1943
During the first half of 1943 McCalla sailed among the Fiji, New Hebrides, and Solomon Islands performing plane guard, escort and antisubmarine patrol duties. Toward the end of June the New Georgia campaign began. McCalla departed Efate on the 26th to escort troop transports to Rendova Island. On the 30th, after the landings, the force was attacked by Japanese aircraft. As the first wave, torpedo planes, pressed in, McCawley (APA-4) was mortally torpedoed. McCalla's guns splashed one with two possibles; in the second wave, dive bombers, they splashed one and assisted with another kill. She then rescued 98 of McCawley's crew.
By 5 July, McCalla was back in the New Georgia area to screen the landing of Marine Raiders at Rice Anchorage. On the 9th, she took part in the bombardment of Munda airfield and then returned to escort and antisubmarine work.
At the end of September McCalla and Patterson (DD-392) collided, with serious damage to McCalla's bow. Temporary repairs were effected at Purvis Bay, Florida Island, before she departed for shipyard repairs at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. While en route, she rescued 868 survivors of the torpedoed troop transport SS ''Cape San Juan''.
Read more about this topic: USS Mc Calla (DD-488)