Page "Naval Battle of Guadalcanal" Paragraph 10

The next Imperial attempt to retake the island with the newly arrived troops occurred from 20 – 26 October and was defeated with heavy losses in the Battle for Henderson Field.

At the same time, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto ( the commander of the Japanese Combined Fleet ) defeated U. S. naval forces in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, driving them away from the area.

The Japanese carriers, however, were also forced to retreat because of losses to carrier aircraft and aircrews.

Thereafter, Yamamoto's ships returned to their main bases at Truk in Micronesia, where he had his headquarters, and Rabaul while three carriers returned to Japan for repairs and refitting.