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    Blackett Strait Western Province Solomon Islands
Location
Blackett Strait is located between Ghizo Island to the west to Kolomombangara Island to the east. Borders Arundel Island to the south and Kula Gulf to the east. Several small islands dot the edge of the straight including Plum Pudding (Kennedy Island). Prewar and during the Pacific War part of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate (BSIP). Today part of Western Province in the Solomon Islands.

Wartime History
During the Solomon Islands campaign, the Blackett Strait became an important waterway for Japanese destroyers of the "Tokyo Express" attempting to reinforce the central Solomon Islands.

On March 6, 1943 in the early morning, the Battle of Blackett Strait (Battle of Vila–Stanmore) a brief battle in the Blackett Strait between Japanese destroyers Minegumo and Murasame versus U.S. Navy (USN) Task Force 68 (TF 68) including light crusiers USS Montpelier (CL-57), USS Cleveland (CL-55), and USS Denver (CL-58) plus three destroyers USS Conway (DD-507), USS Cony (DD-508) and USS Waller (DD-466).

On May 6, 1943 after midnight, three U.S. Navy (USN) light minelayers USS Gamble (DM-15), USS Preble (DM-20) and USS Breese (DM-18) laid sea mines into the Blackett Strait and western entrance to Kula Gulf. During the night of May 7-8, 1943 as four Japanese destroyers transited Blackett Strait, one was sunk and Oyashio and Kagero were damaged. Afterwards, Michishio attempted to help the damaged vessels but was spotted by a coastwatcher and Allied aircraft intercepted the destroyers and damaged Michishio.

PT-109
Lt(jg) John F. Kennedy sunk August 2, 1943 after being rammed by Amagiri.

A6M Zero
Discovered by Dive Gizo intact at 50m

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Last Updated
July 30, 2022

 

Map
Map
May 10, 1943
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