Santa Cruz 1942: Carrier Duel in the South Pacific by Mark Stille

Author:Mark Stille
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Tags: Aviation, Pacific Battlefields, World War II, Naval
ISBN: 9781780968964
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE BATTLE OF SANTA CRUZ

After two failed attempts to dislodge the Marines, Yamamoto changed his strategic focus from destroying the American fleet to supporting the land offensive to seize Henderson Field. He devised a combined sea and air operation to neutralize the airfield, thus allowing sufficient ground forces to be landed to seize the airfield successfully. After that had been accomplished, the Combined Fleet would close on Guadalcanal to destroy the American fleet as it rushed to the aid of the Marines.

On October 11, Yamamoto put his plan in motion. Two large seaplane carriers departed Shortland Island bound for Guadalcanal carrying heavy ground equipment. Supporting these was a force of three heavy cruisers and two destroyers tasked to bombard Henderson Field in the early hours of October 12. Also on this day, the Advance Force and the Main Body departed Truk. Yamamoto intensified land-based air attacks on Henderson Field with two-a-day attacks beginning on October 11. Late on the night of October 11, an American task force intercepted the Japanese cruiser force tasked to bombard Henderson Field. The resulting engagement, known as the battle of Cape Esperance, was the first American victory in a night battle during the campaign. The Japanese lost a heavy cruiser and a destroyer sunk, but the reinforcement group completed its mission.

As the Japanese offensive was put into motion, Ghormley had only a single operational carrier. On October 12, Japanese search aircraft spotted Hornet operating west of Rennell Island. The carrier was covering a convoy which moved the US Army’s 164th Infantry Regiment to Guadalcanal on October 13. Yamamoto also planned a large reinforcement convoy to Guadalcanal with six transports and eight destroyers. Onboard were seven infantry battalions and heavy weapons. To support the movement of the convoy, Yamamoto played a new card. On the night of October 13–14, two battleships bombarded Henderson Field with 918 14in. rounds destroying 40 aircraft and putting the airfield temporarily out of commission. The Japanese convoy arrived on the island on the night of October 14–15, proceeded by two heavy cruisers again shelling the airfield. Aircraft from carriers Junyo and Hiyo flew air cover over the transports. American aircraft from Henderson Field did succeed in sinking three of the six transports, but not until 4,500 men had been landed along with two-thirds of their supplies and equipment. Yamamoto kept up the pressure with another cruiser bombardment on the night of October 15–16 and more reinforcement destroyer runs.

The Japanese failed to find Hornet on October 15; the next day, Hornet closed to within 95 miles of Guadalcanal and launched four strikes against the beached Japanese transports. On October 17, Yamamoto ordered Carrier Division 2 to attack shipping in the Lunga anchorage. Kakuta launched 18 fighters and 18 carrier attack planes armed with bombs. They unsuccessfully attacked two destroyers off Guadalcanal and suffered heavily in return. Of the 18 carrier attack planes, only eight returned.

Heading into the next round of combat, Ghormley was pessimistic about whether Guadalcanal could be held. On October

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