Spirited account of the task force led by Admiral Merrill, that for all practical purposes, Merrill's handful of destroyers and cruisers comprised the whole South Pacific Fleet, during the dark months when the entire Solomon's area depended on it in 1943.

Includes index.

The Hollywood squadron -- Rennell Island -- Guadalcanal, goodbye -- Step forward -- The squadron unites -- Counterattack by air -- Destroyers-fleeting in -- The graveyard shift -- Close quarters -- Ainsworth is out of it -- Change of base -- Change of strategy -- Destroyers in the slot -- Remote from glory -- Preparation -- Lightning in the act of striking -- The flies take over -- Hit -- Desron 23 -- Rabaul and beyond.