| Forces | - Murray (TF 17): 1 carrier, 4 cruisers, 6 destroyers, 37 fighters, 30 dive bombers, 17 torpedo planes.
- * (Ships around Guadalcanal during the battle of Santa Cruz): 1 high speed transport, 2 destroyers (mine warfare), 1 gunboat, 1 small patrol craf, 1 tug.
- Kinkaid (TF 16): 1 carrier, 1 battleship, 2 cruisers, 8 destroyers, 31 fighters, 34 dive bombers, 10 torpedo planes.
- Lee (TF 64, cruising south of Guadalcanal): 1 battleship, 1 heavy cruiser, 1 light cruiser, 1 anti aircraft cruiser, 6 destroyers.
- Henderson Field (Airfield on Guadalcanal (TF 63)): 28 fighters, 20 dive bombers, 2 torpedo planes.
- New Caledonia (Land base aircrafts (TF 63)): 61 fighters, 16 heavy bombers, 13 scouting planes.
- Espiritu Santo (land based aircraft and seaplane tenders (TF 63)): 2 seaplane tenders, 24 fighters, 39 heavy bombers, 37 seaplanes.
- Kuasaka (11th Air fleet, based at Rabaul and Buka): 220 aircraft.
Total: 2 carriers, 2 battleships, 6 cruisers, 1 heavy cruiser, 1 light cruiser, 1 anti aircraft cruiser, 20 destroyers, 1 high speed transport, 2 destroyers (mine warfare), 2 seaplane tenders, 1 gunboat, 1 small patrol craf, 1 tug, 220 aircraft, 181 fighters, 84 dive bombers, 29 torpedo planes, 55 heavy bombers, 13 scouting planes, 37 seaplanes | - Nagumo (Carrier Striking Force (3rd fleet)): 2 carriers, 1 light carrier, 1 heavy cruiser, 8 destroyers, 60 fighters, 44 dive bombers, 53 torpedo planes, 1 seaplane.
- Abe (Vanguard Group): 2 battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 7 destroyers.
- Kondo (Advanced group: mission of fire support for the troops on Guadalcanal): 4 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 6 destroyers.
- Kakuta (Air group. Aerial cover of Guadalcanal support force): 1 light carrier, 2 destroyers, 24 fighters, 21 dive bombers, 10 torpedo planes.
- Kurita (Support Group): 2 battleships, 2 destroyers.
- Logistic* (Nagumo's logistic group): 1 destroyer, 4 destroyers.
- Mikawa (Assault Unit, against Guadalcanal. 8th fleet based in the Shortlands): 3 destroyers.
- Takama (Bombardment Unit, 8th fleet, based in the Shortlands. Mission against Henderson Field to support the Hyakutake's offensive): 1 light cruiser, 5 destroyers.
- Komatsu A* (Advance Expeditionary Force (6th fleet), Group A. Based at Truk): 6 submarines.
- Komatsu B* (Advance Expeditionary Force (6th fleet), Group B. Based at Truk): 6 submarines.
Total: 2 carriers, 2 light carriers, 4 battleships, 8 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 38 destroyers, 12 submarines, 84 fighters, 65 dive bombers, 63 torpedo planes, 1 seaplane |
