▁two ▁aircraft . ▁At ago ▁also ▁played ▁a ▁very ▁minor ▁role ▁in ▁Battle ▁of ▁Santa ▁Cruz ▁Islands ▁( 2 6 – 2 7 ▁October ) ▁▁ ▁In ▁the ▁Second ▁Naval ▁Battle ▁of ▁Gu adal can al ▁( 1 5 ▁November ), ▁during ▁a ▁night ▁gun ▁du el ▁with ▁the ▁American ▁batt les hips ▁ ▁and ▁, ▁At ago ▁and ▁Tak ao ▁hit ▁South ▁Dak ota ▁with ▁sevent een ▁ ▁r ounds ▁and ▁one ▁. ▁The ▁batt les hip ▁ ▁also ▁hit ▁South ▁Dak ota ▁with ▁a ▁single ▁ ▁round ▁that ▁expl oded ▁on ▁her ▁a ft ▁No . ▁ 3 ▁tur ret ' s ▁bar b ette . ▁South ▁Dak ota ▁was ▁dam aged , ▁but ▁not ▁s unk . ▁Early ▁in ▁the ▁battle , ▁At ago ▁and ▁Tak ao ▁each ▁launched ▁eight ▁Type ▁ 9 3 ▁" Long ▁L ance " ▁tor ped o es ▁at ▁Washington ▁but ▁they ▁all ▁missed . ▁At ago ▁was ▁dam aged ▁slightly ▁as ▁a ▁result ▁of ▁the ▁action , ▁and ▁returned ▁to ▁K ure ▁for ▁rep airs ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁December . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 5 ▁January ▁ 1 9 4 3 , ▁At ago ▁returned ▁to ▁Tru k ▁to ▁continue ▁Japanese ▁efforts ▁to ▁hold ▁the ▁Sol omon ▁Islands , ▁and ▁eventually ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁ev acu ation ▁of ▁Gu adal can al . ▁The ▁force ▁consisted ▁of ▁the ▁carri ers ▁, ▁ ▁and ▁, ▁the ▁batt les hips ▁ ▁and ▁, ▁heavy ▁cru is ers ▁At ago , ▁Tak ao , ▁ ▁and