ABSTRACT
The naval Battle of Cape Esperance in early October failed to stop the Japanese from putting troops ashore, while the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands several weeks later did at least give them pause. But the great test of which side had the naval and aerial clout to protect the delivery of troops was the Battle of Guadalcanal of 12-15 November. The Japanese commitment included four battleships, seven cruisers, twenty-one destroyers and the carrier Junyo¯ supporting eleven transports, while Turner and Halsey gathered two battleships, eight cruisers, twenty-one destroyers, fourteen submarines and Enterprise supporting seven transports. Each side also coordinated with land-based planes.
