Battle of Cape Esperance

A naval battle fought off Guadalcanal on 11–12 October 1942, in which a U.S. force intercepted a Japanese group sent to bombard Henderson Field.

United States Navy: The maritime service of the United States armed forces, responsible for naval operations. Its task force intercepted the Japanese bombardment group off Guadalcanal.
Guadalcanal campaign: A campaign from 1942 to 1943 in which Allied forces fought to capture and hold Guadalcanal from Japan. Cape Esperance was one engagement in this prolonged campaign.
Norman Scott: A U.S. Navy rear admiral who commanded American forces at the Battle of Cape Esperance. Scott led the force that intercepted the Japanese ships.
Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands: A carrier battle fought near the Santa Cruz Islands on 25–27 October 1942. It followed Cape Esperance during the continuing October struggle for Guadalcanal.
Imperial Japanese Navy: Japan’s navy from 1868 to 1945, which fought the Pacific War against the Allies. Its cruisers and destroyers approached Guadalcanal to shell Henderson Field.
Battle of Guadalcanal: A major 1942–1943 land, sea, and air campaign for control of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The naval interception supported the wider contest for the island.
Aritomo Gotō: A Japanese Navy rear admiral who commanded the bombardment force at Cape Esperance. Gotō’s group was surprised by the American attack and he was mortally wounded.
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal: A series of naval engagements fought near Guadalcanal on 12–15 November 1942. The later battle continued the contest over Japanese reinforcement and Henderson Field.
Radar: A system that detects objects by transmitting radio waves and analyzing their reflections. U.S. radar detected the approaching Japanese ships before visual contact.
Tokyo Express: The Allied name for Japanese nighttime destroyer runs supplying and reinforcing forces in the Solomon Islands. The Japanese bombardment group traveled along routes used for nighttime operations.

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