Status - John Skinner:
By this time, the crew of O'Brien would probably have begun their journey to the US west coast; they arrived there in early November. These destroyer sailors would get a month of leave before reporting to new ships in mid-December.
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
As the opposing ground forces fought on Guadalcanal, Admiral Halsey sent both his carrier task forces to confront a large Japanese force approaching from the northwest. The resulting battle consisted of several aerial attacks from the 5 Japanese carriers (2 fleet carriers, 3 light carriers), and from Hornet and Enterprise. Hornet suffered bomb and torpedo hits and was abandoned, finally sunk by Japanese destroyer torpedoes. No Japanese carriers were sunk, but one fleet carrier was severely damaged. In addition, the Japanese lost many aircrews that they would have trouble replacing.
Enterprise was also damaged and had to retire to Noumea for repairs. This left no US carriers in the Guadalcanal area until Enterprise was repaired. Saratoga would not sail until November 10th from Pearl Harbor. However, the damage to the Japanese fleet prevented them from following up immediately.
The Marines on Guadalcanal had again managed to stave off several Japanese attacks while inflicting major losses on the enemy. Henderson Field was held, and the Marines looked for reinforcement.
U. S. Navy Task Forces:
- Task Force
16 (Enterprise) has reunited with Hornet near Guadalcanal in time for the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. The task force had to retire to Noumea for repairs to Enterprise.
- Saratoga remained at Pearl Harbor for repairs (sailed November 10th).
- Task Force 17 (Hornet) -> TF 61 was disbanded after Hornet was sunk.
- Combined
Task Force 61 remained on patrol in the Coral Sea near Guadalcanal.
Task Force 17 (Hornet) -> TF 61- Task Force 16 (Enterprise) -> TF 61
More Information:
- Official Navy Chronology, pp. 267-270.
- The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign, John B. Lundstrom, pp 325-459.
- The Struggle for Guadalcanal, Samuel Eliot Morison, pp. 181-224.
- Neptune's Inferno, The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal, James D. Hornfischer, pp. 223-236.
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