Battle at Vella Lavella
On the night of 6 October, Selfridge, O'Bannon and Chevalier intercepted an enemy force of six destroyers three destroyer transports, and smaller armed craft 12 miles off Marquana Bay as it attempted to evacuate land forces from Vella Lavella. In the ensuing Battle of Vella Lavella, Chevalier was torpedoed and sunk Selfridge and O'Bannon were both heavily damaged - Selfridge by an enemy torpedo O'Bannon by enemy action compounded by collision with Chevalier just after the latter had gone dead in the water. Personnel casualties on Selfridge were 13 killed, 11 wounded, and 36 missing.
