Japanese Forces.
As ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Rear-Admiral Aritomo Goto. The Guadalcanal campaignwould last six … His ships would steam in column with his destroyers at the front and rear of his cruiser column, searching across a 300 degree arc with SG surface radar in an effort to gain positional advantage on the approaching enemy force. A tactical victory for Hall, the engagement had little strategic significance as Jojima was able to deliver his troops. Scott claimed that his force sank three Japanese cruisers and four destroyers.
The Battle of Cape Esperance cost Hall the destroyer The American formation was beginning to scatter, so Scott ordered a turn to 205° to disengage.During the battle between Scott's and Gotō's ships, Jojima's reinforcement group completed unloading at Guadalcanal and began its return journey unseen by Scott's warships, using a route that passed south of the Russell Islands and New Georgia. Guadalcanal (lower right) lies at the southeastern end of "Due to the heavier concentration of Japanese surface combat vessels and their well positioned logistical base at Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, and their victory at the Battle of Savo Island in early August, the Japanese had established operational control over the waters around Guadalcanal at night. The U.S. was still unaware of the range and power of Japanese torpedoes, the effectiveness of Japanese night optics, and the skilled fighting ability of most Japanese destroyer and cruiser commanders. Although At 22:33, just after passing Cape Esperance, Scott's ships assumed battle formation. At 23:43, Scott—still unsure who his ships were firing at, and afraid that they might be firing on his own destroyers—ordered a ceasefire at 23:47, although not every ship complied. ISSN Poor, Henry Varnum; Henry A. Mustin & Colin G. Jameson (1994). Gotō's force passed through several rain squalls as they approached Guadalcanal at 30 kn (35 mph; 56 km/h). A "fighter sweep" of 17 Scott crafted a simple battle plan for the expected engagement. Scott's ships, however, quickly lost sight of Gotō's ships, and all firing ceased by 00:20. While the Japanese were planning their operations, the Allies made plans to reinforce the island as well. The Battle of Cape Esperance took place the night of October 11/12, 1942. At 00:06, two torpedoes from At 00:16, Scott ordered his ships to turn to a heading of 330° in an attempt to pursue the fleeing Japanese ships. Sentai 6. This situation had endured for the months of August and September 1942. pp. Gotō's flagship U.S. Navy track chart of the battle accurately depicts the movements of the U.S. ships (lower tracks) but not the Japanese ship tracks (upper, darker line).Gotō's force was taken almost completely by surprise. The column was led by Map showing the movements of Gotō's and Jojima's forces during the battle. However, the Battle of Cape Esperance provided a significant morale boost to the US Navy after the disaster of Savo Island.
Scarcely had American forces consolidated their positions on Guadalcanal after the successful landing of 7 August 1942, when the Japanese indicated their resolve to regain control of the southern Solomons. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our On the night of 11 October, Japanese naval forces in the Solomon Islands area—under the command of Shortly before midnight on 11 October, a U.S force of four cruisers and five destroyers—under the command of Rear Admiral As with the preceding naval engagements, around Guadalcanal, the strategic outcome was inconsequential because neither the Japanese nor United States navies secured operational control of the waters around Guadalcanal as a result of this action. "The Similarity of Past and Present Standoff Threats". Battle of Cape Esperance 11 October 1942 Track Chart Damaged Boise entering Philadelphia Navy Yard. To screen this convoy, Vice Admiral Robert Ghormley assigned Task Force 64, commanded by Rear Admiral Norman Hall, to operate near the island.
He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. Battle of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942 Boise (CL-47) arrives at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in November 1942 for repair of battle damage received during the Battle of Cape Esperance. 113–116. Hall also informed his captains that they were open fire when the enemy was sited rather than waiting for orders. After defeat at the Battle of Bloody Ridge, 12–14 September, they intensified their efforts. 11-12 October 1942 Contributed by Daniel Muir and Jonathan Leung. Just two days later on the night of 13 October, the Japanese battleships The Cape Esperance victory helped prevent an accurate U.S. assessment of Japanese skills and tactics in naval night fighting. The battles of Cape Esperance, 11 October 1942 and Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942. p. cm. In addition, Mikawa ordered Rear Admiral Aritomo Goto to lead a force of three cruisers and two destroyers with orders to shell Henderson Field while Jojima's ships delivered their troops. Note the forward 6-inch/47-caliber triple gun turret trained to starboard. However, any Japanese ship remaining within range of American aircraft at Henderson field, during the daylight hours—about 200 mi (170 nmi; 320 km)—was in danger of damaging air attack. As he moved north, Hall, aware that the Americans had faired badly in previous night battles with the Japanese, crafted a simple battle plan.