Captain Kikunori Kijima—Gotō's chief of staff and commander of the bombardment force during the return trip to the Shortland Islands after Gotō's death in battle—claimed that his force had sunk two American cruisers and one destroyer.
Kommandør Kikunori Kijima — der var Gotōs stabschef og leder af bombardementgruppen under tilbagetyren til Shortlandøerne efter Gotōs død i slaget – hævdede at hans styrke havde sænket to amerikanske krydsere og en destroyer.