An aircraft carrier's combat air patrol proved to be the most effective form of defense against enemy bombers. Nonetheless, a modern fast battleship could provide point defense against attackers that broke through the fighter screen. The "North Carolina" and "South Dakota" demonstrated just that in the battles of the Eastern Solomons and Santa Cruz Islands, respectively, with "North Carolina" downing between 7 and 14 planes, while "South Dakota" shot down between 26 and 32. The battleships' presence was crucial during these engagements in 1942, as the U.S. were still months from being able to realize their material advantage, with too few planes and ships to interdict enough of the skilled Japanese pilots. No American battleships were lost or seriously damaged by aerial attacks in open seas in World War II.