Ironbottom Sound


"Ironbottom Sound" is the name given by Allied sailors to the stretch of water at the southern end of The Slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island of the Solomon Islands, because of the dozens of ships and planes that sank there during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942–43. Before the war, it was called Savo Sound. Every year on the battle's anniversary, a U.S. ship cruises into the waters and drops a wreath to commemorate the men who lost their lives. For many Navy sailors, and those who served in the area during that time, the waters in this area are considered sacred, and strict silence is observed as ships cruise through.

Battles

Japanese

Cape Esperance 11–12 October 1942
First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 13 November 1942
Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 15 November 1942
Tassafaronga 30 November 1942
Other Surface Battles and Aerial Actions 1942-43
Savo Island 9 August 1942
Cape Esperance 12 October 1942
First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 13 November 1942
Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal 15 November 1942
Tassafaronga 30 November 1942
Operation I-Go 7 April 1943
Other surface battles and aerial actions 1942–1945
^Jarvis was briefly involved in the Battle of Savo Island, but did not actually sink in the Sound; she was lost in a separate bomber attack later that day retreating from Guadalcanal.
^^Juneau is usually described as being sunk in the aftermath of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal; her loss took place away from the Sound in the Solomon Sea to the southeast.

Media

The location of the Ironbottom Sound is used in the 2016 animated film .