Wreck of USS George F. Elliott (AP-13)

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal / Honiara /
 Second World War 1939-1945, military, place with historical importance, shipwreck, United States Navy
Built in 1918 for the commercial trades as the SS War Haven and put into US Navy service in World War I as the transport ship USS Victorious (ID-3514), the George F. Elliot was operating as the ocean liner SS City of Los Angeles when World War II broke out and was repossessed by the US Navy for conversion into a troopship. Following her conversion at the Norfolk Navy Yard, the now renamed USS George F. Elliot put to sea transporting US troops to Europe before shifting to the Pacific Theatre with 1,300 men of the 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, bound for Guadalcanal.

On August 5th, 1942 the George F. Elliot departed the Fiji Islands as part of the first US amphibious assault force of the Second World War and shaped her course for Guadalcanal. Anchoring off the landing beaches of Lunga Point in the early morning of August 7th, the first boats and troops made their way towards shore from the Elliot at 0733hrs, followed shortly thereafter by the first supply boats bringing munitions and supplies ashore to the beachhead established by the invasion troops. Continuing to steadily empty her holds of men and material despite coming under several waves of Japanese fighter and torpedo bomber attacks, the crew of the Elliot worked through the day on the 7th and well into the night before having to cease discharge operations when the beachhead became bottlenecked with materials from the support fleet. Closing the ships hatches and manning their anti-aircraft battle stations, the crew of the Elliot tried to get some shut eye before the order came to resume discharging when the beachhead cleared.

Morning on August 8th found the Elliot and her crew still awaiting the order to resume sending the balance of her cargo ashore when radar screens on the US Destroyer pickets began to show an approaching flight of Japanese planes heading straight for the landing group. Weighing anchor and raising steam to get underway shortly before 11am the Elliot moved out of the landing area into the open waters of Ironbottom Sound and her crew readied their weapons to meet the inbound 'Betty' bombers coming over Florida Island. Making her 10.5 knot top speed and weaving between US Destroyers and other transports as they avoided and fired on the Japanese torpedo bombers skimming mere feet above the waters surface, the gunners on the Elliot sighted a 'Betty' bomber closing on their Starboard side, only 30 feet off the water. Taking the plane under concentrated fire and scoring several hits, the gun crews were unable to down the Japanese bomber before it suddenly popped up and slammed into the ship, just aft of the superstructure on the Starboard side.

Though the lightly armored 'Betty' disintegrated on impact with the hull of the Elliot, wreckage and burning gasoline showered the deck and it's engines were able to punch through the unarmored hull into the rear cargo hold, severing the ships rear fire main in the process. A massive fire broke out onboard both topside and deep within the hull, where supplies destined for shore now fed the flames which the crew raced to contain. Fires below deck quickly grew out of control and forced the engine room crew to abandon their stations, bringing the George F. Elliot to a stop in the middle of Ironbottom Sound. Using a bucket brigade and whatever means they could to fight the fires, the crew made a valiant stand against the advancing flames as the continuing Japanese attack kept nearby ships from providing any assistance to the burning transport. By the time the remnants of the Japanese bomber force had departed the area it was too late for the Elliot, as the intense flames caused a damaged bulkhead to fail, releasing bunker fuel into the rear hold and turning a massive fire into an inferno. Shortly after 1300hrs, the crew was ordered to abandon ship and the George F. Elliot was sunk in this general area by scuttling charges.

For her actions off Guadalcanal on the date of her loss, USS George F. Elliott received her first and final Battle Star for World War II service.

www.navsource.org/archives/09/22/22013.htm
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_George_F._Elliott_(AP-13)
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   9°20'45"S   160°8'14"E

Comments

  • I think your information may be wrong. My Grandfather and 7 other men were in a gun tower that was knocked off the ship when the aircraft hit the ship. He was listed has missing in action, and declared dead one year later.
  • My uncle served on the Elliot also but was a navy medic and on shore tending to the wounded. The information about your grandfather is tragic and I am sad. My uncle survived the war but could not live with the peace and died in 1950 of a self inflicted gun shot. Tragic war for both of use. God bless your grand father and my uncle
  • My father Raymond A Roach was on board when the Betty hit and survived. Im told he then participated in the land battle. Danroach2003@yahoo.com
  • I believe my father served on this ship when it was sunk. He never spoke of it to us. But from things he kept and my own research, I have been able to piece together his service record. Spent many a night as a child being baby sat at the local VFW. Heard many stories. But my father never spoke of it directly. RIP to all.
  • My wife's grandfather, Robert Lee Childress served in WWI on the North Carolina and as CWO on the George Fox Elliot. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions on 8 August. I have been unable to find any information about the crew and details of the sinking. Mr. Childress was from Sataria, Mississippi. Thanks for your help! Mike Woody
  • My grandfather was also on this ship. He survived. I would love to be able to find out more about his Navy ships that he was on as well as my dads. Sorry for those who lost anyone on this or in any other form of service.
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This article was last modified 12 years ago