Could Hornet survive Santa Cruz?

Could USS Hornet have been saved after the Battle of Santa Cruz?

There was a slim chance, but recovery would probably keep her out of action for 18 months to two years.

USS Hornet had a slim possibility of being recovered after Santa Cruz. Saving the hull would still be only the beginning of the problem. The damage would require roughly eighteen months to two years of reconstruction before the carrier returned to service. Hornet would contribute little to the immediate Solomon Islands campaigns even in the successful recovery scenario. This counterfactual separates preserving a capital asset from restoring useful combat availability.