USN surprised at Battle of Vella Lavella

6th October 1943: An eyewitness account of the sinking of USS Chevalier and the lucky escape of the severely damaged USS Selfridge

Destroyer Squadron Twenty-One. Three of the squadron's ships steaming in column, while en route to Guadalcanal and Tulagi on 15 August 1943, following the Vella Lavella landings. Photographed from USS Nicholas (DD-449). The ships seen are(from right to left): USS O'Bannon (DD-450), USS Chevalier (DD-451) and USS Taylor (DD-468).