Cape Esperance, Battle of

In World War II, US naval victory over Japanese forces off the Solomon Islands October 11–12, 1942. A Japanese cruiser squadron covering the landing of reinforcements on Guadalcanal clashed with a US squadron escorting a troop and supply convoy off Savo Island. Two Japanese cruisers were damaged and three destroyers and a cruiser sunk; the US force lost one destroyer.

The Japanese squadron consisted of two cruisers and three destroyers; the US squadron of four cruisers and five destroyers. The US force opened fire first, severely damaging two Japanese cruisers and sinking one destroyer. The US destroyer Duncan got involved with two Japanese ships and became the target of not only their fire but that of other US ships attempting to deal with the Japanese in the dark by radar. The vessel caught fire and was abandoned; it sank the following day. The US force then pursued the Japanese out of the area and sank a further cruiser and two destroyers.