Japanese Forces

  • Rear Admiral Akiyama Terou †(killed)

Cover Force

Destroyer Division 11

Part of Destroyer Squadron 3, 8th Fleet
  • Niizuki (fleet flagship)(fleet flagship) (sunk)(sunk)
    Commanding officer: Com. Kaneda Kioshi
    Notes: Hit by 6" shellfire, few survivors.

Destroyer Division 24

Part of Destroyer Squadron 2, 2nd Fleet
  • Suzukaze (minimally damaged)(minimally damaged)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Com. Yamashita Masao
    Notes: Minor shell damage, 1st turret jammed, searchlights inoperative.

Destroyer Division 17

Part of Destroyer Squadron 10, 3rd Fleet
  • Tanikaze (minimally damaged)(minimally damaged)
    Commanding officer: Com. Maeda Shinichirou
    Notes: Hit by dud shell.

1st Transport Group

  • Captain Orita

Destroyer Division 30

Part of Destroyer Squadron 3, 8th Fleet
  • Mochizuki (minimally damaged)(minimally damaged)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Com. Ikunaga Kunio
    Notes: Minor shell damage to 1st turret and torpedo tubes.
  • Mikazuki
    Commanding officer: Lt. Yamazaki Nitaro

Destroyer Division 24

Part of Destroyer Squadron 2, 2nd Fleet
  • Hamakaze
    Commanding officer: Com. Uwai Hiroshi

2nd Transport Group

  • Capt. Kanaoka Kunizo
    Position: Commander, Destroyer Division 22

Destroyer Division 22

Part of Destroyer Squadron 3, 8th Fleet
  • Nagatsuki (force flagship)(force flagship) (sunk)(sunk)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Com. Furukawa Tameo
    Notes: Hit by 6" shell, grounded near Bambari Harbor, demolished next day by American aircraft; 8 dead, 13 injured.
  • Satsuki
    Commanding officer: Com. Koizumi Shiro

Destroyer Division 11

Part of Destroyer Squadron 3, 8th Fleet
  • Amigiri (minimally damaged)(minimally damaged)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Com. Hanami Kouhei
    Notes: Suffered minor shell damage, communications lost, 10 dead.
  • Hatsuyuki (minimally damaged)(minimally damaged)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Com. Sugihara Yoshirou
    Notes: Minor shell damage (3 duds), had to shift to manual steering. 6 dead.

American Forces

Task Group 36.1
  • Rear Admiral W. L. Ainsworth

Cruiser Division 9

  • Honolulu (force flagship)(force flagship)
    Commanding officer: Capt. R.W. Hayler
  • St. Louis
    Commanding officer: Capt. C. Campbell
  • Helena (sunk)(sunk)
    Commanding officer: Capt. C.P. Cecil
    Notes: Hit by three Type 93 torpedoes from Suzukaze and Tanikaze, over 81% of crew rescued.

Destroyer Squadron 21

  • Com. F.X. McInerney
  • Nicholas (flagship)(flagship)
    Commanding officer: Lt. Com. A.J. Hill
  • O'Bannon
    Commanding officer: Lt. Com. D.J. MacDonald
  • Jenkins
    Commanding officer: Com. H.F. Miller
  • Radford
    Commanding officer: Com. W.K. Romoser

Sources

  • The Two Ocean War by S.E. Morrison
  • US. Destroyer Operations in WWII by T. Roscoe
  • Nihon Kaigun website
  • A Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy (1941-1945) by Paul S. Dull
  • A Naval History of World War II War At Sea by Nathan Miller
  • Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945 by J. Rohwer and G. Hummelchen