Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands
"Vestal" subsequently sailed for the New Hebrides on 26 October, but a change of orders brought her to New Caledonian waters instead, and she reached Nouméa on 31 October. Her arrival could not have been more timely because the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands had occurred just a few days before. "South Dakota" and , two of the most heavily damaged ships, were at Nouméa.