USS Farenholt (DD-491) bombarding Kavieng, New Ireland, on February 25, 1944 

Ships of Destroyer Squadron 12 (DesRon 12) bombarding Kavieng, New Ireland, on February 25, 1944. The footage was filmed from USS Farenholt (DD-491) and seen following in her wake at 4:42 and 6:09 are USS Woodworth (DD-460), USS Buchanan (DD-484), USS Lansdowne (DD-486), and USS Lardner (DD-487).
During this action, the Japanese shore batteries gave a good account of themselves with accurate fire and a hit on Buchanan and Farenholt each. Eventually, however, the shore batteries fell silent, with two Japanese vessels sunk and several burning around the harbor, courtesy of DesRon 12 and an accompanying spotter aircraft. All the smoke in the footage is from smoke generators, smokestacks, and gunfire from the destroyers.
Footage (428-NPC-1639): catalog.archiv...
USS FARENHOLT Report of Bombardment and Action 2/25/44 Kavieng Area: catalog.archiv...
USS WOODWORTH Report of Bombardment Engagement With Shore Batteries at Kavieng 2/25/44: catalog.archiv...
USS BUCHANAN Report of Anti-Shipping Sweep Between Kavieng & Truk and Bombardment of Kavieng Harbor 2/23-25/44: catalog.archiv...
USS LANSDOWNE Act Rep Bombardment of Kavieng New Ireland 2/25/44: catalog.archiv...
USS LARDNER Rep Of Bombardment of Kavieng N Ireland 2/25/44: catalog.archiv...
COMDESRON 12 War Diary 2/1-29/44: catalog.archiv...