Bow-on view of torpedo damage to destroyer USS Selfridge. This damage occurred the night of 6/7 Oct 1943 off Vella Lavella. Note collapsed No. 2 turret and exposed twin 5-inch/38 caliber guns. 8 Oct 1943 photo.

Historical Information
Caption     Bow-on view of torpedo damage to destroyer USS Selfridge. This damage occurred the night of 6/7 Oct 1943 off Vella Lavella. Note collapsed No. 2 turret and exposed twin 5-inch/38 caliber guns. 8 Oct 1943 photo. ww2dbase
WW2-Era Location Name Purvis Bay, Solomon Islands, British Western Pacific Territories
Date 8 Oct 1943
Photographer    Unknown
 
Source Information
Source    ww2dbaseUnited States Navy
Link to Source    Link
Identification Code   80-G-274873
 
Related Content
More on...   
Solomon Islands Campaign   Main article  Photos  Maps  
Mark 12 5-inch/38 caliber   Main article  Photos  
Photos on Same Day 8 Oct 1943
 
Licensing Information
Licensing  Public Domain. According to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government".

Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you.
 
Metadata
Added By David Stubblebine
Photo Size 5,683 x 4,476 pixels



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
1 Mar 2025 11:17:31 PM

Note also four sailors sitting in the wreckage between the guns. This damage was received during the Battle of Vella Lavella. During this engagement, Japanese Type 93 Long Lance torpedoes took the bow off destroyers USS Selfridge (seen here) and USS Chevalier. When Chevalier’s bow was blown off, her after section turned suddenly and drastically into the path of destroyer USS O’Bannon which unavoidably collided with Chevalier’s stern. O’Bannon sustained substantial bow damage and is seen here next to Selfridge, while both ships were alongside USS Argonne in Purvis Bay, Florida Islands, Solomon Islands. After O’Bannon rammed Chevalier, O’Bannon picked up over 250 Chevalier survivors before Chevalier was scuttled.

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