as planned and were key participants for the Allied side in the decisive land battle for Henderson Field that took place from 23–26 October. The Cape Esperance victory helped prevent an accurate U.S. assessment of Japanese skills and tactics in naval night fighting. The U.S. was still unaware of the range and power of Japanese torpedoes, the effectiveness of Japanese night optics, and the skilled fighting ability of most Japanese destroyer and cruiser commanders. Incorrectly applying the perceived lessons learned from this battle, U.S. commanders in future naval night battles in the Solomons consistently tried to prove that American naval gunfire was more effective than Japanese torpedo attacks. This belief was severely tested just two months later during the Battle of Tassafaronga. A junior officer on Helena'' later wrote, "Cape Esperance was a three-sided battle in which chance was the major winner." On 11 October, a large force of carriers and battleships together with their escort groups left Truk and lingered in the area around Guadalcanal, heavily bombarding Henderson field and looking to intercept Allied reinforcement convoys. This buildup of naval forces would culminate in the subsequent Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. Notes References Further reading External links – somewhat inaccurate on details, since it was written during the war – Copy of the commander of U.S. Destroyer Squadron 12's after action report. 1942 in Japan Guadalcanal Campaign Naval battles of World War II involving Japan Naval battles of World War II involving the United States Conflicts in 1942 1942 in the Solomon Islands Battles and operations of World War II involving the Solomon Islands Military history of Japan during World War II Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II Night battles October 1942 events