The British and Japanese carrier forces came within roughly 100 miles of each other during the night search. Some Albacores were shot down, while damaged survivors brought back sighting reports. One report either preceded Nagumo's change of course or gave the reciprocal course by mistake, leaving Somerville searching in the wrong direction. Only the next day did he learn that the Japanese force contained five carriers rather than the two he had expected. His decision against another attempt followed that new assessment.
Notable Point · 42:17-43:22
How conflicting reports spoiled Somerville's night attack
Alternative explanations for a misleading course report show how close reconnaissance came to enabling the night strike.