Battle of the Eastern Solomons

Battle of the Eastern Solomons
Previous	Battle of Savo Island
Next	Battle of Cape Esperance
Conflict	World War II
Date	24–25 August 1942
Place	North of Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands
Outcome	US victory
Combatants
United States
Japan
Commanders
Frank Jack Fletcher
Chuichi Nagumo
Strength
2 aircraft carriers 1 battleship 4 cruisers 11 destroyers 176 aircraft
3 aircraft carriers 2 battleships 16 cruisers 25 destroyers 1 seaplane tender 4 patrol boats 3 transports 177 aircraft
Casualties
1 carrier damaged 20 aircraft destroyed 90 dead
1 carrier, 1 destroyer, and 1 transport sunk 1 light cruiser and 1 seaplane tender damaged 75 aircraft destroyed 290+ dead

The Battle of the Eastern Solomons (24-25 August 1942) was the third carrier battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II and the first carrier battle during the Battle of Guadalcanal. As at the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, the American and Japanese ships were never within sight of each other, instead sending out aircraft to attack each other. The US Navy aviators repelled the Japanese aircraft's attacks on their own ships before counterattacking, with six bomber squadrons being sent to sink the Imperial Japanese Navy destroyer Tokitsukaze and the transport ships Daifuku Maru, Boston Maru, and Kinryu Maru, and the Japanese transport flotilla was sent to the bottom. The Americans proceeded to assault the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo, destroying the Japanese carrier. The two sides withdrew from the battle area without securing a decisive victory, but the Japanese had lost several experienced pilots, and the arrival of Japanese reinforcements, heavy artillery, ammunition, and other supplies on Guadalcanal was delayed.