APPENDIX I
DESTROYER DIVISION 58's TORPEDO ATTACK

Torpedo Attack by United States Destroyers

There is general agreement as to the principal facts of our torpedo attack, but it is very difficult to draw an accurate picture of the movements of our cruisers and destroyers and their relative positions. Neither is it clear whether the enemy lay to the northeast or to the northwest. A diagram accompanying the Edwards' report indicates the former, while one accompanying the Alden report (reproduced p.71) indicates the latter. Pertinent extracts from the reports follow.

Comdr. Thomas H. Binford, Commanding Destroyer Division 58: "At 1816 received signal 'cover my retirement' . . . By this time I had the division back in column and through the smoke could see the enemy battle line about 12 or 13 thousand yards and fired torpedoes to starboard, then by column movement changed course so as to fire the port torpedoes,

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started laying smoke screen and followed cruisers. At 1831 received signal 'follow me.'"

Comdr. Henry E. Eccles, commanding J. D. Edwards: "We headed in to make smoke and then saw the enemy advancing at a range of about 15,000 yards-torpedoes were fired at long range to force him to turn away and we withdrew following Commander Combined Striking Force signal 'follow me.'"

Log of the Edwards: "1815 signal 'cover my retirement.' 1822 fired three torpedoes to starboard at two ships in enemy battle line . .1827 fired three (3) torpedoes to port on course 085° T., stopped smoke. Estimated range to enemy at time of firing 14,000 yards. 1831 signal from De Ruyter 'follow me.'"

Lt. Comdr. Jacob E. Cooper, commanding Ford: "About 1815 our force came left to about east; orders were again received to fire torpedoes. The Japanese main body was on our starboard bow, distance about 20,000 yards, target angle about 75° The range was closed to about 14,000 yards and all torpedoes on the starboard side were expended. Course was then changed to permit the firing of the six torpedoes in the port battery. The last one was expended at 1827. The four United States destroyers were in column at the time of firing; individual target plan was used. The destroyers then passed under the stern of our main body and resumed position on their disengaged quarter on a course between east and northeast."

Lt. Comdr. Edward N. Parker, commanding DesDiv 59 (on Ford): "At about 1820 the four (4) United States destroyers attacked with torpedoes, broadside fire, on enemy forces bearing to northward, range about 15,000 yards, target angle about 045°. Reversed course by column movement and fired second broadside, then laid a smoke screen to cover our forces, including the Exeter."

Lt. Comdr. Lewis E. Coley, commanding Alden: "Then at 1820 signal was made to attack. At 1822 Alden fired starboard torpedo battery on order from Commander Destroyer Division 58. The target angle was estimated by the navigator to be 60°, enemy speed 20 knots. Enemy range was estimated at about 22,000 yards. . . . Alden then reversed course following the John D. Edwards and fired the port battery of torpedoes at 1827. A sight angle of 17 was used on the starboard battery and 22 on the port battery. The firing course for the port battery was 110° for the starboard battery about 290° [surely this is reversed]. At

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1832 Alden came to course 030° in column with rest of DesDiv 58 astern of cruisers, speed 27 knots."

Lt. Comdr. John J. Hourihan, commanding Paul Jones: "At 1728 this division laid smoke screen to cover cruiser line and again at 1819 to cover cruiser retirement. At this latter time, the division was between the battle lines and signal was received from ComDesDiv 58 in U. S. S. John D. Edwards to fire torpedoes. At 1821 five torpedoes of starboard battery were fired at enemy line bearing 290° T., distant approximately 15,000 yards. . . . Course was reversed by column movement and six torpedoes of the port broadside were fired. Division then followed the cruisers in retirement."

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Last updated: June 14, 2002

Transcribed and formatted by Jerry Holden for the HyperWar Foundation