On the night of 29-30 January 1943, a David and Goliath-type struggle took place between a Japanese submarine and two small ‘Bird’ class minesweepers, the HMNZS Kiwi and Moa.

Kiwi and Moa were patrolling one mile apart off Kamimbo Bay at the north-west end of Guadalcanal when the Japanese submarine was spotted. Kiwi quickly altered course and rushed to the attack with depth charges, dropping six, one of which fell in the wake of the submarine’s periscope. After a second round of depth charges the submarine was forced to surface, its motors disabled. The Japanese submarine I-1 then tried to escape in the darkness using her diesel engines, but her efforts were in vain. Both Kiwi and Moa began firing star shells and high explosives, with Kiwi scoring a direct hit. The submarine replied with her 5.5-inch 125mm gun and just missed both ships. Kiwi then rammed the submarine while shooting it with every gun it had. In a fierce action that lasted more than an hour, Kiwi rammed the submarine three times before the sub finally struck a reef and was wrecked.

As this watercolour by Official War Artist Russell Clarke shows, the Kiwi’s searchlight and signalling lamp were trained on the submarine for the entire battle. The searchlight was controlled by Leading Signalman Campbell Buchanan, who was eventually hit. Although mortally wounded, Buchanan remained at his post, dying of his wounds the following day (he received the US Navy Cross and a posthumous mention in dispatches)

Archives Reference: AAAC 898 Box 565/ NCWA 311 <a href="https://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22497941" rel="nofollow">archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=22497941</a>

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