Task Force 68 |
"CLEANSLATE" - Russell Islands Landing |
| CA | 43/02/26 - 43/03/03: Wichita/FF, Louisville |
| CL | CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Cleveland, Denver, Columbia (till 02/25) |
| DD | DesRon21: | Fletcher, Radford DesDiv41: O'Bannon, Nicholas (till 02/25) |
| DesRon22: | (from 43/02/26) DesDiv43: Waller DesDiv44: Conway, Cony |
| 43/02/19 | departed Efate for Russell Islands |
| 43/02/21 | arrived Purvis Bay, Tulagi - refuel from AO Tullulah, then departed to area SE of Solomons |
| 43/02/22 | commenced cruise SE of Solomons to support CLEANSLATE |
| 43/02/25 | 19:45 - Columbia, Nicholas detached by order of ComSoPac |
| 43/02/26 | rendezvoused with TF 18, both TF's joined into TF 68, CTF 18 assumed command |
| 43/02/27 | refuel at sea from AO Platte escorted by Mahan |
| 43/03/03 | refuel from AO Neosho, Wichita, Louisville disjoined |
| 43/03/04 | arrived Esp. Santo |
Munda & Vila Bombardement
|
| CL | CruDiv12: Montpelier, Cleveland, Denver |
| DD | DesRon22: |
DesDiv43: Waller DesDiv44: Cony, Conway |
| DD | DesRon21: |
Fletcher, Radford DesDiv41: Nicholas, O'Bannon |
| Eaton (from 03/07) | ||
| 43/03/04 | departed Esp. Santo |
| 43/03/05 | shell Munda and Vila |
| 43/03/06 | Kula Gulf -
gunfire duel with Tokio Express heading to Kolombangara -
sinking Minegumo, Murasame (08-05S, 157-15E),
at 9 AM anchored at Purvis Harbor, Tulagi PM - departed Tulagi |
| 43/03/07 | refuel from AO Sabine, Eaton joined |
| 43/03/09 | meet submarine - prob. Nautilus, arrived Efate |