| Forces | - Fletcher (TF 11): 1 carrier, 2 cruisers, 5 destroyers, 28 fighters, 33 dive bombers, 13 torpedo planes.
- Kinkaid (TF 16): 1 carrier, 1 battleship, 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers, 29 fighters, 35 dive bombers, 16 torpedo planes.
- Noyes (TF 18, refueling during the air-sea battle): 1 carrier, 3 cruisers, 7 destroyers.
- Espiritu Santo (aircraft's based in the New Hebrides): 25 heavy bombers, 33 seaplanes.
- Wallace (Guadalcanal airstrip): 18 fighters, 11 dive bombers.
Total: 3 carriers, 1 battleship, 7 cruisers, 18 destroyers, 75 fighters, 79 dive bombers, 29 torpedo planes, 25 heavy bombers, 33 seaplanes | - Nagumo (Striking Force): 2 carriers, 6 destroyers, 54 fighters, 54 dive bombers, 36 torpedo planes.
- Mikawa (covers the convoy to Guadalcanal): 4 heavy cruisers.
- Kondo (Advanced Force): 5 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 6 destroyers, 1 seaplane carrier, 22 seaplanes.
- Hara (Mobile Force): 1 light carrier, 1 heavy cruiser, 2 destroyers, 24 fighters, 6 torpedo planes.
- Tanaka (convoy to Guadalcanal): 1 light cruiser, 8 destroyers, 4 escort or patrol boats, 3 transports.
- Abe (Vanguard): 2 battleships, 3 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 3 destroyers.
- Kondo (group on stand by): 1 carrier, 1 battleship, 3 destroyers.
- Yamada (25th Air flotilla): 51 fighters, 9 dive bombers, 41 heavy bombers, 13 seaplanes.
- Logistic: 2 destroyers, 2 oilers.
- Yamamoto (on his way to Truk): 1 carrier, 1 battleship, 2 destroyers.
- Yamazaki: 1 submarine tender, 14 submarines.
- 100 aircraft.
Total: 4 carriers, 1 light carrier, 4 battleships, 13 heavy cruisers, 3 light cruisers, 32 destroyers, 1 seaplane carrier, 4 escort or patrol boats, 1 submarine tender, 3 transports, 2 oilers, 14 submarines, 100 aircraft, 129 fighters, 63 dive bombers, 42 torpedo planes, 41 heavy bombers, 35 seaplanes |
