 Finally , fearing a possible night encounter with Japanese surface forces , and believing Yamamoto still intended to invade , based in part on a misleading contact report from Tambor , Spruance changed course and withdrew to the east , turning back west towards the enemy at midnight . For his part , Yamamoto initially decided to continue the engagement and sent his remaining surface forces searching eastward for the American carriers . Simultaneously , he detached a cruiser raiding force to bombard the island . The Japanese surface forces failed to make contact with the Americans due to Spruance 's decision to briefly withdraw eastward , and Yamamoto ordered a general withdrawal to the west . It was fortunate Spruance did not pursue , for had he come in contact with Yamamoto 's heavy ships , including Yamato , in the dark and considering the Japanese Navy 's superiority in night @-@ attack tactics at the time , his cruisers would have been overwhelmed and his carriers sunk . 
