American reports claimed two Shokaku-class carriers sunk, along with hits on a battleship, three heavy cruisers, a light cruiser, and possibly another carrier. The Japanese ships actually hit were Shokaku, Zuiho, and Chikuma, and none sank. Japan claimed three American carriers, a battleship, a cruiser, a destroyer, and an unidentified large warship sunk. Only two American carriers had been present. The American ship losses were Hornet and Porter, with Enterprise, San Juan, Smith, and South Dakota damaged. These discrepancies show why immediate claims need to be separated from the losses established after the engagement.
Notable Point · 1:35:49-1:36:57
Santa Cruz claims and confirmed ship losses
Both sides reported far greater damage than they had inflicted, complicating judgments based on the commanders' immediate assessments.