Enterprise search aircraft found the detached force while the Japanese failed to locate the American carriers. Ryūjō reinforced its combat air patrol and shot down one searching Avenger, but Saratoga then launched 31 SBD Dauntlesses and eight TBF Avengers at maximum range without fighter escort. None of Saratoga's attackers was shot down. Three bomb hits and one torpedo hit flooded machinery spaces, set the carrier ablaze, and forced her abandonment. Seven officers and 113 crew were lost when Ryūjō capsized. Fourteen Japanese aircraft returned after the carrier had sunk and had to ditch, and only seven of their pilots were rescued.
Chapter · 46:58-49:42
Enterprise finds Ryūjō and Saratoga sinks her
Enterprise scouts located the detached Japanese force, and Saratoga's larger air group delivered the bomb and torpedo hits that sank Ryūjō.