Repeated air attack overwhelmed USS Chicago off Rennell Island

The Battle of Rennell Island was the final major naval engagement of the Guadalcanal campaign and consisted mainly of air attacks supporting the Japanese evacuation. Louisville attempted to tow Chicago to safety after the initial damage, but repeated waves kept the crippled cruiser under pressure despite fighter cover. Later attackers feinted toward Enterprise, drew away fighters, and then turned back toward Chicago. Whether six or seven torpedoes hit, the accumulated damage was beyond what any cruiser was designed to survive.