Table of Data Points

The battle turned back Japan's last major attempt to dislodge Allied forces from Guadalcanal and nearby Tulagi, resulting in a strategic victory for the U.S. and its allies and deciding the ultimate outcome of the Guadalcanal campaign in their favor.

In a series of small unit engagements over 29 days, the 2nd Raiders killed almost 500 Japanese soldiers while suffering only 16 killed. The raiders also captured a Japanese artillery cannon that was delivering harassing gunfire on Henderson Field.

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 IJN battleships Kongo and Haruna sailed from Truk and bombarded Henderson field. They intended damage the CAF to the point it would not be effective in damaging the convoy of 4500 troops sailing from the Shortland islands.