Battle of Rennell Island
Battle of Rennell Island was a naval engagement fought on 29 January 1943 at Rennell Island; it lasted 1 day. It was part of the Pacific War, which ran from 1941 to 1945. The recorded result: Japanese victory. Recorded strength: 1 aircraft carrier; 2 escort carriers; 3 heavy cruisers; 3 light cruisers; 8 destroyers; 14 fighters against 43 medium bombers.
See it on the globe Read the article
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) low in the water on 30 January 1943, after she had been torpedoed by Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Rennell Island.. U.S. Navy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons .
Fought 29 January 1943 lasted 1 day
Where Rennell Island 11.417S, 160.933E
Outcome Japanese victory
Belligerents United States against Empire of Japan
Where it sits in the Pacific War Battle of Guam, 1941 Battle of Hong Kong, 1941 Battle of Wake Island, 1941 Battle of Corregidor, 1942 Battle of Manado, 1942 Battle of Kuala Lumpur, 1942 Battle of Balikpapan, 1942 Battle of Port Moresby, 1942 Battle of Singapore, 1942 Battle of Kranji, 1942 Battle of Sarimbun Beach, 1942 Battle of Bukit Timah, 1942 Battle of Palembang, 1942 Battle of Pasir Panjang, 1942 Battle of Badung Strait, 1942 Battle of Tjiater Pass, 1942 Indian Ocean raid, 1942 Battle of Midway, 1942 Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo, 1942 Battle of the Tenaru, 1942 Battle of Edson's Ridge, 1942 Actions along the Matanikau, 1942 Battle for Henderson Field, 1942 Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 1942 Koli Point action, 1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 1942 Battle of Tassafaronga, 1942 Battle of Mount Austen, the Galloping Horse, and the Sea Horse, 1942 Battle of Rennell Island, 1943 Battle of the Bismarck Sea, 1943 Battle of Blackett Strait, 1943 Battle of the Komandorski Islands, 1943 Battle of Attu, 1943 Battle of Wickham Anchorage, 1943 Battle of Viru Harbor, 1943 Battle of Kula Gulf, 1943 Landing at Nassau Bay, 1943 Battle of Enogai, 1943 Battle of Kolombangara, 1943 Drive on Munda Point, 1943 New Georgia counterattack, 1943 Battle of Bairoko, 1943 Battle of Munda Point, 1943 Battle off Horaniu, 1943 Landing at Nadzab, 1943 Huon Peninsula campaign, 1943 Battle of Scarlet Beach, 1943 Naval Battle of Vella Lavella, 1943 Bougainville Campaign, 1943 Landings at Cape Torokina, 1943 Battle of Koromokina Lagoon, 1943 Battle for Piva Trail, 1943 Battle of the Treasury Islands, 1943 Battle of Sattelberg, 1943 Battle of Piva Forks, 1943 Battle of Wareo, 1943 Battle of Arawe, 1943 Battle of Hellzapoppin Ridge and Hill 600A, 1943 Pacification of Rabaul, 1943 Battle of Mindoro, 1944 Formosa Air Battle, 1944 Action of 11 January 1944, 1944 Battle of the Green Islands, 1944 Battle of Biak, 1944 Battle of Saipan, 1944 Battle of the Philippine Sea, 1944 Battle of Tinian, 1944 Battle of Angaur, 1944 Battle of Morotai, 1944 Battle of Leyte, 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944 Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, 1944 Battle off Samar, 1944 Battle of Cabo Engaño, 1944 Battle of Ormoc Bay, 1944 Battle of Peleliu, 1944 Battle of Pearl Ridge, 1944 Battle of Tarakan, 1945 Action of 8 June 1945, 1945 Battle of Sulu Islands, 1945 Battle of Luzon, 1945 Battle of Camotes Islands, 1945 Battle of Tsimba Ridge, 1945 Battle of Baguio, 1945 Battle of Balete Pass, 1945 Invasion of Palawan, 1945 Battle of Mindanao, 1945 Battle of the Visayas, 1945 Battle of Bacsil Ridge, 1945 Battle for Cebu City, 1945 Battle of Slater's Knoll, 1945 Operation Ten-Go, 1945 Battle of the Hongorai River, 1945 Battle of Davao, 1945 Battle of the Malacca Strait, 1945 Battle of Bessang Pass, 1945 Battle of Ratsua, 1945 Battle of Porton Plantation, 1945 Battle of North Borneo, 1945 Battle of Labuan, 1945 Battle of Balikpapan, 1945 1941 1945 Battle of Rennell Island, 1943 101 placed engagements of the Pacific War in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.
Record
Date 29 January 1943to 30 January 1943 Place Rennell Island11.417S, 160.933E Kind Naval engagement, interwar and Second World War Strength 1 aircraft carrier; 2 escort carriers; 3 heavy cruisers; 3 light cruisers; 8 destroyers; 14 fighters 43 medium bombers Casualties and losses 1 heavy cruiser sunk; 1 destroyer heavily damaged; 85 killed 12 medium bombers destroyed; 60–84 killed Commanders
Battle of Rennell Island Battle of Rennell Island 100 km 11.417S, 160.933E The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.
Battle of Rennell Island is one of 2,997 engagements of the 20th century in the atlas.
Sources
Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q610242 , released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Battle of Rennell Island , revision 1373594687, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.
