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The '''Battle of the Eastern Solomons''' was a battle between Japanese and American [[aircraft carrier]]s in [[World War II]].  One Japanese carrier was sunk, and an American carrier, the [[USS Enterprise (CV-6)|USS ''Enterprise'']], was damaged.  It was part of the [[Guadalcanal]] campaign.

The '''Battle of the Eastern Solomons''' was a battle between Japanese and American [[aircraft carrier]]s in [[World War II]].  One Japanese carrier was sunk, and an American carrier, the [[USS Enterprise (CV-6)|USS ''Enterprise'']], was damaged.  It was part of the [[Guadalcanal]] campaign.

Americans had landed on the island of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942, and established a toehold on a small area on the north side of the island.  This toehold included Henderson Field, an air field that served as a base for Army and Marine Corps airplanes.  The area was also covered by the aircraft carriers [[USS Enterprise (CV-6)|''Enterprise'']], ''Saratoga'', and ''Wasp'', supported by the battleship [[North Carolina-class battleship|''North Carolina'']] and four [[cruisers]].  The goal of [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], commander of Japan’s naval forces, was to sink the American carriers and deprive Henderson Field of their protection.

Americans had landed on the island of Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942, and established a toehold on a small area on the north side of the island.  This toehold included [[Henderson Field]], an air field that served as a base for Army and Marine Corps airplanes.  The area was also covered by the aircraft carriers [[USS Enterprise (CV-6)|''Enterprise'']], [[USS Saratoga (CV-3)|''Saratoga'']], and [[USS Wasp (CV-7)|''Wasp'']], supported by the battleship [[North Carolina-class battleship|''North Carolina'']] and four [[cruisers]].  The goal of [[Isoroku Yamamoto]], commander of Japan’s naval forces, was to sink the American carriers and deprive Henderson Field of their protection.

On August 23, a Japanese fleet under Vice-Admiral Nagumo entered the area.  This fleet included four transports loaded with troops, three battleships, and most importantly, three aircraft carriers.  The ''Shokaku'' and ''Zuikaku'', both fleet carriers and veterans of [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], were to provide the main striking force, and the light carrier ''Ryujo'', a veteran of the Japanese campaign to capture the [[Aleutian Islands]], was to act as bait, drawing American air power away from the main body.

On August 23, a Japanese fleet under Vice-Admiral Nagumo entered the area.  This fleet included four transports loaded with troops, three battleships, and most importantly, three aircraft carriers.  The ''[[Shokaku]]'' and ''[[Zuikaku]]'', both fleet carriers and veterans of [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|Pearl Harbor]], were to provide the main striking force, and the light carrier ''[[Ryujo]]'', a veteran of the Japanese campaign to capture the [[Aleutian Islands]], was to act as bait, drawing American air power away from the main body.

Early the next morning, a 27-aircraft strike force from the ''Ryujo'' attacked Henderson Field, but did no serious damage and was met by [[Marine Corps]] Wildcat fighters.  Sixteen Japanese aircraft were shot down (three by famed Marine ace Marion Carl) in exchange for three Wildcats.<ref>''Semper Fi in the Sky:  The Marine Air Battles of World War II'', by Gerald Astor, Presidio Press, 2005</ref>  American reconnaissance planes found the little carrier later in the day, and planes from the ''Saratoga'' and ''Enterprise'' were sent after her.  (The American commander, Admiral Frank Fletcher, had sent the ''Wasp'' to be refueled, so it played no part in the battle.)  The strike found ''Ryujo'' and sank her.

Early the next morning, a 27-aircraft strike force from the ''Ryujo'' attacked Henderson Field, but did no serious damage and was met by [[Marine Corps]] [[F4F Wildcat|Wildcat]] fighters.  Sixteen Japanese aircraft were shot down (three by famed Marine [[Flying ace|ace]] Marion Carl) in exchange for three Wildcats.<ref>''Semper Fi in the Sky:  The Marine Air Battles of World War II'', by Gerald Astor, Presidio Press, 2005</ref>  American reconnaissance planes found the little carrier later in the day, and planes from the ''Saratoga'' and ''Enterprise'' were sent after her.  (The American commander, Admiral [[Frank Fletcher]], had sent the ''Wasp'' to be refueled, so it played no part in the battle.)  The strike found ''Ryujo'' and sank her.

At the same time, planes from the ''Shokaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' attacked the ''Enterprise''.  Her defending Wildcat fighters were able to ward off the [[Nakajima B5N|torpedo planes]], but some of the [[Aichi D3A|dive bombers]] got through, and she suffered three bomb hits, which resulted in fires, at least one secondary explosion, and a list.  However, the fires were soon brought under control, and the Enterprise was able to recover her planes and get underway.  Aircraft losses were 20 American planes and 70 Japanese, including the 37 based on the ''Ryujo''.<ref>''Oxford Guide to World War II'', ed. by I.C.B. Dear, Oxford University Press, 1995</ref>

At the same time, planes from the ''Shokaku'' and ''Zuikaku'' attacked the ''Enterprise''.  Her defending Wildcat fighters were able to ward off the [[Nakajima B5N|torpedo planes]], but some of the [[Aichi D3A|dive bombers]] got through, and she suffered three bomb hits, which resulted in fires, at least one secondary explosion, and a list.  However, the fires were soon brought under control, and the Enterprise was able to recover her planes and get underway.  Aircraft losses were 20 American planes and 70 Japanese, including the 37 based on the ''Ryujo''.<ref>''Oxford Guide to World War II'', ed. by I.C.B. Dear, Oxford University Press, 1995</ref>