Breaking off the pursuit and bringing Foote home

Omori ordered retreat at 03:37 believing he had sunk a heavy cruiser and fearing American carrier aircraft after daylight, although all the American cruisers present were light cruisers. Spence then lost speed because of water in her fuel line and briefly came under fire from friendly destroyers. The American cruisers later stopped firing because they could not distinguish Spence from a Japanese straggler. Destroyer Division 45 returned to assist Spence, and Hatsukaze was sunk. Low fuel and ammunition, together with the risk of air attack, led Merrill to end the pursuit and gather his ships around Foote. Roughly one hundred aircraft attacked from Rabaul, but American and New Zealand shore-based aircraft and shipboard defenses fought them off. Foote reached Tulagi under tow, and no American ships were lost.