Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
Sea near the Santa Cruz Islands, Solomon Islands
What happened
US aircraft carriers under William Halsey and Thomas Kinkaid fought Japanese carriers under Nobutake Kondō and Chūichi Nagumo. During the fight for Guadalcanal, the two navies' carriers attacked each other with aircraft, and the ships rarely came in sight of each other. The US carrier Hornet was badly hit and later sunk, and Enterprise was damaged. Two Japanese carriers were also damaged.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was a Japanese victory in ships sunk, but Japan lost many of its experienced pilots, who could not be replaced. One historian said the victory 'cost Japan her last best hope to win the war'.
What came next
Enterprise, the last working US carrier in the Pacific for a time, was repaired and returned for the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The Japanese commander Nagumo was soon replaced.
Did you know?
Enterprise, nicknamed 'the Big E', went on to earn 20 battle stars.
Timeline
- 24-25 August 1942The Battle of the Eastern Solomons.
- 11-12 October 1942The Battle of Cape Esperance.
- 25-27 October 1942The Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.
- 1 July 1958Enterprise is sold for scrap.