US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

468 ArnPbibians Came To Conqtzer
The over-wate~ movement from Koli Point, Guadalcanal, to the Russells
for the initial landings was planned and largely carried out as shown on the
accompanying movement chart.
During the preliminary movement when the first echelon of the 43rd
Division was being staged the 840 miles from New Caledonia to Koli Point,
Rear Admiral Turner moved with them in the McCawley which carried
part of the amphibian troops. On 16 February 1943, he shifted his operational
staff ashore to Koli Point from the McCawley. During the first phase
of the CLEANSLATE landing operations he flew his flag in the fast minesweeper
Hopkin~, and commanded the Transport Group, TG 61.1.
On 19 February 1943, one task group (4 APA, 1 AO, 6 DD) carrying the
second echelon of the amphibians and their logistic support from Noumea
to the Koli staging area on Guadalcanal was subjected to a seven aircraft
Japanese torpedo plane attack when about 20 miles east of the southern tip
of San Cristobal Island. By radical maneuver, the transports and their
destroyer escorts escaped damage, and by spirited anti-aircraft fire accounted
for five Japanese aircraft lost. Otherwise, the ten-day preparation period was
largely unhampered by the Japanese.
THE LANDINGS
Rear Admiral Turner’s (CTF 61 ) and Commander Landing Force’s orders
called’ for three simultaneous landing at dawn on 21 February 1943. These
were (1) on the north of Pavuvu Island at Pepesala Bay, (2) at Renard
Sound on the east coast of Banika Island, and (3) at Wernham Cove on
the southwest coast of Banika Island. According to Rear Admiral Turner’s
Operation Order:
The landing beaches in the Russells are bad, with much coral. Euery precaution
wilt be taken to prevent damage to botits, pavticzdariypropellers. lo
For the initial landings totaling 4,o3o officers and enlisted 1’ on Pavuvu
and Banika, more than 200 men were ferried on each of the seven destroyers,
four destroyer transports, and four fast minesweepers. Additionally, all
the destroyers except the Wiison (DD-408) and the Lazrsa!owne (DD-486),
which were designated for anti-submarine patrolling around the task units,
and all the fast minesweepers (less the Hopkitn, designated both as Flagship
m CTF 61 Op Order Plan A4-43, 15 Feb. 1943, p, 6,
u CTF 61 to COMSOPAC, 210551 Feb. 1943.