| Start: Saturday August 8, 1942 | Ending: Sunday August 9, 1942 |
Night attack by the Japanese of two groups of American and Australian ships guarding the waters of Gudalcanal. Mikawa withdraws after having inflicted heavy casualties to the allied forces without attempting to reach the transports| Allied | Axis | |
| Forces | Crutchley: 5 cruisers, 6 destroyers.. + 1 cruiser absent during the fight. 2 cruisers and 2 destroyers guarded the transports and did not intervene. | Mikawa (8th fleet): 5 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers, 1 destroyer. |
| Losses | 4 cruisers lost. 1 cruiser, 2 destroyers damaged. 1023 deads. | 1 heavy cruiser lost. 1 heavy cruiser damaged. 50 deads. 1 cruiser is sunk the following day by a submarine on her way back. |