Table of Data Points

US marines attempted to encircle and destroy 230th Infantry Regiment, commanded by Toshinari Shji. Although Shji's unit took heavy casualties, he and most of his men were able to evade the encirclement attempt and escape into the interior of Guadalcanal.

The fourth carrier battle of the Pacific campaign. An apparent victory for the Japanese in terms of ships, the loss of many irreplaceable aircrew by the Japanese provided a long-term advantage for the Allies, whose aircrew losses were relatively low.

Two battalions of Nakaguma's 4th Infantry Regiment and the nine tanks of the 1st Independent Tank Company launched attacks at the mouth of the Matanikau. Marine 37mm AT guns quickly destroyed all nine tanks. Infantry attacks were also stopped.

The Cape Esperance victory helped prevent an accurate U.S. assessment of Japanese skills and tactics in naval night fighting. The complacency of the Japanese force contributed to it's defeat more than any other factor.

On her second patrol the US submarine Grouper sunk the Japanese freighter Lisbon Maru. The ship was not appropriately marked to indicate she was carrying 1800 British POWs. Over 800 of these men either drowned or were shot by Japanese soldiers.