"Ironbottom Sound" (alternatively Iron Bottom Sound or Ironbottomed Sound or Iron Bottom Bay) is the name given by Allied sailors to the stretch of water at the southern end of The Slot between Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Florida Island of the Solomon Islands, because of the dozens of ships and planes that sank there during the naval actions comprising the Battle of Guadalcanal during 1942–1943. Before the war, it was called Savo Sound. Every year on the battle's anniversary, a US ship cruises into the waters and drops a wreath to commemorate the men who lost their lives. For many Navy sailors, and those who served in the area during that time, the waters in this area are considered sacred, and strict silence is observed as ships cruise through.
Naval actions comprising the Battle of Guadalcanal
Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942
Battle of Cape Esperance, 11–12 October 1942
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13–15 November 1942
Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942
Operation I-Go, 1–16 April 1943
Sunken ships
Japanese
Cape Esperance, 11–12 October 1942
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– heavy cruiser; wreck located northwest of Savo Island
First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 13 November 1942
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Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 15 November 1942
– Kongō-class battlecruiser
– Fubuki-class destroyer
– troop transport beached and then attacked by US bombers. These attacks set the transports afire and destroyed most equipment not unloaded before dawn. In September and October 1944, the wreck was used as a target for tests of the TDR-1 Drone by STAG-1 based at North Field on Banika, Russell Islands as part of the top secret project testing of America's first guided missile. – troop transport beached in Doma Cove
Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942
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Other surface battles and aerial actions, 1942–1943
– ; lost to U.S. Navy air attack 4 May 1942
– minesweeper; lost to U.S. Navy aerial torpedo attack 4 May 1942
– military transport; ran aground and lost to air attack 15 October 1942
– military transport; grounded and lost to air attack 15 November 1942
– military transport; grounded and lost to air attack 15 November 1942
– Type J1 submarine; torpedoed by USN PT Boat 9 December 1942
– ; torpedoed by USN PT Boat 12 December 1942
– Type J1 submarine; rammed by RNZN ASW Corvettes, ran aground 29 January 1943
– Yūgumo-class destroyer; hit Mine while under attack by PT Boat 1 February 1943
(Kyūsyū Maru) – military transport; attacked by the “Cactus Air Force” (later Air Sols) from Henderson Field 14 October 1942 – military transport; attacked by the “Cactus Air Force” (later Air Sols) from Henderson Field 14 October 1942. Beached and becomes a total loss. She is also known as the Sasago Maru.