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.

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
Photographer    Unknown
Source    ww2dbaseUnited States Navy
Link to Source    Link
Identification Code   80-G-274873
More on...   
Solomon Islands Campaign   Main article  Photos  Maps  
Mark 12 5-inch/38 caliber   Main article  Photos  
Photo Size 5,683 x 4,476 pixels
Photos on Same Day 8 Oct 1943
Photos at Same Place Purvis Bay, Solomon Islands, British Western Pacific Territories
Added By David Stubblebine
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.



Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you.

Please help us spread the word:

 Reddit
 Bluesky
 Mastodon

Stay updated with WW2DB:

 RSS Feeds

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.

All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.

Posting Your Comments on this Topic

Your Name 
Your Webite 
Your Email 
 Your email will not be published
Comment Type 
Your Comments 
 

Notes:

1. We hope that visitor conversations at WW2DB will be constructive and thought-provoking. Please refrain from using strong language. HTML tags are not allowed. Your IP address will be tracked even if you remain anonymous. WW2DB site administrators reserve the right to moderate, censor, and/or remove any comment. All comment submissions will become the property of WW2DB.

2. For inquiries about military records for members of the World War II armed forces, please see our FAQ.
Search WW2DB
News

Random Photograph

US Navy recognition drawings of Japanese cruisers Furutaka, Kako, Kinugasa, and Aoba, circa 1930s

Current Site Statistics

Famous WW2 Quote
"No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. You win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country!"

George Patton, 31 May 1944


Support Us

Please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 a month will go a long way. Thank you!

Or, please support us by purchasing some WW2DB merchandise at TeeSpring, Thank you!