Neptune's Inferno_ The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal Part 7

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(Photo Credit: 16.1) It was almost eleven thirty when the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City's search radar painted three distinct cl.u.s.ters of steel on the water to the west and northwest. Captain Small ordered his fire-control radar operators to seek targets on that bearing. The returning echoes conveyed valuable particulars: bogeys at sixteen thousand yards, on course 120 degrees true, speed twenty knots.

As it happened, the Americans were tracing the same track of sea that the picket destroyer Blue Blue had on the night Admiral Mikawa came calling. If the station was familiar, Scott's use of it had an entirely different posture now. Running northeast, perpendicular to the axis of the enemy approach, his nine ships were b.u.t.toned up for battle. As the pilot relayed further details on the warning net, Scott radioed his commanders: had on the night Admiral Mikawa came calling. If the station was familiar, Scott's use of it had an entirely different posture now. Running northeast, perpendicular to the axis of the enemy approach, his nine ships were b.u.t.toned up for battle. As the pilot relayed further details on the warning net, Scott radioed his commanders: "EXECUTE TO FOLLOW-COLUMN LEFT TO COURSE 230." "EXECUTE TO FOLLOW-COLUMN LEFT TO COURSE 230." Task Force 64 had finally found its fight. Task Force 64 had finally found its fight.

1 McCain returned to Washington to serve as chief of the navy's Bureau of Aeronautics. McCain returned to Washington to serve as chief of the navy's Bureau of Aeronautics.

17.

Pulling the Trigger NORMAN SCOTT, DESPITE HIS PAINSTAKING ATTENTION TO DETAIL, nearly threw away the game board before the match had even begun. His orderly march toward battle ended as soon as the task force executed his latest order, "COLUMN LEFT TO 230...EXECUTE."

In a "column turn," ships turn to the designated heading upon reaching a fixed point in s.p.a.ce. The leader turns, and each successive ship follows as soon as she reaches the leader's rudder kick-the visible swirl in the sea produced by rudder movement. In such a maneuver, each ship retains her place in the column, following in her predecessor's wake. If visibility is good, it is a simple matter to verify one's proper position in the formation: The wake of the ship ahead is a ready visual reference. The disadvantage is that the turn takes a while to execute, its total duration being the time it takes the last ship in column to reach the spot where the leader first turned.

A very different type of turn is known as a "simultaneous turn," in which each ship within the column executes the turn immediately. A single column of ships ordered to turn ninety degrees ends up steaming in line abreast on the new heading. A 180-degree turn serves to reverse the column's heading, with the former lead ship bringing up the rear and the original tail-end Charlie serving as the new column leader. A simultaneous turn is quicker to execute than a column turn, but because the conning officer in each ship lacks the visual reference point provided by the stern of the ship in front of him, careful plotting is needed, especially in conditions of poor visibility.

It was on this basic curriculum, elementary to any course in naval shiphandling, that Scott's battle plan foundered. As the SG radar showed, a well-executed reversal of course would have brought his column right across Goto's-a perfect "crossing of the T"-allowing his formation to rake the j.a.panese column with their full broadsides and leaving Goto to reply with only his forward batteries. But Scott's notion of the timing of the engagement and the s.p.a.cing of his ships was thrown into disarray as soon as his van destroyer, the Farenholt, Farenholt, threw her rudder over. threw her rudder over.

Quite unexpectedly, the conning officer of the San Francisco San Francisco turned simultaneously with the turned simultaneously with the Farenholt. Farenholt. This error threw a hot potato to Captain Moran in the This error threw a hot potato to Captain Moran in the Boise. Boise. Following astern of the Following astern of the San Francisco, San Francisco, he faced a critical decision that had to be settled in a snap: Should he continue as ordered and make a column turn, holding his rudder until he reached the spot where the he faced a critical decision that had to be settled in a snap: Should he continue as ordered and make a column turn, holding his rudder until he reached the spot where the Farenholt Farenholt turned? Or should he turn immediately and stay with his flagship? Either choice would have sundered Scott's column in two. The first would leave the turned? Or should he turn immediately and stay with his flagship? Either choice would have sundered Scott's column in two. The first would leave the San Francisco San Francisco on her own. The second would cut loose his vanguard destroyers. Perhaps realizing that keeping the cruisers together was the more urgent priority, Moran chose the latter course. As the on her own. The second would cut loose his vanguard destroyers. Perhaps realizing that keeping the cruisers together was the more urgent priority, Moran chose the latter course. As the Boise Boise turned, and as the turned, and as the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City followed her, Scott's leading trio of destroyers forged out into the night alone. followed her, Scott's leading trio of destroyers forged out into the night alone.

As the cruisers settled into their southwesterly course, the order pa.s.sed for the turret crews to match up with the bearing of the turret directors as they sought to pin down targets broadly located by the search radar. On the secondary batteries, star sh.e.l.ls were locked into their breeches. The SC search radar of the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City was the first to make contact with the j.a.panese. The was the first to make contact with the j.a.panese. The Boise Boise's radar picked them up soon afterward, sketching their approach in electron beams, the vertical stem of the T just fourteen thousand yards to the northwest. When Moran's talker reported these contacts as "bogeys," some listeners wondered whether he might be referring to aircraft.

Scott had instructed his commanders to open fire as soon as they had a confirmed fix on the enemy. With the destroyers lost in the night, nothing could be confirmed now. Flying his flag in a ship that had no SG radar and was forbidden from using its SC set, Scott certainly had no ready picture of the unexpected geometry of the fight. The contact reports he was hearing from the other cruisers might well be Captain Robert G. Tobin's destroyers, spun off from his column by the San Francisco San Francisco's error. His fears were firmly underscored when the Boise Boise reported a cl.u.s.ter of ship contacts bearing sixty-five degrees. Moran meant to report contacts at sixty degrees reported a cl.u.s.ter of ship contacts bearing sixty-five degrees. Moran meant to report contacts at sixty degrees relative relative to the to the Boise Boise's own course heading. Standard tactical doctrine, however, required ships to report contacts as true true bearings, with 0 degrees indicating the north and 180 the south. bearings, with 0 degrees indicating the north and 180 the south.

The difference was critical to Admiral Scott. A report of strange ships at sixty-five degrees true would have been consistent with his notion of where he believed the Farenholt, Duncan, Farenholt, Duncan, and and Laffey Laffey were located. Captain Tobin, dismayed to find himself separated from the battle line, somewhere off the starboard quarter of the cruisers, ordered his tin cans to ring up flank speed. As the commanders in the cruiser line prepared to open fire, the were located. Captain Tobin, dismayed to find himself separated from the battle line, somewhere off the starboard quarter of the cruisers, ordered his tin cans to ring up flank speed. As the commanders in the cruiser line prepared to open fire, the Farenholt Farenholt was steaming about nine hundred yards abreast of the was steaming about nine hundred yards abreast of the Boise; Boise; the the Laffey Laffey was following, even with the was following, even with the Helena. Helena. At eleven forty-five, Scott didn't have a clear picture. He radioed Tobin, At eleven forty-five, Scott didn't have a clear picture. He radioed Tobin, "Are you taking station ahead?" "Are you taking station ahead?" Tobin replied, Tobin replied, "Affirmative. Moving up on your starboard side." "Affirmative. Moving up on your starboard side."

In his battle plan, Scott allowed for the possibility that his ships might wander from his grasp. His plan, which called for any stragglers to fall out on the column's disengaged side, presupposed there would be an orderly engagement and that the stragglers would know where the American column was in the first place. The perils of ambiguous ident.i.ty were severe. "Do not rejoin," Scott wrote, "until permission is requested giving bearing in voice code of approach." That was more or less what Tobin had just done-except that Scott's ships had no way of knowing at exactly what bearing to starboard the friendly destroyers would appear. The j.a.panese ships they were tracking were to starboard, too.

As the ten-centimeter waves radiating from the Boise Boise's and Helena Helena's parabolic antennae pulsed along, their operators watched as the range between Scott's broken column and Goto's onrushing T closed to three miles. But still the muzzles were silent. When a Helena Helena lookout reported to Captain Hoover, "Ships visible to the naked eye," the ship's young radar officer remarked to the navigator, "What are we going to do, board them?" A chief wondered aloud, "Do we have to see the whites of the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's eyes?" lookout reported to Captain Hoover, "Ships visible to the naked eye," the ship's young radar officer remarked to the navigator, "What are we going to do, board them?" A chief wondered aloud, "Do we have to see the whites of the b.a.s.t.a.r.d's eyes?"

Hoover, the commander of the Helena, Helena, didn't know what the problem was. He had commanded destroyers once. In May, he led Destroyer Squadron 2 in the Battle of the Coral Sea and later served in the didn't know what the problem was. He had commanded destroyers once. In May, he led Destroyer Squadron 2 in the Battle of the Coral Sea and later served in the Yorktown Yorktown's screen at Midway. From his time at the Bureau of Ordnance, he had learned about the Navy's experiments with radar and knew the importance of drilling with his destroyers to get the most out of the new tool. He fully appreciated now, as the pips on his scope blinked toward each other, that a critical advantage was being frittered away by indecision.

The Helena Helena's skipper instructed his talker to raise the San Francisco San Francisco and make a request to open fire. The transmission, per the fleet's General Signal Procedure, went out as and make a request to open fire. The transmission, per the fleet's General Signal Procedure, went out as "Interrogatory Roger," "Interrogatory Roger," with "interrogatory" indicating a question, and "Roger," code for the letter with "interrogatory" indicating a question, and "Roger," code for the letter R, R, the signal for opening fire. This brought from Admiral Scott a quick affirmative response: the signal for opening fire. This brought from Admiral Scott a quick affirmative response: "Roger." "Roger." Hoover repeated the request, just to be sure. And again came Hoover repeated the request, just to be sure. And again came "Roger." "Roger."

But Scott thought he was answering a different question altogether. Captivated by his concern for the whereabouts of his destroyers, he was not ready to open fire yet. As he would explain afterward, he misinterpreted Hoover's message as a request that he acknowledge Helena Helena's last transmission of a radar contact. Hoover, of course, was beyond caring whether Scott was receiving him. If Scott wanted to rely on what the radar was showing, he would have made the Helena Helena his flagship. Hoover interpreted Scott's response, his flagship. Hoover interpreted Scott's response, "Roger," "Roger," in accordance with its standard meaning in the General Signal Book: as a code to commence firing. in accordance with its standard meaning in the General Signal Book: as a code to commence firing.

With this critical exchange, which prompted the immediate and ferocious discharge of the Helena Helena's fifteen six-inch guns, a miscommunication compounded a previous miscommunication and the engagement that would be known as the Battle of Cape Esperance spun into chaos, beyond the control of any single commander.

Throwing gunfire against surface targets was what the Helena Helena and her cla.s.s did best. It was a light cruiser's first and only business, and so it went, muzzles roaring, spent bra.s.s tubes kicking out to the turret deck, projectile hoists whining, sh.e.l.l trays loading, breeches slamming and spinning shut, and the turrets salvoing again. Fire-control doctrine prescribed a more deliberate cadence of salvo fire-all fifteen guns discharging at once-when targets were beyond twelve thousand yards from the ship. At closer ranges, the ship switched to automatic-continuous mode. The experience was elemental. "The night had been still and inky black a moment before," Chick Morris wrote. "Now suddenly it was a blazing bedlam. The and her cla.s.s did best. It was a light cruiser's first and only business, and so it went, muzzles roaring, spent bra.s.s tubes kicking out to the turret deck, projectile hoists whining, sh.e.l.l trays loading, breeches slamming and spinning shut, and the turrets salvoing again. Fire-control doctrine prescribed a more deliberate cadence of salvo fire-all fifteen guns discharging at once-when targets were beyond twelve thousand yards from the ship. At closer ranges, the ship switched to automatic-continuous mode. The experience was elemental. "The night had been still and inky black a moment before," Chick Morris wrote. "Now suddenly it was a blazing bedlam. The Helena Helena herself reared and lurched sideways, trembling from the tremendous shock of recoil. In the radio shack and coding room we were sent reeling and stumbling against bulkheads, smothered by a snowstorm of books and papers from the tables. The clock leaped from its pedestal. Electric fans. .h.i.t the deck with a metallic clatter. Not a man in the room had a breath left in him." If this was the effect of the ship's gun work on the men who were practicing it, one can imagine what life might have been like on the ships they were hitting. herself reared and lurched sideways, trembling from the tremendous shock of recoil. In the radio shack and coding room we were sent reeling and stumbling against bulkheads, smothered by a snowstorm of books and papers from the tables. The clock leaped from its pedestal. Electric fans. .h.i.t the deck with a metallic clatter. Not a man in the room had a breath left in him." If this was the effect of the ship's gun work on the men who were practicing it, one can imagine what life might have been like on the ships they were hitting.

The Salt Lake City Salt Lake City's heavier guns lashed out to starboard, planting a straddle just short of what was identified as a cruiser, probably Goto's flagship, the Aoba, Aoba, four thousand yards away. The director was ranged up three hundred yards and another salvo went out. "The second never touched the water," the cruiser's action report declared. "All hits." four thousand yards away. The director was ranged up three hundred yards and another salvo went out. "The second never touched the water," the cruiser's action report declared. "All hits."

As the night blossomed in flames, Captain Moran of the Boise, Boise, wired for sound wearing headphones and a steel helmet, shouted to his gunnery officer, Lieutenant Commander John J. Laffan, "Pick out the biggest and commence firing!" wired for sound wearing headphones and a steel helmet, shouted to his gunnery officer, Lieutenant Commander John J. Laffan, "Pick out the biggest and commence firing!"

The Boise Boise's directors were fixed on the same ship the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City was targeting, the leader of the j.a.panese column, the was targeting, the leader of the j.a.panese column, the Aoba, Aoba, a mere forty-five hundred yards distant, forward of the starboard beam. In the a mere forty-five hundred yards distant, forward of the starboard beam. In the Boise Boise's depths, in Central Station, the damage-control officer, Lieutenant Commander Tom Wolverton, decided it was time to relieve the tension. Recalling his four-year-old son's panicked response the first time he rode on a roller coaster and clanked his way to the summit, he gathered his deepest baritone and shouted so that everyone could hear him: "Daddy, I want to go home now!" The effect worked magic as grins spread over a dozen faces and his crew settled back and relaxed. When Captain McMorris in the San Francisco San Francisco saw a destroyer-sized target to starboard and persuaded himself that the ship could not possibly belong to Tobin's squadron, he opened fire, too. Task Force 64's cruiser column was fully engaged, opening fire from rear to fore. saw a destroyer-sized target to starboard and persuaded himself that the ship could not possibly belong to Tobin's squadron, he opened fire, too. Task Force 64's cruiser column was fully engaged, opening fire from rear to fore.

In the aborning age of radar, the stately traditional method of firing ranging salvos first, then walking sh.e.l.ls to their target by progressive correction was a thing of the past. In Mikawa's blitz against Riefkohl, the j.a.panese performed the old ritual well. Four salvos were fired short of the Vincennes Vincennes and and Quincy Quincy before blood was finally drawn. Now, with microwave radar laying the guns, fire controlmen tapped the power of Newtonian physics. With electron beams cleansing their equations of errant human perception, opening salvos usually yielded immediate straddles and hits. Several outlying sh.e.l.ls from the before blood was finally drawn. Now, with microwave radar laying the guns, fire controlmen tapped the power of Newtonian physics. With electron beams cleansing their equations of errant human perception, opening salvos usually yielded immediate straddles and hits. Several outlying sh.e.l.ls from the Boise Boise's first broadside were seen to hit a heavy cruiser. After a correction of "up one hundred" was dialed in to the rangekeeper, extending the reach of the guns by a football field's length, the next salvo registered more heavily and the j.a.panese ship was soon buckling and burning under a radar-controlled barrage. It happened so fast, the j.a.panese never knew what hit them.

Variations in the efficiency of individual gun crews soon turned the structured cadence of full-salvo fire into a continuous staccato as single guns waged their own fights in parallel trios from turret to turret. When the firing cycle reached full tilt, Moran's and Hoover's capacity to monitor the action with their own senses was obliterated by their ravenous muzzles, turned out and blasting away just forward of their bridge stations. When Scott led his cruisers in an unsignaled turn to the northwest, Moran's conning officer could make out the San Francisco San Francisco ahead only by the flashes of her gunfire and the periodic blinking of her fighting lights. ahead only by the flashes of her gunfire and the periodic blinking of her fighting lights.

Ensign Weems in the destroyer McCalla, McCalla, at the end of the American column, mistook the output of the cruisers for machine-gun fire. The rolling stream of six-inch tracers looked like the fire from the 1.1-inch "Chicago pianos." The j.a.panese, witnessing this from the business end, would discuss the appearance of these "machine-gun cruisers." Through the flash and concussion of the at the end of the American column, mistook the output of the cruisers for machine-gun fire. The rolling stream of six-inch tracers looked like the fire from the 1.1-inch "Chicago pianos." The j.a.panese, witnessing this from the business end, would discuss the appearance of these "machine-gun cruisers." Through the flash and concussion of the McCalla McCalla's number three gun, firing directly over him, Weems had fleeting glimpses of the enemy. "I felt a wildly exultant joy in watching us let them have so much at such murderous range. If you stop and think-2,500 to 3,500 yards is point-blank range for big guns. You can hardly miss even if you wanted to!"

The burning enemy ships looked to him like "the most dramatic Hollywood reproductions.... I saw two that worked about like this: 1) pitch darkness, 2) stream of tracers from our ships, 3) series of flashes where hits were scored, silhouetting of ships by star sh.e.l.ls, 4) tremendous fires and explosions, 5) ship folds in two, 6) ship sinks. All in all, a much better performance than Hollywood's very best."

This was pure burning savagery, a Marine Corps att.i.tude, the spirit of Colonel Chesty Puller brought to sea. Now staccato, pa.r.s.ed with short pauses, then overlapping and simultaneous and cacophonous, like the mistimed pistons of a gigantic combustion engine, the continuous cycling output of cruiser gunfire gave no break to the eardrums. Any sailor sprinting past a turret was likely to get his ears deafened or his hide scorched.

Four minutes after the Boise Boise opened fire, the ship had put out three hundred rounds from her main battery. Out in the dark to starboard, Moran could make out a trunked forward stack and a latticed tripod mainmast close to the after stack, the architecture of a cruiser. This ship was ready for action and returned fire. There came the whistling of "overs" as the opened fire, the ship had put out three hundred rounds from her main battery. Out in the dark to starboard, Moran could make out a trunked forward stack and a latticed tripod mainmast close to the after stack, the architecture of a cruiser. This ship was ready for action and returned fire. There came the whistling of "overs" as the Boise Boise was straddled fiercely. Reports of the death of the Imperial fleet would be greatly exaggerated that night. More j.a.panese destroyers were reported sunk in official U.S. records than Admiral Goto actually commanded. But there was no questioning the vector of the outcome. The throw-weight of Scott's line was beginning to tell. At least three enemy ships were burning in the was straddled fiercely. Reports of the death of the Imperial fleet would be greatly exaggerated that night. More j.a.panese destroyers were reported sunk in official U.S. records than Admiral Goto actually commanded. But there was no questioning the vector of the outcome. The throw-weight of Scott's line was beginning to tell. At least three enemy ships were burning in the Boise Boise's immediate vicinity.

The Aoba Aoba was. .h.i.t no fewer than twenty-four times in the battle's first twenty minutes, knocking out two main turrets, her main gun director, several searchlight platforms, her catapults, and several boiler rooms. Her foremast toppled down and demolished a starboard antiaircraft mount. The flagship veered out to starboard, signaling earnestly, was. .h.i.t no fewer than twenty-four times in the battle's first twenty minutes, knocking out two main turrets, her main gun director, several searchlight platforms, her catapults, and several boiler rooms. Her foremast toppled down and demolished a starboard antiaircraft mount. The flagship veered out to starboard, signaling earnestly, "I AM "I AM AOBA, AOBA," as if her a.s.sailants were friendly. In the early going, it seemed Goto was unaware that the ships he was closing with were hostile. The j.a.panese commander's final thoughts as American projectiles shattered his world, claiming the lives of seventy-nine men, including his own, were apparently that a j.a.panese force, his own reinforcement group, was firing on him. As his ship absorbed the blows of the U.S. cruisers, he shouted in frustration, "Bakayaro!" "Bakayaro!"-idiots! Captain Yonejiro Hisamune ordered a smoke screen, and the Aoba Aoba vanished from view. vanished from view.

In those same tumultuous minutes, Norman Scott was seized by a corresponding fear: that the ships he was. .h.i.tting were his own. The admiral was apoplectic as he climbed the ladder from the San Francisco San Francisco's flag bridge to the main bridge. He shouted an order that astonished everyone.

"Cease firing, all ships."

Scott was gone as quickly as he had come, as the cease-fire order was relayed to the task force. It no doubt came as a relief to men on both sides when the firing slackened, but the Boise Boise among others never relented, even as Scott repeatedly ordered Moran to check fire. Captain McMorris kept firing, too. He raised the microphone to his mouth and addressed the whole crew with the order he gave his gunners. among others never relented, even as Scott repeatedly ordered Moran to check fire. Captain McMorris kept firing, too. He raised the microphone to his mouth and addressed the whole crew with the order he gave his gunners. "Rapid fire, continuous..." "Rapid fire, continuous..." Then, in apology, he leaned over the rail of the bridge wing and added, "Begging your pardon, Admiral." McMorris knew well who and what he was shooting at. Ceasing fire preemptively could get men killed. Then, in apology, he leaned over the rail of the bridge wing and added, "Begging your pardon, Admiral." McMorris knew well who and what he was shooting at. Ceasing fire preemptively could get men killed.

As Tobin, the destroyer commander, radioed Scott, saying, "We are on your starboard hand now, going up ahead," "We are on your starboard hand now, going up ahead," the firing continued, all the while Scott futilely repeating the cease-fire order on the TBS. Buck fever was rife, and spreading. "It took some time to stop our fire," Scott wrote. "In fact it never did completely stop." the firing continued, all the while Scott futilely repeating the cease-fire order on the TBS. Buck fever was rife, and spreading. "It took some time to stop our fire," Scott wrote. "In fact it never did completely stop."

The strains on discipline reached down to the enlisted ranks. A gun captain in the Farenholt Farenholt by the name of Wiggens couldn't bring himself to obey the order, even when his own captain, Lieutenant Commander Eugene T. Seaward, repeated it. An old hand from the Asiatic Fleet, he had been forced to leave his wife, a Chinese national, behind in Singapore in December when the British stronghold fell to the j.a.panese. He learned later that she had been killed by the occupiers. "Every time he could train on that huge j.a.p battlecruiser (at point-blank range) he would let go with another round," wrote Ford Richardson, a talker for the by the name of Wiggens couldn't bring himself to obey the order, even when his own captain, Lieutenant Commander Eugene T. Seaward, repeated it. An old hand from the Asiatic Fleet, he had been forced to leave his wife, a Chinese national, behind in Singapore in December when the British stronghold fell to the j.a.panese. He learned later that she had been killed by the occupiers. "Every time he could train on that huge j.a.p battlecruiser (at point-blank range) he would let go with another round," wrote Ford Richardson, a talker for the Farenholt Farenholt's gunnery officer. "Wiggens went wild. Crazy wild. He hated j.a.ps with a pa.s.sion." He never stopped shooting.

The San Francisco San Francisco's errant turn had been a mystery to the officers in the lead destroyer. As the Farenholt Farenholt's executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Alcorn G. Beckmann, watched the flagship lead the other three cruisers in a turn inside the Farenholt Farenholt's own, he wondered at his ship's own lagging pace. Scott's cruisers, it seemed, were outrunning some of his destroyers. He had heard Captain Tobin respond to Scott's query, "Affirmative. Moving up on your starboard side." "Affirmative. Moving up on your starboard side." They would need to hustle to avoid getting caught in the crossfire between the American and j.a.panese lines. They would need to hustle to avoid getting caught in the crossfire between the American and j.a.panese lines.

Settling into a westerly course as the Farenholt Farenholt led the destroyers in their separate column, the destroyer led the destroyers in their separate column, the destroyer Duncan, Duncan, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edmund B. Taylor, plotted an unidentified radar contact eight thousand yards to the west and rang up flank speed to pursue it. The U.S. cruiser line was in full voice now, and by the light of the fires they were planting on his target, Taylor could see it was a cruiser. Soon another enemy ship appeared, following close behind the first. As Taylor brought the commanded by Lieutenant Commander Edmund B. Taylor, plotted an unidentified radar contact eight thousand yards to the west and rang up flank speed to pursue it. The U.S. cruiser line was in full voice now, and by the light of the fires they were planting on his target, Taylor could see it was a cruiser. Soon another enemy ship appeared, following close behind the first. As Taylor brought the Duncan Duncan broadside to the enemy ships and prepared to launch torpedoes to starboard, he found himself in the difficult position of standing between Scott's cruisers and their prey. To port, he saw the familiar silhouette of the broadside to the enemy ships and prepared to launch torpedoes to starboard, he found himself in the difficult position of standing between Scott's cruisers and their prey. To port, he saw the familiar silhouette of the Helena. Helena. As he overtook the light cruiser, he steered right standard rudder, looking to stay clear of the light cruiser's line of fire. As he overtook the light cruiser, he steered right standard rudder, looking to stay clear of the light cruiser's line of fire.

Knowing that he had lost control of events, Scott tried to raise Tobin on the TBS. "How are you?" "How are you?" Scott asked the commander of Destroyer Division 12. Scott asked the commander of Destroyer Division 12. "Were we shooting at Twelve?" "Were we shooting at Twelve?"

Tobin replied, "Twelve is okay. We are going up ahead on your starboard side. I do not know who you were firing at." "Twelve is okay. We are going up ahead on your starboard side. I do not know who you were firing at."

Scott then ordered Tobin's ships to display their recognition lights. They flashed momentarily in a proscribed pattern of green and white. With friends having declared themselves to friends, Scott directed his group to open fire again to starboard. Tobin would soon know all too well which ships Scott's cruisers were targeting.

Ford Richardson, stationed in the Farenholt Farenholt's main battery director, "stood there transfixed watching the pyrotechnics. Our cruisers on one side of us were firing at the j.a.p ships on the other side of us." Standing out of the hatch of the gun director, Richardson's gunnery officer steered the fire of the forward five-inch battery into an enemy ship that had been brilliantly illuminated by star sh.e.l.ls. When he dropped back down inside the director, Richardson, as his talker, followed him. "At that very instant, very instant," Richardson recalled, "we were hit by a six- or eight-inch sh.e.l.l at the cross arm of the foremast, some twenty-five feet over my head!"

Tobin had just ordered his squadron to fire torpedoes at targets of opportunity when the airburst rattled the Farenholt Farenholt's decks. Shrapnel cut down several men in exposed topside stations. The heavier shards penetrated the rangefinder, slicing through a man standing forward of it. The wounded man was pa.s.sed down from the rangefinder to Richardson. With a penlight he saw that the shrapnel had entered the man's body behind the collarbone, exited below his arm, and reentered his body near the groin, leaving a big hole in his upper leg. Then it went through the deck. Richardson stopped the heavy bleeding by stuffing a T-shirt into his shipmate's gaping wound and using his belt as a compress.

The hit sliced the Farenholt Farenholt's radar antenna from the foremast, exploding spectacularly and sending a shower of fragments that pierced the air flask of a torpedo loaded in the ship's quintuple mount, which was aimed on the centerline straight ahead. With a hiss of compressed air, liberated by the penetration, the missile launched itself from the tube and wedged in the base of the destroyer's forward stack. The impact tripped the starter that sparked the torpedo's motor to life. The motor screamed for a while before burning itself out without exploding. Another sh.e.l.l hit the waterline on the port side, knocking out all power and communications in the forward part of the ship. Water rushed in, and she took a list to port. Altogether Captain Seaward's tin can was holed at the port side waterline by four American sh.e.l.ls. The hits on the Farenholt Farenholt most likely came from one of Scott's own heavy cruisers, the most likely came from one of Scott's own heavy cruisers, the San Francisco San Francisco or the or the Salt Lake City. Salt Lake City. Friendly ships shot up the Friendly ships shot up the Duncan, Duncan, too. The destroyer had turned her forward batteries on a j.a.panese cruiser thirty-three hundred yards off her starboard bow when she took a hit to the bridge that knocked out fire control and set afire the handling room beneath the number two gun. The too. The destroyer had turned her forward batteries on a j.a.panese cruiser thirty-three hundred yards off her starboard bow when she took a hit to the bridge that knocked out fire control and set afire the handling room beneath the number two gun. The Duncan Duncan's skipper, Commander Taylor, had no sooner managed to steady on a torpedo firing course and release his first fish when another sh.e.l.l burst forward of the director platform, disabling the director and seriously wounding the torpedo officer, Lieutenant (j.g.) R. L. Fowler. The chief torpedoman fired another torpedo by local control at a target that already had the attention of Scott's cruisers. "Almost immediately she was observed to crumble in the middle, then roll over and disappear," Taylor wrote. The Duncan Duncan would share her fate. would share her fate.

Another salvo floated in, blasting the chart house, killing the two men on the Duncan Duncan's SC radar, a sonar operator, the bridge radioman, and the yeoman keeping the record of the battle. The main radio room was a total loss with no survivors, the fire there having merged with the blaze from the number one fire room, fed by fresh air pouring through a rent in the overhead. Taylor lost steering control and found himself circling helplessly in a left-hand turn. When the forward portholes were opened to vent the smoke and steam washing into the pilothouse, they served not as an exhaust, but as an intake for flames and smoke coming from the burning number two gun. Trapped in the asphyxiating cloud, Taylor could see little of the battle now but sensed that his circling had carried him out of the line of fire of the American cruisers. But the ship would not be saved. When the boilers in the after fire room lost their supply of feed water, the fire main pumps failed, too, and the flames spread, punctuated by detonations of five-inch projectiles. The crew fought a brave rear-guard action with handy-billy pumps, but Taylor could see it was futile. He helped lower wounded from the bridge level to the deck and then into the water. Then, with flames enveloping the pilothouse on all sides, he found his only route of escape was by jumping from the starboard bridge wing.

The gunfire from Scott's cruisers was prodigious, and when their lines of fire got clear of the obstruction presented by the van destroyers, they did far worse to intended targets than accidental ones. Tracked by all four American cruisers as she advanced along the axis of Scott's column, the Furutaka Furutaka took a series of heavy hits that would prove to be mortal. The j.a.panese cruiser was. .h.i.t in her number three turret and in the port torpedo tubes. Several of her Long Lances caught fire, and the flames drew more fire. took a series of heavy hits that would prove to be mortal. The j.a.panese cruiser was. .h.i.t in her number three turret and in the port torpedo tubes. Several of her Long Lances caught fire, and the flames drew more fire.

It was just a few minutes past midnight when the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City swept the beams of her fire-control radar through a wide arc to the engaged side. The extent of destruction wrought by Scott's ships was reflected in these high-frequency microwaves. All of the ships the radar found were marked in the visible wavelength by fires. swept the beams of her fire-control radar through a wide arc to the engaged side. The extent of destruction wrought by Scott's ships was reflected in these high-frequency microwaves. All of the ships the radar found were marked in the visible wavelength by fires.

18.

"Pour It to 'Em"

AS THE LAST HOUR OF OCTOBER 11 EXPIRED INTO A NEW DAY, GOTO'S squadron awakened to the reality that it faced a formidable enemy battle force. The j.a.panese cruisers had spent the first minutes of the battle with their turrets turned in. Originally loaded for sh.o.r.e bombardment, hoists filled with time-fuzed sh.e.l.ls designed to explode short of impact and throw burning fragments over a wide area, they were finally alive to the challenge of Scott's group. Shortly before midnight, the squadron awakened to the reality that it faced a formidable enemy battle force. The j.a.panese cruisers had spent the first minutes of the battle with their turrets turned in. Originally loaded for sh.o.r.e bombardment, hoists filled with time-fuzed sh.e.l.ls designed to explode short of impact and throw burning fragments over a wide area, they were finally alive to the challenge of Scott's group. Shortly before midnight, the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City was on the wrong end of an anti-personnel airburst that exploded high amidships. That sh.e.l.l sprayed her topsides with steel, cutting down twenty sailors on starboard gun mounts, four of them dead. was on the wrong end of an anti-personnel airburst that exploded high amidships. That sh.e.l.l sprayed her topsides with steel, cutting down twenty sailors on starboard gun mounts, four of them dead.

The Boise Boise was struck by an eight-inch sh.e.l.l that dented and ruptured her side plating above her waterline armor belt, shattering the sleeping compartments used by the ship's junior officers. A minute later, two or three smaller rounds registered, blasting Captain Moran's cabin and leaving it a wreck of twisted metal. A clock was knocked from the skipper's desk and shattered on the deck, frozen at five minutes to midnight as the flames spread. was struck by an eight-inch sh.e.l.l that dented and ruptured her side plating above her waterline armor belt, shattering the sleeping compartments used by the ship's junior officers. A minute later, two or three smaller rounds registered, blasting Captain Moran's cabin and leaving it a wreck of twisted metal. A clock was knocked from the skipper's desk and shattered on the deck, frozen at five minutes to midnight as the flames spread.

Tom Wolverton, the Boise Boise's damage-control officer, was providing a play-by-play to crew belowdecks that was "getting hotter than a Joe Louis fight broadcast." Up to then, Wolverton had little to do in his a.s.signed capacity. Scott's fast-firing cruisers had been delivering an overwhelming one-way barrage. But in battle, circ.u.mstances are usually temporary and perception almost always fragile. A short lull followed in which Scott tried to rea.s.semble his straggling line behind the San Francisco. San Francisco. As he called course changes over the radio, the j.a.panese used the reprieve well. They continued removing bombardment rounds from their hoists, replacing them with armor-piercing rounds engineered to kill ships. As he called course changes over the radio, the j.a.panese used the reprieve well. They continued removing bombardment rounds from their hoists, replacing them with armor-piercing rounds engineered to kill ships.

As the Boise Boise plunged along in the plunged along in the San Francisco San Francisco's wake, Moran found that his radars were becoming almost as badly impaired as his own vision. It was hard to pick out targets in the abundant intermingling of ships. Many sh.e.l.l splashes were large enough to return an echo to his scopes. Though other ships made good use of star sh.e.l.ls to silhouette their targets, Moran chose to use his searchlights now. Locating a target off his starboard beam, he ordered his searchlights on. As his turrets raged out at what he thought was a light cruiser, fires sprang to life on that ship. The Boise Boise was revealed in bright relief by her own mirrors. The j.a.panese ship returned fire and scored at least four times. was revealed in bright relief by her own mirrors. The j.a.panese ship returned fire and scored at least four times.

Ahead, on the Boise Boise's starboard bow, there appeared a larger ship whose directors pegged Moran's ship cold. This vessel, probably the heavy cruiser Kinugasa, Kinugasa, "fired at "fired at Boise Boise unopposed," Moran would write in his action report, "shooting beautifully with twin eight-inch mounts. She straddled us repeatedly along the forward half of the forecastle, and made two known hits." The first struck the barbette underneath turret one, crashed through a deck, and lay in a compartment near the turret stalk, an explosive-laden steel time bomb with a defective fuze fizzing along. Alive to the pending catastrophe, the turret officer, Lieutenant Beaverhead Thomas, pushed open the turret's small escape hatch and ordered the crew to exit. As he guided the gun house gang to safety, he reported to Commander Laffan, his gunnery officer, that he had abandoned station. He said, "The fuze hasn't gone off yet. I can still hear it spluttering." They were his last words. The m.u.f.fled blast of the 250-pound projectile vented through pa.s.sageways, hatches, and vents, incinerating or asphyxiating a hundred men in a flash. unopposed," Moran would write in his action report, "shooting beautifully with twin eight-inch mounts. She straddled us repeatedly along the forward half of the forecastle, and made two known hits." The first struck the barbette underneath turret one, crashed through a deck, and lay in a compartment near the turret stalk, an explosive-laden steel time bomb with a defective fuze fizzing along. Alive to the pending catastrophe, the turret officer, Lieutenant Beaverhead Thomas, pushed open the turret's small escape hatch and ordered the crew to exit. As he guided the gun house gang to safety, he reported to Commander Laffan, his gunnery officer, that he had abandoned station. He said, "The fuze hasn't gone off yet. I can still hear it spluttering." They were his last words. The m.u.f.fled blast of the 250-pound projectile vented through pa.s.sageways, hatches, and vents, incinerating or asphyxiating a hundred men in a flash.

The survivors of turret one, eleven men, exited to the deck just in time to be batted down by two more hits. One plastered the faceplate of turret three, just forward of and below the bridge, gashing the barrels of its trio of rifles and s.p.a.ckling the superstructure with shrapnel. Another sh.e.l.l from the Kinugasa Kinugasa entered the water short of the entered the water short of the Boise, Boise, precisely as intended. This projectile was designed with a protective cap that broke away on impact and enabled it to retain its ballistic properties underwater. It hit close enough aboard to swim downward and penetrate the hull nine feet below the waterline. Bursting through the hull and exploding in the forward six-inch magazine, it sent a wash of flame through the forward handling rooms and up the stalk of the two forward turrets, roasting the entire crew in turret two and several of the escaping survivors of turret three. precisely as intended. This projectile was designed with a protective cap that broke away on impact and enabled it to retain its ballistic properties underwater. It hit close enough aboard to swim downward and penetrate the hull nine feet below the waterline. Bursting through the hull and exploding in the forward six-inch magazine, it sent a wash of flame through the forward handling rooms and up the stalk of the two forward turrets, roasting the entire crew in turret two and several of the escaping survivors of turret three.

Mike Moran noted proudly that the men on the port side five-inch battery were keeping their backs turned to the fiery spectacle unfolding to starboard. Their duty was to watch for threats on the disengaged side. A spout of flaming gases shot into the air from the Boise Boise's forward turrets and a jolt threw men to their knees. The eruption reached as high as the flying bridge and set much of the forecastle deck ablaze. It was followed by a torrent of hot seawater, debris, smoke, and sparks. A storm of sparking splinters and smoldering leather and burning bits of life jackets and life rafts blew across the superstructure. Struggling against fumes, firefighting teams dragged out heavy hoses, fed by mains in the after part of the ship.

In the Helena, Helena, high up in Sky Forward, an antiaircraft director station, Lieutenant Jim Baird held a stopwatch and a clipboard, keeping a record of the gunners' performance. Counting salvos and tabulating hits, he shook his head in disbelieving admiration at what the new light cruisers could throw. His colleagues in Control were coaching the ship's batteries onto a target to starboard, and splashes landed all around the ship, when a burning vessel was sighted in the U.S. column ahead. Word spread quickly that it was the high up in Sky Forward, an antiaircraft director station, Lieutenant Jim Baird held a stopwatch and a clipboard, keeping a record of the gunners' performance. Counting salvos and tabulating hits, he shook his head in disbelieving admiration at what the new light cruisers could throw. His colleagues in Control were coaching the ship's batteries onto a target to starboard, and splashes landed all around the ship, when a burning vessel was sighted in the U.S. column ahead. Word spread quickly that it was the Boise. Boise. As the As the Helena Helena moved past her burning cousin, a flurry of salvos straddled her. Hoover's men had gotten to know Moran's crew at Noumea, had gone head-to-head with them on the baseball diamonds there, bound by a pride that only the sailors of a fistfighting light cruiser could know. In the exercises under Norman Scott, their sense of squadron ident.i.ty grew stronger. "The battle had been a game until then," Chick Morris wrote. This put some fire in their fight. As Moran shouted, "Cruiser to starboard. Shift target!" Lieutenant Warren Boles in Spot One relayed the order coolly: moved past her burning cousin, a flurry of salvos straddled her. Hoover's men had gotten to know Moran's crew at Noumea, had gone head-to-head with them on the baseball diamonds there, bound by a pride that only the sailors of a fistfighting light cruiser could know. In the exercises under Norman Scott, their sense of squadron ident.i.ty grew stronger. "The battle had been a game until then," Chick Morris wrote. This put some fire in their fight. As Moran shouted, "Cruiser to starboard. Shift target!" Lieutenant Warren Boles in Spot One relayed the order coolly: "Set 'em up in the next alley. Pour it to 'em." "Set 'em up in the next alley. Pour it to 'em." Noticing that one of the talkers with him on the fighting bridge was visibly jittery, Captain Hoover put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Take it easy, son. We'll get you out of this." Noticing that one of the talkers with him on the fighting bridge was visibly jittery, Captain Hoover put a hand on his shoulder and said, "Take it easy, son. We'll get you out of this."

In the Boise, Boise, a gunner's mate named Edward Tyndal pleaded with his superiors to allow him to enter one of the turrets to look for survivors. He refused to believe his younger brother, Bill, was not alive in there somehow, needing his help. When the firefighters tried to play their nozzles into the turrets via the hatches, they found several of them blocked by a grotesque clotting of charred bodies, men who had given their last while trying to escape. The stymied firefighters inserted their nozzles through the case ejection scuttles in the bottom of the turrets instead, and quenched their burned interiors. a gunner's mate named Edward Tyndal pleaded with his superiors to allow him to enter one of the turrets to look for survivors. He refused to believe his younger brother, Bill, was not alive in there somehow, needing his help. When the firefighters tried to play their nozzles into the turrets via the hatches, they found several of them blocked by a grotesque clotting of charred bodies, men who had given their last while trying to escape. The stymied firefighters inserted their nozzles through the case ejection scuttles in the bottom of the turrets instead, and quenched their burned interiors.

As the HMS Hood Hood had learned in her duel with the had learned in her duel with the Bismarck, Bismarck, and as the and as the Arizona Arizona had discovered in the sights of Nagumo's Pearl Harbor bombers, an explosion in a powder magazine was the gravest calamity a warship could suffer. Moran knew he had to flood his forward magazines, but when he issued the order he found that the men a.s.signed to the remote valve-control station were not alive to carry it out. The had discovered in the sights of Nagumo's Pearl Harbor bombers, an explosion in a powder magazine was the gravest calamity a warship could suffer. Moran knew he had to flood his forward magazines, but when he issued the order he found that the men a.s.signed to the remote valve-control station were not alive to carry it out. The Boise Boise was spared from disaster by the collateral effect of her gutting: Waves of seawater let in by the underwater hit flooded all the forward hull s.p.a.ces, including the magazine. The water's weight on the third deck imparted a wave motion to the long, slender hull that was strong enough to make some of the crew believe a torpedo had struck. was spared from disaster by the collateral effect of her gutting: Waves of seawater let in by the underwater hit flooded all the forward hull s.p.a.ces, including the magazine. The water's weight on the third deck imparted a wave motion to the long, slender hull that was strong enough to make some of the crew believe a torpedo had struck.

As smoke spread below, men wearing rescue breathers sh.o.r.ed up bulkheads against the flood and set submersible pumps to race the waters flowing in through the breached hull. The medical department decided to move the sickbay from the wardroom to the battle dressing station. One of these patients, wearing a cast on his broken leg, limped quickly along on crutches. A sailor who had had his appendix removed several days earlier rose from his bunk and told the corpsmen converging on him with a stretcher, "Outta my way! I'm getting the h.e.l.l out of here!"

Observers throughout Scott's task group believed the Boise Boise was doomed. But despite the evisceration of her forward stations and the pyrotechnic display that bloomed overhead, her boilers and engines were intact. Moran's engineers responded quickly to his order to flank speed. Down by the bow and listing to starboard, the ship sheered out of line to port, accelerating to thirty knots, just as another salvo from the was doomed. But despite the evisceration of her forward stations and the pyrotechnic display that bloomed overhead, her boilers and engines were intact. Moran's engineers responded quickly to his order to flank speed. Down by the bow and listing to starboard, the ship sheered out of line to port, accelerating to thirty knots, just as another salvo from the Kinugasa Kinugasa raised a cl.u.s.ter of splashes right where the raised a cl.u.s.ter of splashes right where the Boise Boise would have been had Moran not changed course. All the while, her after turrets kept up the cadence in continuous fire. Soon her expenditure of six-inch ordnance topped eight hundred rounds. would have been had Moran not changed course. All the while, her after turrets kept up the cadence in continuous fire. Soon her expenditure of six-inch ordnance topped eight hundred rounds.

To avoid the Boise Boise ahead, Captain Small ordered the ahead, Captain Small ordered the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City's rudder hard right and threw the starboard engine into reverse to sharpen the turn. This placed Small's ship between the j.a.panese and the burning Boise. Boise. Silhouetted by the ship he was thus shielding, Small paid the price almost immediately. An eight-inch sh.e.l.l struck the Silhouetted by the ship he was thus shielding, Small paid the price almost immediately. An eight-inch sh.e.l.l struck the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City's starboard side and exploded, dishing in the plating of the armor belt. Another penetrated the hull, pa.s.sed through the supply office, and settled with a heavy clang on the deck plating of the fire room before exploding with a m.u.f.fled, low-order blast. Though several men standing just six feet from the point of impact were uninjured, saved by untold failures of mechanics or chemistry within the powder charge, this explosion still managed to sever electrical cables, disable a boiler, and start a fire in the bilges that, fed by twenty-six thousand gallons of fuel oil leaked from a ruptured transfer line, grew hot enough to warp one of the ship's heavy longitudinal I-beams and buckle the armored second deck.

As the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City came clear of the burning came clear of the burning Boise, Boise, which was falling out of line and limping away from the action, Small rang up full speed again as his battery trained on an enemy heavy cruiser forward of his starboard beam. The amidships secondary guns coughed a spread of star sh.e.l.ls to a perfect bursting point beyond their target, a j.a.panese cruiser, three miles distant. The heavy cruiser's searchlight shutters opened, shone briefly, then closed, and a ten-gun salvo roared out. When it landed-straddle, over-a correction was dialed into the rangekeeper, and the next four salvos touched nothing but steel. But for the which was falling out of line and limping away from the action, Small rang up full speed again as his battery trained on an enemy heavy cruiser forward of his starboard beam. The amidships secondary guns coughed a spread of star sh.e.l.ls to a perfect bursting point beyond their target, a j.a.panese cruiser, three miles distant. The heavy cruiser's searchlight shutters opened, shone briefly, then closed, and a ten-gun salvo roared out. When it landed-straddle, over-a correction was dialed into the rangekeeper, and the next four salvos touched nothing but steel. But for the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City's gallant interposition, the Boise Boise might have been finished. The might have been finished. The Boise Boise would remain a burning beacon, and a pyre for more than a hundred dead, visible for miles, until her firefighters finally prevailed over the turret fires. At that point the ship, alone, seemed to vanish into the night. would remain a burning beacon, and a pyre for more than a hundred dead, visible for miles, until her firefighters finally prevailed over the turret fires. At that point the ship, alone, seemed to vanish into the night.

On the Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, circuits failed throughout the ship as the salvos. .h.i.t. Captain Small lost steering control from the bridge. Receiving a mistaken report of fires forward, he preventively flooded his forward magazines. As steering was transferred to the after emergency steering cabin, the circuits failed throughout the ship as the salvos. .h.i.t. Captain Small lost steering control from the bridge. Receiving a mistaken report of fires forward, he preventively flooded his forward magazines. As steering was transferred to the after emergency steering cabin, the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City's engineers, bereft of steam from the forward fire room, closed the throttles to the outboard engines, leaving the two inboard screws to carry her load.

WITH THE FURUTAKA FURUTAKA and the and the Aoba Aoba rent by shattering blows, Admiral Goto dead, and the sharpshooting and undamaged rent by shattering blows, Admiral Goto dead, and the sharpshooting and undamaged Kinugasa, Kinugasa, too, turning a course north, the j.a.panese force began its retirement. At 12:16 a.m., Norman Scott brought the too, turning a course north, the j.a.panese force began its retirement. At 12:16 a.m., Norman Scott brought the San Francisco San Francisco onto a northerly heading as if to pursue. Wondering how many ships would be in a position to follow, he then thought twice about it and decided to retire. He recalled later, "The enemy was silenced and our formation at the time was somewhat broken." A clear recognition of who was friend and who was foe had been the first casualty of battle, and from that followed much of the tragedy of the night. The Battle of Cape Esperance ended as if by tacit mutual a.s.sent. onto a northerly heading as if to pursue. Wondering how many ships would be in a position to follow, he then thought twice about it and decided to retire. He recalled later, "The enemy was silenced and our formation at the time was somewhat broken." A clear recognition of who was friend and who was foe had been the first casualty of battle, and from that followed much of the tragedy of the night. The Battle of Cape Esperance ended as if by tacit mutual a.s.sent.

It seemed that at least one j.a.panese captain was looking to exploit the confusion. From the flying bridge of the San Francisco San Francisco the shout went out that an unidentified destroyer was approaching. A mysterious ship came rushing in on the flagship's starboard bow, displaying an unfamiliar pattern of recognition lights-white over red. Her gambit was overly bold. Recognizing the improper signal, the the shout went out that an unidentified destroyer was approaching. A mysterious ship came rushing in on the flagship's starboard bow, displaying an unfamiliar pattern of recognition lights-white over red. Her gambit was overly bold. Recognizing the improper signal, the San Francisco San Francisco opened fire, then the destroyer's signalmen doubled down on their deception, flashing in Morse code: opened fire, then the destroyer's signalmen doubled down on their deception, flashing in Morse code: "D491 V D456," "D491 V D456," indicating with the respective hull numbers a call from the indicating with the respective hull numbers a call from the Farenholt Farenholt to the to the Laffey. Laffey. Captain McMorris interpreted this as a legitimate query and promptly ordered his cruiser to cease fire. Other American observers recalled seeing the ship up close, and recognizing the telltale white striping painted on a j.a.panese destroyer's stack. The opponents exchanged fire-what hits might have been registered is lost to history-and the destroyer was soon gone. Captain McMorris interpreted this as a legitimate query and promptly ordered his cruiser to cease fire. Other American observers recalled seeing the ship up close, and recognizing the telltale white striping painted on a j.a.panese destroyer's stack. The opponents exchanged fire-what hits might have been registered is lost to history-and the destroyer was soon gone.

The Helena Helena had come through the gauntlet unscathed except for a small fire ignited astern by a hot sh.e.l.l casing and a close call with a hang fire in turret four. The had come through the gauntlet unscathed except for a small fire ignited astern by a hot sh.e.l.l casing and a close call with a hang fire in turret four. The Salt Lake City Salt Lake City was badly bruised but soon fulfilled the expectations held of the top-rated engineering department in the Pacific. Captain Small signaled Scott that despite the damage to his fire room, his engineers had steam to make twenty-five knots. was badly bruised but soon fulfilled the expectations held of the top-rated engineering department in the Pacific. Captain Small signaled Scott that despite the damage to his fire room, his engineers had steam to make twenty-five knots.

Nothing had been heard from Mike Moran and the Boise. Boise. Scott ordered Captain Tobin via the TBS: " Scott ordered Captain Tobin via the TBS: "Detail one of your boys to stand by Boise." Told that the ship's location was unknown, Scott queried Small in the Boise." Told that the ship's location was unknown, Scott queried Small in the Salt Lake City Salt Lake City and was informed she was last seen twelve miles west of Savo Island, heading west. That ship soon became the object of a concentrated search in the dark. and was informed she was last seen twelve miles west of Savo Island, heading west. That ship soon became the object of a concentrated search in the dark.

Scott prepared a quick dispatch to Admiral Ghormley in Noumea, summarizing the night's events. "ENGAGED ENEMY WEST OF SAVO ABOUT MIDNIGHT. AT LEAST FOUR ENEMY DD'S BURNING AND PROBABLY ONE CA HIT BADLY. BOISE BURNING BADLY WHEN LAST SEEN. FARENHOLT NOT YET LOCATED. MCCALLA SEARCHING. REQUEST AIR COVERAGE. AM PROCEEDING TO POINT CAST [50 "ENGAGED ENEMY WEST OF SAVO ABOUT MIDNIGHT. AT LEAST FOUR ENEMY DD'S BURNING AND PROBABLY ONE CA HIT BADLY. BOISE BURNING BADLY WHEN LAST SEEN. FARENHOLT NOT YET LOCATED. MCCALLA SEARCHING. REQUEST AIR COVERAGE. AM PROCEEDING TO POINT CAST [50 MILES SOUTH OF CAPE SURVILLE, SAN CRISTOBaL MILES SOUTH OF CAPE SURVILLE, SAN CRISTOBaL], SPEED 20." SPEED 20."

Then, attempting to gather his scattered task force via the radio, Scott ordered all ships to switch on their emergency identification lights for ten seconds. On San Francisco, San Francisco, Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless noticed that the flagship's port side bulbs did not come on. Soon thereafter, two star sh.e.l.ls burst overhead, illuminating the night and possibly heralding hotter fires. Aware that the threatening ship was friendly, a Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless noticed that the flagship's port side bulbs did not come on. Soon thereafter, two star sh.e.l.ls burst overhead, illuminating the night and possibly heralding hotter fires. Aware that the threatening ship was friendly, a San Francisco San Francisco signalman lofted three green flares. "And the navigator pushed the b.u.t.tons even harder," McCandless wrote. "This time both sides lighted up. This seemed to satisfy the fire control teams in the signalman lofted three green flares. "And the navigator pushed the b.u.t.tons even harder," McCandless wrote. "This time both sides lighted up. This seemed to satisfy the fire control teams in the Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City, 3,000 yards to port. One of the operators on her main battery director had already sounded two stand-by buzzers and was about to ring the third and turn loose a salvo when the flares ignited. "Hold it! It's the 3,000 yards to port. One of the operators on her main battery director had already sounded two stand-by buzzers and was about to ring the third and turn loose a salvo when the flares ignited. "Hold it! It's the 'Frisco 'Frisco!" someone shouted, knocking the man out of his metal seat. "For this we will eternally be grateful," McCandless wrote.

IN THE SHATTERED heavy cruiser heavy cruiser Furutaka, Furutaka, shortly after midnight, Captain Tsutau Araki pa.s.sed the order to abandon ship. He ordered the ensign pulled down and the emperor's portrait salvaged, but the man a.s.signed to the task was killed by American sh.e.l.lfire before he could retrieve it. Araki went to his cabin on the bridge to end his disgraceful ordeal, but found that his revolver and his sword had been taken away from him. When he returned to the bridge to strap himself to the compa.s.s mount, he could find no fasteners right for the job. The possible culprit confronted him there: his