In this role, she participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24–25 August. American forces had detected a group of Japanese carriers on the 24th and immediately launched attacks from "Saratoga" that sank the light carrier . A Japanese counterattack struck the American fleet, and "North Carolina" was the first to detect it, shortly after 16:00, using her air search radar. The Japanese initially concentrated on "Enterprise", and "North Carolina" contributed her anti-aircraft fire to her defense. "Enterprise" increased speed to , causing "North Carolina" to drop back, ultimately falling to around astern. A group of seven Aichi D3A dive bombers attacked "North Carolina" at 16:43 but they all missed. "North Carolina" emerged from the battle unscathed, though one man was killed by a strafing aircraft. "Enterprise" was hit by three bombs but aircraft from "Wasp" severely damaged the seaplane tender in return.