In August 2007, a group of 8 technical divers from the UK ventured to the Pacific nation of the Solomon Islands to dive some of the World War 2 wrecks of the battle of Guadalcanal - once of the pivotal battles of WW2. Most of the wrecks were in the range of 50m to 80m, and most of the team were diving on rebreathers to allow extended bottom times on the deeper wrecks.
Battle of Guadalcanal
From Wikipedia...
Following the Attack on Pearl Harbour and Singapore,Japanese forces advanced into the South Pacific occupying many islands in an attempt to build a defensive ring around their conquests and threaten the lines of communication between the United States and Australia/New Zealand. They reached Guadalcanal in May 1942. When the allied forces spotted construction of an airfield on Guadacanal, the United States conducted the first amphibious landing of the war. It was one of the most hotly contested campaigns for control of the ground, sea and skies of the war. Guadalcanal became a major turning-point in the war as it stopped Japanese expansion. After four months of fighting the Japanese ceased trying to contest the control of the island. They finally evacuated it in February 1943.
Immediately after landing on the island, the allies began finishing the airfield begun by the Japanese. It was then named Henderson Field after a Marine aviator killed in combat during the Battle of Midway. Aircraft operating from Henderson Field during the campaign were a hodgepodge of Marine, Army, Navy and allied aircraft that became known as the Cactus Air Force. They defended the airfield and threatened any Japanese ships that ventured into the vicinity during daylight hours. However, at night, Japanese naval forces were able to shell the airfield and deliver troops and supplies, retiring before daylight. The Japanese used fast ships to make these runs, and this became known as the Tokyo Express. So many ships from both sides were sunk in the many engagements in and around the Solomon Island chain that the nearby waters were referred to as Ironbottom Sound.
Diving the USS Aaron Ward
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The USS Aaron Ward DD-483 was a Gleaves Class Destroyerin the US Navy. She was laid down on 11 February 1941 at Kearny, New Jersey by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, launched on 22 November 1941, sponsored by Miss Hilda Ward, the daughter of the late Admiral Ward, and commissioned on 4 March 1942 with Commander Orville F. Gregor in command. At Tulagi on the morning of 7 April, she received warning of a massive incoming Japanese air raid. Escaping into the relatively open waters of Ironbottom Sound, she was attacked by several Japanese dive bombers, suffering one hit and several near misses that left her machinery spaces flooded. Aaron Ward sank near shore while under tow back to Tulagi. |
The wreck of the USS Aaron Ward now lies upright in 70m of water, with the top of the bridge gun director in around 55m. The bow is broken - a result of the impact as she hit the seabed while sinking. Shortly after we dived the Aaron Ward, the bridge collapsed, so today she is a somewhat different dive than these photos show.
The Aaron Ward is a stunning dive and the team dived her many times. Using rebreathers, we were able to get up to 45 minutes on the wreck in a single dive, although the penalty for this was a long, slow ascent to the surface for decompression making the total dive time in excess of 2 ½ hours.
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Diving the USS Kanawha
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The USS Kanawha (AO-1) was a replenishment oiler of the US Navy. It was laid down 8 December 1913 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California; launched 11 July 1914. On 7 April a group of enemy Vals slipped through fighter defenses and zeroed in on Kanawha as she awaited an escort in Tulagi harbor. At 1502, shortly after clearing the harbor, she came under bomb attack. The first bombs hit an oil tank under the bridge, causing fires to spread rapidly along the deck. The tug Rail towed the Kanawha to the west side of Tulagi where she was beached shortly before midnight. However, she slid off into deep water and sank before daybreak 8 April. Nineteen of her crew were lost. |
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Dive Logistics
The diving used the excelent facilities from Dive Tulagi. Neil imported the sofnolime and helium used in the rebreathers from Australia, and worked tirelessly during our stay to keep everything running smoothly.
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