Battle of Santa Cruz
(October 25-27, 1942)

Yamamoto's second attempt to achieve naval superiority in the area around Guadalcanal came in late October. Shokaku and Zuikaku again formed the core of Combined Fleet's carrier forces, although Zuiho was along for the ride as well. And again, Yamamoto divided his forces into a van, main body, and a plethora of weak and mutually non-supportive support groups (oxymoron intended).

The Americans got their licks in early, punching a 50-foot hole in Zuiho's flight deck and sending her back to Truk. However, the Japanese put together a very effective attack against Hornet which left her dead in the water. Enterprise and several other American ships were also damaged. Several attacks later in the day crippled Hornet beyond repair, and as attempts to tow her had proved futile, she was abandoned. An American counterattack had badly damaged Shokaku, necessitating her withdrawal, and both the Japanese and the Americans quit the field soon thereafter. American losses had been more serious, but again they had managed to stave off the Japanese efforts to nullify Henderson Field.

Battle of Santa CruzJapanAllied
Starting Forces The following are the main Japanese groups involved. Some additional forces which did not contribute directly to the battle have been ommitted.

Main Body (Nagumo)
x2
x1
x1
x8

Vanguard Force (Abe)
x2
x3
x1
x8

Airgroup Force (Kakuta)
x1
x2
Advance Force (Kondo)
x4
x1
x6

x200 (approx.) 		TF 16
x1
x1
x1
x1
x8

TF 17
x1
x2
x2
x6

x170 (approx.)
Losses x1 badly damaged (Shokaku)
x1 badly damaged (Zuiho)
x1 badly damaged (Chikuma)
x4 damaged (Teruzuki)
x91 destroyed 		x1 sunk (Hornet)
x1 badly damaged (Enterprise)
x1 damaged (South Dakota)
x1 damaged (San Juan)
x1 sunk (Porter)

x81 destroyed

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