The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander (D.S.C.) Peter Phipps, Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the HMNZS MOA, during an engagement with a Japanese submarine at Kamimbo, near Guadalcanal, on 29 and 30 January 1943. Immediately upon making contact with the enemy vessel, Lieutenant Commander Bridson, Commanding Officer of HMNZS MOA, launched a determined depth charge attack, forcing the submarine to the surface. He scored several hits with gunfire and twice during this engagement rammed the enemy ship. Lieutenant Commander Peter Phipps then held the vessel under gunfire until he had driven it back to the beach. The actions of Lieutenant Commander Phipps contributed directly to the ultimate destruction of the enemy submarine.