Santa Cruz, Battle of

World War II naval engagement between US and Japanese fleets north of the Solomon Islands October 1942. Although the action was itself inconclusive, it left the US Navy without an operational aircraft carrier in the Pacific area.

A Japanese force waiting for the recapture of the airbase at Henderson Field and a US force intent on preventing Japan reinforcing Guadalcanal found each other and flew off air strikes against each other almost simultaneously. The aircraft met and fought, and the survivors continued on to attack the enemy fleets. The USS Hornet was struck by two torpedoes, six bombs, and two suicide aircraft, and was abandoned on fire and later sunk by the Japanese. The USS Enterprise was also hit, while two Japanese carriers were severely damaged.