A moonless night removes the planned illumination

The two forces approached in dark conditions with limited visibility, while the Japanese slowed for their supply operation. American floatplanes had been detached to Tulagi so they could take off and recover away from the cruisers at night, but calm water held their pontoons down and delayed them. They did not participate, showing the command-and-control cost of separating the aircraft from the force they were meant to support. The lost illumination left Task Force 67 trying to execute a carefully designed plan without one of its key elements.