She supported the landings of 30 June on the north coast of Rendova Island, across Blanche Channel from Munda. Immediately after the first wave of troops hit Rendova Beach, Munda Island shore batteries opened fire on the four destroyers patrolling Blanche Channel. Gwin was straddled by the first salvo. A moment later a shell exploded on her main deck aft, killing three men, wounding seven and stopping her after engine. The half-dozen enemy shore batteries were soon silenced as Gwin laid down an effective heavy smoke screen to protect the unloading transports. When aerial raiders appeared, her gunners shot down three. Rendova Island was soon in American possession. It served as an important motor torpedo boat base to harass Japanese barge lines and a base for air support in the Solomons. Sinking Gwin escorted a reinforcement echelon from Guadalcanal to Rendova, then raced to the "Slot" 7 July to rescue 87 survivors of cruiser , lost in the Battle of Kula Gulf. She then joined a cruiser–destroyer task force under Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth to head off a formidable "Tokyo Express" force headed through the Solomon Islands to land troops at Vila. The Battle of Kolombangara was joined in the early hours of 13 July and Japanese light cruiser quickly slid to the bottom, the victim of smothering gunfire and torpedo hits. However, four Japanese destroyers, waiting for a calculated moment when Ainsworth's formation would turn, launched 31 torpedoes at the American formation. His flagship, , cruiser and Gwin, maneuvering to bring their main batteries to bear on the enemy, turned right into the path of the "long lance" torpedoes. Both cruisers received damaging hits but survived. Gwin received a torpedo hit amidships in her engine room and exploded. The destroyer took off Gwins crew after their damage control efforts failed and she had to be scuttled. Two officers and 59 men perished with the destroyer. Gwin received five battle stars for service in World War II. References Bibliography Brown, David. Warship Losses of World War Two. Arms and Armour, London, 1990. . External links USS Gwin website at Destroyer History Foundation Naval History and Heritage Command: USS Gwin navsource.org: USS Gwin hazegray.org: USS Gwin Roll of Honor Gwin (DD-433) Ships built in Boston Shipwrecks in the Solomon Sea 1940 ships Gwin (DD-433) Maritime incidents in July 1943