He could have pursued to the south and attacked the fleet of unarmed American cargo transports that were at anchor, waiting until daybreak when they could continue delivering ammunition and supplies to the American 1st Marine Division, which had landed on Guadalcanal on 8 August 1942.
Han kunne have forfulgt mod syd og angrebet en konvoj af ubevæbnede amerikanske lastskibe, som lå for anker og ventede på daggry hvor de kunne fortsætte med at losse ammunition og forsyninger til 1. marinedivision, som var gået i land på Guadalcanal den 8. august.