942, and they and the Japanese had engaged in several bitter contests over it.  By the end of the year, however, the Japanese admiralty realized that it would be impossible to hold onto the island, and made plans to evacuate their remaining troops.  In preparation for the mission, Japanese activity at and around their bases increased markedly.

The Americans concluded from the increased activity that the Japanese were planning a new offensive, and begin a build-up of their own.  A task force, including two escort carriers, three heavy [[cruisers]], three light cruisers, and eight [[destroyer]]s, commanded by Rear Admiral Robert Giffen, was headed north to a rendevous off Guadalcanal, then a planned sweep of the waters around the [[Solomon Islands]].  Unbeknownst to Giffen, his ships were being tracked by Japanese submarines, which relayed their position to Japanese headquarters at Rabaul, and on January 29, two groups of torpedo-carrying, twin-engine [[Mitsubishi G4M|“Betty” bombers]] (31 planes in total) were launched.  The first group found the American ships and attacked in the late afternoon.  This attack resulted in near-misses and shaken nerves, but no ships were hit, and at least one Betty was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.  The second group arrived an hour later, using parachute flares to illuminate the area.  Two more bombers were downed, including that of the group commander, but they scored two solid hits on the heavy cruiser ''Chicago'' (sole surviving cruiser from the [[Battle of Savo Island]] at the beginning of the Guadalcanal campaign), causing serious damage.  She could no longer move under her own power, and her sister ship USS ''Louisville'' took her under tow in the darkness.

The Americans concluded from the increased activity that the Japanese were planning a new offensive, and begin a build-up of their own.  A task force, including two escort carriers, three heavy [[cruisers]], three light cruisers, and eight [[destroyer]]s, commanded by Rear Admiral Robert Giffen, was headed north to a rendevous off Guadalcanal, then a planned sweep of the waters around the [[Solomon Islands]].  Unbeknownst to Giffen, his ships were being tracked by Japanese submarines, which relayed their position to Japanese headquarters at Rabaul, and on January 29, two groups of torpedo-carrying, twin-engine [[Mitsubishi G4M|“Betty” bombers]] (31 planes in total) were launched.  The first group found the American ships and attacked in the late afternoon.  This attack resulted in near-misses and shaken nerves, but no ships were hit, and at least one Betty was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.  The second group arrived an hour later, using parachute flares to illuminate the area.  Two more bombers were downed, including that of the group commander, but they scored two solid hits on the heavy cruiser ''Chicago'' (sole surviving cruiser from the [[Battle of Savo Island]] at the beginning of the Guadalcanal campaign), causing serious damage.  She could no longer move under her own power, and her sister ship USS ''Louisville'' took her under tow in the darkness.