Eighth Fleet restraint at the end of a long supply line

Criticism of Mikawa often assumes he knew exactly where Allied transports were and what protected them. He operated at the end of a long supply line, where every cruiser, torpedo, and shell was difficult to replace. After a night action, his ships could have expended much of their ready ammunition without knowing whether destroyers or a heavier bombardment group lay ahead. American carriers were another unresolved danger because daylight air attack could destroy the surface force before it reached them. Mikawa's refusal to chase uncertain targets therefore reflected incomplete intelligence and resource discipline rather than simple timidity.