Combat 12, page 10 by Sam Glanzman

"Guadalcanal" by Paul S. Newman. April-June 1964.

Three panels of naval ferocity. The money shot is the first panel. It reminds me of Japanese photos of the battle taken from their warships. Two photos are under the additional images. Echoes of the Battle of Sunda Strait.

Margins are full of Sam's guidance to the colorist for the color guide.

Historical note: Allied destroyers and cruisers waiting for the Japanese that night were not on full alert, with half of their crews off duty, according to Wikipedia. They didn't expect the Japanese to be there during the night. Aerial reconnaissance and warning was a mess. Primitive radar on the ships failed both technically and operationally. Crews were exhausted after two days of constant alerts and action supporting the landing and the weather was extremely hot and humid.

A US Navy board of inquiry censured a captain for failing to broadcast a warning to the fleet about the Japanese ships. He also failed to exercise command of his southern force and pulled his ship out of the battle to a position behind the transport ships they were supposed to protect. The captain committed suicide after the report's release. He was the only officer censured.

The board of inquiry report also caused the Navy to improve the operations and engineering of ships at sea and under construction.

Admiral Turner, commander of the amphibious fleet, attributed the disaster to the Navy's "strong feeling of technical and mental superiority over the enemy" even after Pearl Harbor.