Marsh Is.#325 Battle of Cape Esperance - 1992 Imperforate Mint Issue
October 11, 1942 While the U.S. was defending its foothold on Gaudalcanal, the seas surrounding the island had become perilous. The U.S. and Japanese navies were in constant danger of enemy attack from aircraft, submarines and surface ships as both were trying to reinforce their troops and land desperately-needed supplies on the island. U.S. Intelligence had learned of the enemy’s plan to bomb Henderson Field as a diversion to bring supplies ashore at Cape Esperance, the northern most point on the island. As U.S. fighter planes defended Henderson Field against the aerial attack, a fleet of U.S. cruisers and destroyers intercepted and engaged the Japanese supply ships and their escorts off the coast of Cape Esperance. The Japanese lost one heavy cruiser, three destroyers and 600 men. More importantly, the battle shook the enemy’s confidence as the superior naval power in the Pacific.
