Neptune's Inferno_ The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal Part 11

TASK GROUP 67.4 went to general quarters at 8 p.m. The sea rolled easily under a ten-knot southeasterly wind. The moon had set, leaving the squadron in the dark. The destroyer went to general quarters at 8 p.m. The sea rolled easily under a ten-knot southeasterly wind. The moon had set, leaving the squadron in the dark. The destroyer Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng led the way, leading the van with the led the way, leading the van with the Laffey, Sterett, Laffey, Sterett, and and O'Bannon. O'Bannon. They were followed by the They were followed by the Atlanta Atlanta (the flags.h.i.+p of the idle Norman Scott), the (the flags.h.i.+p of the idle Norman Scott), the San Francisco San Francisco (Callaghan's flags.h.i.+p), the (Callaghan's flags.h.i.+p), the Portland, Portland, the the Helena, Helena, the the Juneau, Juneau, and the rear quartet of destroyers. Hot soup and coffee were served to the crews at their stations as the six-mile-long column entered Sealark Channel. and the rear quartet of destroyers. Hot soup and coffee were served to the crews at their stations as the six-mile-long column entered Sealark Channel.

As the column pa.s.sed through the channel, sailors on the Atlanta Atlanta noticed an unsettling omen, the appearance of the electrical phenomenon known as St. Elmo's fire. The mysterious incandescence, manifesting itself in their rigging, was widely thought to be a sign of trouble, its reputation well established in literature a century before. In noticed an unsettling omen, the appearance of the electrical phenomenon known as St. Elmo's fire. The mysterious incandescence, manifesting itself in their rigging, was widely thought to be a sign of trouble, its reputation well established in literature a century before. In Moby-d.i.c.k, Moby-d.i.c.k, when the when the Pequod Pequod was touched by these coronal discharges, Ishmael called it "G.o.d's burning finger laid on the s.h.i.+p." As he described it, "All the yard-arms were tipped with a pallid fire; and touched at each tri-pointed lightning-rod-end with three tapering white flames, each of the three tall masts was silently burning in that sulphurous air, like three gigantic wax tapers before an altar." Coleridge called it "death-fire." was touched by these coronal discharges, Ishmael called it "G.o.d's burning finger laid on the s.h.i.+p." As he described it, "All the yard-arms were tipped with a pallid fire; and touched at each tri-pointed lightning-rod-end with three tapering white flames, each of the three tall masts was silently burning in that sulphurous air, like three gigantic wax tapers before an altar." Coleridge called it "death-fire."

Naval tradition is ever rife with superst.i.tion, but sometimes the ill signs are so powerful that they operate in the other direction. In Callaghan's force, the number thirteen was so prevalent-thirteen s.h.i.+ps from Task Force 67 were headed to tangle with the j.a.panese on Friday the thirteenth-that the tide of superst.i.tion s.h.i.+fted. When the commander of the Portland, Portland, Captain Laurance T. DuBose, read the instructions Turner had given Callaghan, he showed them to his exec, Commander Turk Wirth, who made virtually the same remark Callaghan had on receiving them: "This is suicide, you know." Talk of battles.h.i.+ps inspired that kind of thinking. DuBose called Wirth's attention to the date, November 12, and added, "If we can get across midnight into tomorrow, we may make it." Wirth got what his captain was driving at. DuBose had been president of the Naval Academy cla.s.s of 1913 and considered thirteen a lucky number. Captain Laurance T. DuBose, read the instructions Turner had given Callaghan, he showed them to his exec, Commander Turk Wirth, who made virtually the same remark Callaghan had on receiving them: "This is suicide, you know." Talk of battles.h.i.+ps inspired that kind of thinking. DuBose called Wirth's attention to the date, November 12, and added, "If we can get across midnight into tomorrow, we may make it." Wirth got what his captain was driving at. DuBose had been president of the Naval Academy cla.s.s of 1913 and considered thirteen a lucky number.

The last s.h.i.+p in Callaghan's column had additional cause for concern as Friday the thirteenth approached: the USS Fletcher Fletcher was the thirteenth s.h.i.+p in line, named in honor of Frank Friday Fletcher, and had the hull number 445, whose sum was 13. But the destroyer's Georgia boys weren't spooked. The signs were so luridly ominous as to become a source of general amus.e.m.e.nt. The was the thirteenth s.h.i.+p in line, named in honor of Frank Friday Fletcher, and had the hull number 445, whose sum was 13. But the destroyer's Georgia boys weren't spooked. The signs were so luridly ominous as to become a source of general amus.e.m.e.nt. The Fletcher Fletcher's exec, Commander Wylie, referred to the giddy hilarity that accompanied their antic.i.p.ation as "triskaidekaphilia." Let the night come, whatever it may bring. They were U.S. Navy sailors and the 91st Psalm was their s.h.i.+eld: "You will not fear the terror of night.... A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you." More worrisome than numerical coincidence was the sense Wylie was getting that Callaghan didn't seem to know fully what he was doing. At least he didn't seem to appreciate what the newest tools of his trade could do. The Fletcher, Fletcher, the the O'Bannon, O'Bannon, the the Helena, Helena, the the Juneau, Juneau, and the and the Portland Portland all had the new high-frequency SG search radar. Callaghan's flags.h.i.+p, the all had the new high-frequency SG search radar. Callaghan's flags.h.i.+p, the San Francisco, San Francisco, had not yet been modified. Wylie tried to point out the need for the flag commander to have access to an SG, but never got a response. had not yet been modified. Wylie tried to point out the need for the flag commander to have access to an SG, but never got a response.

"If Callaghan had had any understanding of things, he would have given fairly serious thought to moving over to the Helena, Helena," Lloyd Mustin said. "There had been opportunities for Gil Hoover to make known to Callaghan that he had this capability and give him some outline of what it amounted to.... But if any such exchange had occurred it was not known to us in the Atlanta Atlanta.... If he really had stopped to recognize what he had there in his SG radar capability, he would indeed have given important thought to transferring his flag." Just as Callaghan had ascended to command-by tradition-he selected his flags.h.i.+p the same way: Tradition held that the heaviest s.h.i.+p in a force serve as its flags.h.i.+p. Norman Scott had made the same decision in October, riding in the San Francisco San Francisco in the Battle of Cape Esperance. Having served as Scott's flags.h.i.+p recently, she was fitted with a complete flag suite. These factors encouraged her selection now, even though another heavy cruiser in the group, the in the Battle of Cape Esperance. Having served as Scott's flags.h.i.+p recently, she was fitted with a complete flag suite. These factors encouraged her selection now, even though another heavy cruiser in the group, the Portland, Portland, had the SG radar, too. had the SG radar, too.

As Lieutenant (j.g.) Bennett left the San Francisco San Francisco's bridge at the end of his watch, he recalled that exactly a year ago, on November 12, 1941, Bruce McCandless had led a clinic for officers in the gunnery department. The handout he prepared a.n.a.lyzed matchups between the San Francisco San Francisco and various enemy s.h.i.+p types. A and various enemy s.h.i.+p types. A Kongo Kongo-cla.s.s battles.h.i.+p was included "only to show disparity of their fighting strength," Bennett said. "It was considered an unlikely encounter" and scarcely worth game-boarding, for the weight of a full salvo from such an opponent was five times that of an American heavy cruiser.

Callaghan and Captain Young were hunched over the chart desk with the navigator, Rae Arison, when Bennett joined them. The appearance of the junior officer led them to change the subject, but that was easy enough. Callaghan recognized Bennett from the s.h.i.+p's basketball team. Callaghan, a fan, had attended the team's every game at Honolulu's Aiea High School gym. The skipper was their only spectator, and his boosterism helped them battle to a first-place tie with the team from the battles.h.i.+p West Virginia, West Virginia, whose officers, Bennett contended, arranged with friends in the Bureau of Navigation to have the best athletes a.s.signed to their s.h.i.+p. As the two recalled old times, Young noticed blood leaching through the sling on Bennett's elbow, a minor wound inflicted by a wingtip of the Betty that hit them. "You're in no condition to stand a watch," Young said. "Go on below and get it looked at." Bennett protested briefly that he'd just stood a watch, but orders were orders. According to Bennett, "I went below but I didn't stay below. Having heard about the battles.h.i.+ps, there was no way was I going to be in my bunk when this went down. I took a lap around the wardroom, then reported to Willie Wilbourne." The gunnery officer told Bennett to take over a 1.1-inch mount on the fantail. whose officers, Bennett contended, arranged with friends in the Bureau of Navigation to have the best athletes a.s.signed to their s.h.i.+p. As the two recalled old times, Young noticed blood leaching through the sling on Bennett's elbow, a minor wound inflicted by a wingtip of the Betty that hit them. "You're in no condition to stand a watch," Young said. "Go on below and get it looked at." Bennett protested briefly that he'd just stood a watch, but orders were orders. According to Bennett, "I went below but I didn't stay below. Having heard about the battles.h.i.+ps, there was no way was I going to be in my bunk when this went down. I took a lap around the wardroom, then reported to Willie Wilbourne." The gunnery officer told Bennett to take over a 1.1-inch mount on the fantail.

When the moon set, the starscape swelled. "I was praying to G.o.d to watch over us," said Robert Howe in the Helena. Helena. "It is hard to explain how you feel looking out over the water into the dark of night knowing soon you would hear the report from the radar room, "It is hard to explain how you feel looking out over the water into the dark of night knowing soon you would hear the report from the radar room, 'Contact, s.h.i.+ps.... ' 'Contact, s.h.i.+ps.... ' It was hard to keep from shaking." It was hard to keep from shaking."

27.

Black Friday THE j.a.pANESE FAILURE TO DESTROY THE U.S. BEACHHEAD HAD BEEN worrying the emperor. Though he had recently praised his Navy's efforts in an Imperial Rescript, a newer telegram told of Hirohito's anxiety concerning this place, Guadalca.n.a.l. "A place of bitter struggles," he called it. According to Matome Ugaki, "He expressed his wish that it be recaptured swiftly." worrying the emperor. Though he had recently praised his Navy's efforts in an Imperial Rescript, a newer telegram told of Hirohito's anxiety concerning this place, Guadalca.n.a.l. "A place of bitter struggles," he called it. According to Matome Ugaki, "He expressed his wish that it be recaptured swiftly."

Swiftness was certainly Raizo Tanaka's style. The destroyer commander didn't enjoy being a hostage to the squat, slow troop carriers. A destroyerman, he had pioneered the use of swift escorts as transports. Because they had the speed to approach, unload, and depart under cover of night, their use kept American pilots from blocking the reinforcement effort all by themselves. But the architect of the Tokyo Express no longer enjoyed the freedom to do things his way. The payloads carried by the small s.h.i.+ps weren't large enough to satisfy the ravenous needs of the Army. That was why now, churning south in the destroyer Hayas.h.i.+o, Hayas.h.i.+o, Tanaka sailed with the sows. His slow-footed transports were a.s.sured of facing air attack come morning if the infernal U.S. airfield was allowed to remain in business. The only way they would make it through was if the Combined Fleet's heavy units could deliver more of what the Tanaka sailed with the sows. His slow-footed transports were a.s.sured of facing air attack come morning if the infernal U.S. airfield was allowed to remain in business. The only way they would make it through was if the Combined Fleet's heavy units could deliver more of what the Haruna Haruna and and Kongo Kongo had given the American aviators less than a month ago. had given the American aviators less than a month ago.

Accordingly, Rear Admiral Hiroaki Abe, in command of the battles.h.i.+ps Hiei Hiei and and Kiris.h.i.+ma, Kiris.h.i.+ma, had been detached from Kondo's Advance Force with orders to deluge Henderson Field with incendiaries again on the night of November 13. The idea of repeating Rear Admiral Takeo Kurita's performance of October 13 made Abe nervous. He didn't believe the Americans would allow the same plan to succeed twice. Like Tanaka, he was a destroyer specialist, but Abe was not das.h.i.+ng and audacious. Some thought it was telling that Abe's task force was named the Volunteer Attack Force, a usage that seemed to suggest a change of psychology in the Combined Fleet. Prior to this, victory was generally a.s.sumed. Now, as momentum s.h.i.+fted in the southern islands, sailors were being asked to step forward and offer themselves to the flames. There had to be a way to neutralize the airfield. Soldiers on foot had failed to breach its perimeter. Pilots by wing had failed to beat its fliers in the sky. s.h.i.+ps, too, had failed thus far, but s.h.i.+ps would try again. The Combined Fleet's strategists had never envisioned the decisive battle looking like this. had been detached from Kondo's Advance Force with orders to deluge Henderson Field with incendiaries again on the night of November 13. The idea of repeating Rear Admiral Takeo Kurita's performance of October 13 made Abe nervous. He didn't believe the Americans would allow the same plan to succeed twice. Like Tanaka, he was a destroyer specialist, but Abe was not das.h.i.+ng and audacious. Some thought it was telling that Abe's task force was named the Volunteer Attack Force, a usage that seemed to suggest a change of psychology in the Combined Fleet. Prior to this, victory was generally a.s.sumed. Now, as momentum s.h.i.+fted in the southern islands, sailors were being asked to step forward and offer themselves to the flames. There had to be a way to neutralize the airfield. Soldiers on foot had failed to breach its perimeter. Pilots by wing had failed to beat its fliers in the sky. s.h.i.+ps, too, had failed thus far, but s.h.i.+ps would try again. The Combined Fleet's strategists had never envisioned the decisive battle looking like this.

By midmorning on November 12, three hundred miles north of Guadalca.n.a.l, Abe arrayed his force into battle formation. The light cruiser Nagara Nagara led the two battles.h.i.+ps, with destroyers arrayed like s.h.i.+elds off each bow. By 4 p.m., cruising at eighteen knots, they were within two hundred miles of the island. Abe's flags.h.i.+p, the led the two battles.h.i.+ps, with destroyers arrayed like s.h.i.+elds off each bow. By 4 p.m., cruising at eighteen knots, they were within two hundred miles of the island. Abe's flags.h.i.+p, the Hiei, Hiei, catapulted a floatplane to explore the sound ahead. As dusk fell, Abe's force pressed ahead into a heavy bank of storm clouds. Then the rain began. Hara, commander of destroyer catapulted a floatplane to explore the sound ahead. As dusk fell, Abe's force pressed ahead into a heavy bank of storm clouds. Then the rain began. Hara, commander of destroyer Amatsukaze, Amatsukaze, would write, "In all the years of my career, I never experienced such a rain. It was completely enervating." One of Captain Hara's ensigns said he would rather fight the Americans than the rain. For a time, the storm drifted south with the task force, concealing it from snooping eyes. Abe dismissed the concerns voiced by his staff that poor visibility would make stationkeeping difficult and risk the integrity of his formation. Abe had confidence in Rear Admiral Susumu Kimura, flying his flag in Destroyer Squadron 10's lead s.h.i.+p, would write, "In all the years of my career, I never experienced such a rain. It was completely enervating." One of Captain Hara's ensigns said he would rather fight the Americans than the rain. For a time, the storm drifted south with the task force, concealing it from snooping eyes. Abe dismissed the concerns voiced by his staff that poor visibility would make stationkeeping difficult and risk the integrity of his formation. Abe had confidence in Rear Admiral Susumu Kimura, flying his flag in Destroyer Squadron 10's lead s.h.i.+p, Nagara. Nagara. He was reputed to be one of the Imperial Navy's top navigators. Abe's vindication came when the floatplane pilot reported more than a dozen enemy wars.h.i.+ps off Lunga Point-Callaghan's force. If the rains cooperated, the j.a.panese force might avoid detection altogether. "This blessed squall is moving at the same speed and on the same course we are," Abe said. "If heaven continues to side with us like this, we may not even have to do business with them." He was reputed to be one of the Imperial Navy's top navigators. Abe's vindication came when the floatplane pilot reported more than a dozen enemy wars.h.i.+ps off Lunga Point-Callaghan's force. If the rains cooperated, the j.a.panese force might avoid detection altogether. "This blessed squall is moving at the same speed and on the same course we are," Abe said. "If heaven continues to side with us like this, we may not even have to do business with them."

There were practical problems posed by the rain, however. Since j.a.panese gunnery was optically controlled, Abe would have to be clear of the storm before he opened fire on the airfield. His cloak would soon be a blindfold. The rain on the pilothouse windscreen was almost loud enough to drown out thought as Abe puzzled over what to do. Near midnight, he ordered his s.h.i.+ps to stand by to reverse course to get clear of the storm. Normally the order to execute such an order followed within thirty seconds or so, after each s.h.i.+p had acknowledged it was standing by. But two destroyers that should have been on his starboard bow, the Yudachi Yudachi and and Harusame, Harusame, did not reply. Had they veered from their stations to avoid running aground somewhere? Abe repeated the standby order on a medium frequency. At this Captain Hara shouted, "Has did not reply. Had they veered from their stations to avoid running aground somewhere? Abe repeated the standby order on a medium frequency. At this Captain Hara shouted, "Has Hiei Hiei lost its mind?" He knew the medium-frequency radio band was vulnerable to enemy snooping. lost its mind?" He knew the medium-frequency radio band was vulnerable to enemy snooping.

Slowing to twelve knots as a precaution, Abe turned north and held that course for some thirty minutes, until the storm's cover lifted. As he reversed course again and resumed the approach to Guadalca.n.a.l, free of the storm, he knew that he had paid for that freedom in two equally valuable and irreplaceable currencies: time and fuel. And after seven hours of blind steaming and a pair of 180-degree turns, Abe's once-tight formation was in ragged threads. The battles.h.i.+ps still occupied the center of the southbound formation behind the Nagara, Nagara, but the destroyers to either flank had become scattered. but the destroyers to either flank had become scattered.

On the Amatsukaze, Amatsukaze, the middle s.h.i.+p in a column of three destroyers riding on the the middle s.h.i.+p in a column of three destroyers riding on the Hiei Hiei's port beam, a lookout shouted, "Small island, 60 degrees to port!" Another called, "High mountains dead ahead!" The two islands, Savo and Guadalca.n.a.l respectively, were like sentinels standing astride Savo Sound. The j.a.panese Army observer on Guadalca.n.a.l reported that the rain had cleared and no enemy s.h.i.+ps were visible off Lunga Point. Twelve miles out, Abe ordered the Hiei Hiei and the and the Kiris.h.i.+ma Kiris.h.i.+ma to fill their main-battery hoists with Type 3 incendiary projectiles. They would close with the beach and give the Cactus Air Force another fireworks show. to fill their main-battery hoists with Type 3 incendiary projectiles. They would close with the beach and give the Cactus Air Force another fireworks show.

Captain Hara was looking forward not to bombardment duty, but to a collision with the American fleet. A trembling took hold of him as he peered into the shroud of Guadalca.n.a.l's black ma.s.s. The destroyer skipper called to his weaponeers: "Prepare for gun and torpedo attack to starboard! Gun range, 3,000 meters. Torpedo firing angle, 15 degrees." He was ready for whatever might come.

A SAILOR IN THE JUNEAU, JUNEAU, Joseph Hartney, would recall the darkness that night as "a blackness so thick, so heavy, so velvety, you felt you could take the night in your hands and wring it like a rag." Over the mountains of the islands nearby, flashes of lightning made the clouds jump. From the black curve of Guadalca.n.a.l, Hartney heard the soft ringing of gongs and suspected it was marines signaling a warning of a naval bombardment. As he sat at his gun mount in the Joseph Hartney, would recall the darkness that night as "a blackness so thick, so heavy, so velvety, you felt you could take the night in your hands and wring it like a rag." Over the mountains of the islands nearby, flashes of lightning made the clouds jump. From the black curve of Guadalca.n.a.l, Hartney heard the soft ringing of gongs and suspected it was marines signaling a warning of a naval bombardment. As he sat at his gun mount in the Juneau Juneau's superstructure, he sympathized with his ground-fighting naval cousins. "'Where in the h.e.l.l is the fleet?' they were asking in that hour," he said. "We were the fleet and we were going out to show them that the navy, too, could face overwhelming odds. We were going to repay them for those weeks of courage when they lay in their foxholes and beat back the enemy." The scent of gardenias wafting out from the island struck him as funereal.

The eighth s.h.i.+p in Callaghan's line, the Helena, Helena, was b.u.t.toned down and restive. Her navigator was practicing shooting stars with his s.e.xtant, a couple of young officers on watch were talking Georgia Tech football, and a rummy game was quietly in progress in the coding room. As Callaghan's thirteen s.h.i.+ps pa.s.sed Lunga Point in single file and turned north, there had been little traffic to report in the radio shack. Ash.o.r.e, tracers could be seen whipping back and forth as infantrymen shot it out in the dark. When the first sign came of an enemy presence on the sea, it was almost an hour and a half after midnight on November 13. For Lieutenant (j.g.) Russell W. Gash, the was b.u.t.toned down and restive. Her navigator was practicing shooting stars with his s.e.xtant, a couple of young officers on watch were talking Georgia Tech football, and a rummy game was quietly in progress in the coding room. As Callaghan's thirteen s.h.i.+ps pa.s.sed Lunga Point in single file and turned north, there had been little traffic to report in the radio shack. Ash.o.r.e, tracers could be seen whipping back and forth as infantrymen shot it out in the dark. When the first sign came of an enemy presence on the sea, it was almost an hour and a half after midnight on November 13. For Lieutenant (j.g.) Russell W. Gash, the Helena Helena's radar officer, all mystery evaporated as the number, formation, and bearing of the j.a.panese force appeared in bright relief on the PPI scope of his search radar. The light-echoes registered with metric precision: one group of vessels at 312 degrees true, range 27,100 yards, a second group at 310 degrees, range 28,000 yards, and a third at 310 at 32,000 yards. Judging by the relative brightness of the lumens, Gash believed that the two nearest groups were composed of smaller s.h.i.+ps-probably escorts for the farthest group. The Helena Helena's five triple turrets turned out to port and were raised to their maximum elevation. As Callaghan's and Abe's forces advanced toward a collision, the speed at which their separation closed could be gauged by the whirring of the turret motors when the guns lowered to stay on target.

The radio logs doc.u.menting the approach showed Callaghan torn between his competing senses, querying his destroyers ahead about what they were actually seeing while the Helena Helena dutifully weighed in, reporting contacts from the radar, which Callghan seemed to ignore. Nearly every question he asked the dutifully weighed in, reporting contacts from the radar, which Callghan seemed to ignore. Nearly every question he asked the Cus.h.i.+ng, Cus.h.i.+ng, leading the van two miles ahead of him, could have been answered almost instantly by the leading the van two miles ahead of him, could have been answered almost instantly by the Helena, Helena, following half a mile behind. Callaghan placed his faith in people, not technics, a preference that was expressed by his selection of the s.h.i.+p that led his column. The following half a mile behind. Callaghan placed his faith in people, not technics, a preference that was expressed by his selection of the s.h.i.+p that led his column. The Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng's skipper, Lieutenant Commander Edward N. "Butch" Parker, was a veteran of the Asiatic campaign of early 1942, where he had fought in several battles in the Java Sea as a destroyer division commander. This made him one of the only destroyer officers in the Navy with experience in the type of close-range night battle that Callaghan sought. It didn't seem to bother Callaghan that the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng's fire-control radar hadn't worked reliably since installation. The cost of that handicap was well compensated for by having a salt like Butch Parker at the head of his line.

In possession of an electronic picture, the Helena Helena's captain, Gilbert Hoover, and his gunnery officer, Commander Rodman D. Smith, chafed at Callaghan's evident lack of interest in their electronic scouting. As he watched the wake of the Portland Portland ahead, Hoover did not relish waiting to open fire. At Cape Esperance, Scott delayed until the enemy was a mere four thousand yards away. The fact that only one person at a time could send messages over the talk-between-s.h.i.+ps radio made it impractical for Hoover or anyone else to raise questions. ahead, Hoover did not relish waiting to open fire. At Cape Esperance, Scott delayed until the enemy was a mere four thousand yards away. The fact that only one person at a time could send messages over the talk-between-s.h.i.+ps radio made it impractical for Hoover or anyone else to raise questions.

The way Callaghan had arranged his column minimized the value of their most advanced sensors. In the four-s.h.i.+p van, only the last vessel, the O'Bannon, O'Bannon, had an SG set. So, too, with the trailing group of destroyers, where the had an SG set. So, too, with the trailing group of destroyers, where the Fletcher, Fletcher, bringing up the rear, was SG-equipped. Among the five cruisers in the "base unit," the two leaders, the bringing up the rear, was SG-equipped. Among the five cruisers in the "base unit," the two leaders, the Atlanta Atlanta and and San Francisco, San Francisco, were the only s.h.i.+ps not to have it. Still, the were the only s.h.i.+ps not to have it. Still, the Atlanta Atlanta's older-model SC search radar caught Abe's scent at twenty-two thousand yards.

As time pa.s.sed, the advantage Callaghan could have seized from the radar faded toward a vanis.h.i.+ng point. "When we finally had the whole formation in view, they were about ten thousand yards," Graff said. "Pretty soon they were within five thousand yards. Then three thousand." As Chick Morris in the Helena Helena saw it, Callaghan drove ahead in a manner "as uncomplicated as that of a train rus.h.i.+ng headlong into a tunnel. Callaghan and his staff had decided to do the unexpected and to do it quickly, and so we steamed into the dragon's mouth with every man at every gun on every s.h.i.+p holding his breath and waiting for the inevitable eruption." saw it, Callaghan drove ahead in a manner "as uncomplicated as that of a train rus.h.i.+ng headlong into a tunnel. Callaghan and his staff had decided to do the unexpected and to do it quickly, and so we steamed into the dragon's mouth with every man at every gun on every s.h.i.+p holding his breath and waiting for the inevitable eruption."

AS RANGE DIALS spun downward, destroyermen up and down the line wondered why they hadn't been released to make a torpedo attack. In the spun downward, destroyermen up and down the line wondered why they hadn't been released to make a torpedo attack. In the Aaron Ward, Aaron Ward, the radar officer, Lieutenant (j.g.) Bob Hagen, expected the commander of Destroyer Squadron 12, Captain Robert G. Tobin, to order his tin cans to prepare their undersea missiles for use. "We knew the bearing, speed and range of the enemy. But I don't think we ever moved our torpedoes," Hagen said. "It never occurred to the captain, but this is what destroyers were the radar officer, Lieutenant (j.g.) Bob Hagen, expected the commander of Destroyer Squadron 12, Captain Robert G. Tobin, to order his tin cans to prepare their undersea missiles for use. "We knew the bearing, speed and range of the enemy. But I don't think we ever moved our torpedoes," Hagen said. "It never occurred to the captain, but this is what destroyers were for for in a surface action." in a surface action."

In the Battle of Cape Esperance, Tobin had served in the Farenholt, Farenholt, as the destroyer squadron commander. That night, both his s.h.i.+p and the as the destroyer squadron commander. That night, both his s.h.i.+p and the Duncan Duncan had suffered heavily from friendly fire. The experience might well have made him cautious about the risks of operating destroyers independently of the line. In the gun director of the had suffered heavily from friendly fire. The experience might well have made him cautious about the risks of operating destroyers independently of the line. In the gun director of the Sterett, Sterett, the third s.h.i.+p in the van, Lieutenant C. Raymond Calhoun heard his chief fire controlman call out: "Solution! Enemy course 107-speed twenty-three knots!" From there it would have been simple trigonometry to set a spread of torpedoes on an intersecting course. Calhoun called the solution to the bridge and received silence in return. According to Calhoun, "There was no order from the OTC [the officer in tactical command-Callaghan] to do anything but move right down the middle, between the two j.a.panese forces." Destroyer crews at this time were more thoroughly drilled in gunnery than torpedo firing. The Navy had never really urged or rewarded anything else. the third s.h.i.+p in the van, Lieutenant C. Raymond Calhoun heard his chief fire controlman call out: "Solution! Enemy course 107-speed twenty-three knots!" From there it would have been simple trigonometry to set a spread of torpedoes on an intersecting course. Calhoun called the solution to the bridge and received silence in return. According to Calhoun, "There was no order from the OTC [the officer in tactical command-Callaghan] to do anything but move right down the middle, between the two j.a.panese forces." Destroyer crews at this time were more thoroughly drilled in gunnery than torpedo firing. The Navy had never really urged or rewarded anything else.

Bill McKinney, the Atlanta Atlanta electrician's mate, served on a damage-control party belowdecks. His job was to stand by within reach of a large steel locker full of damage-control and rescue equipment: ledges, chocks, lines, rescue breathers, oxygen masks, hoses, lanterns, and flash-protective clothing. He checked in with Central Repair-"Manned and ready"-then dogged the hatches and sat tight as the vibrations of the accelerating engines seized the deck, the bulkheads, the entire s.h.i.+p. When the ventilation system shut down, the predominant sound in McKinney's s.p.a.ce was the metallic whining of the two ammunition hoists that ran from the magazine below him to a five-inch twin mount directly above him. "I said a short prayer and waited," he wrote. electrician's mate, served on a damage-control party belowdecks. His job was to stand by within reach of a large steel locker full of damage-control and rescue equipment: ledges, chocks, lines, rescue breathers, oxygen masks, hoses, lanterns, and flash-protective clothing. He checked in with Central Repair-"Manned and ready"-then dogged the hatches and sat tight as the vibrations of the accelerating engines seized the deck, the bulkheads, the entire s.h.i.+p. When the ventilation system shut down, the predominant sound in McKinney's s.p.a.ce was the metallic whining of the two ammunition hoists that ran from the magazine below him to a five-inch twin mount directly above him. "I said a short prayer and waited," he wrote.

IT WAS ABOUT 1:40 A.M. when lookouts in the when lookouts in the Cus.h.i.+ng, Cus.h.i.+ng, leading the American column, saw a strange s.h.i.+p slide past. Captain Parker radioed Callaghan this first visual contact with Abe's van. leading the American column, saw a strange s.h.i.+p slide past. Captain Parker radioed Callaghan this first visual contact with Abe's van. "There is a s.h.i.+p crossing bow from port to starboard, range 4,000 yards, maximum." "There is a s.h.i.+p crossing bow from port to starboard, range 4,000 yards, maximum." Another s.h.i.+p appeared, followed by a larger one. Another s.h.i.+p appeared, followed by a larger one.

The destroyers Yudachi Yudachi and and Harusame, Harusame, way out in front of Abe's formation after the two course reversals in the rain, were the first of Abe's vessels finally to emerge from the dark. The j.a.panese destroyers were widely dispersed around the core of the flotilla, the way out in front of Abe's formation after the two course reversals in the rain, were the first of Abe's vessels finally to emerge from the dark. The j.a.panese destroyers were widely dispersed around the core of the flotilla, the Hiei Hiei and and Kiris.h.i.+ma, Kiris.h.i.+ma, led by the light cruiser led by the light cruiser Nagara. Nagara. The third and largest of the s.h.i.+ps that the The third and largest of the s.h.i.+ps that the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng spied was most likely the spied was most likely the Nagara. Nagara.

While the Helena Helena continued to report its radar readings over the jammed TBS radio frequency, Callaghan kept his eyes forward and ears closed. He asked Parker, continued to report its radar readings over the jammed TBS radio frequency, Callaghan kept his eyes forward and ears closed. He asked Parker, "What do you make of it now?" "What do you make of it now?" Gil Hoover was trying to tell him. Gil Hoover was trying to tell him. "We have a total of about ten targets. Appear to be in cruising disposition." "We have a total of about ten targets. Appear to be in cruising disposition." Behind the Behind the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng and the other three van destroyers followed the and the other three van destroyers followed the Atlanta, Atlanta, the the San Francisco, San Francisco, the the Portland, Portland, the the Helena, Helena, the the Juneau, Juneau, and the rear destroyers. They plunged toward enemy contact in silence, their reservoirs of potential energy stored deep within, their steel enclosures tense with superheated steam, churning and roaring but held in, like a hidden pa.s.sion. and the rear destroyers. They plunged toward enemy contact in silence, their reservoirs of potential energy stored deep within, their steel enclosures tense with superheated steam, churning and roaring but held in, like a hidden pa.s.sion.

When the range had closed to two thousand yards, Captain Parker turned the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng to port, to bring his torpedo batteries to bear. The commander of Destroyer Division 10, Commander Thomas M. Stokes, who also rode in the to port, to bring his torpedo batteries to bear. The commander of Destroyer Division 10, Commander Thomas M. Stokes, who also rode in the Cus.h.i.+ng, Cus.h.i.+ng, requested permission to make a torpedo attack on what were very plainly hostile s.h.i.+ps. requested permission to make a torpedo attack on what were very plainly hostile s.h.i.+ps. "Shall I let them have a couple of fish?" "Shall I let them have a couple of fish?" he radioed Callaghan. Callaghan denied his request, instructing the destroyers to remain in column, on course 000 true-straight north. The torpedo officer in the destroyer he radioed Callaghan. Callaghan denied his request, instructing the destroyers to remain in column, on course 000 true-straight north. The torpedo officer in the destroyer Laffey, Laffey, Lieutenant (j.g.) Thomas A. Evins, was denied his request, too. Lieutenant (j.g.) Thomas A. Evins, was denied his request, too.

Captain Parker was instructed to maintain a course heading north, but abruptly had to veer to port to avoid hitting the j.a.panese s.h.i.+ps in front of him. So did the Laffey, Laffey, following five hundred yards astern, and the following five hundred yards astern, and the Sterett, Sterett, and then the and then the O'Bannon, O'Bannon, rus.h.i.+ng fast into this mess, turning even more sharply left to prevent a telescopic buckling of the entire front of the line. It was now, at about 1:45 a.m., that some fifteen minutes of electric and uncertain silence ended with the blast of guns from the leading units of the opposing task forces. rus.h.i.+ng fast into this mess, turning even more sharply left to prevent a telescopic buckling of the entire front of the line. It was now, at about 1:45 a.m., that some fifteen minutes of electric and uncertain silence ended with the blast of guns from the leading units of the opposing task forces.

The fire-control officers in the Atlanta Atlanta were the first of the cruisers to glimpse the chaos at the intersection of the vans. Lloyd Mustin said, "There in the starlight, that dim light in which you can see a great deal when you are fully dark-adapted, I saw the target." Through his binoculars, he made out the silhouette of a light cruiser crossing ahead of the were the first of the cruisers to glimpse the chaos at the intersection of the vans. Lloyd Mustin said, "There in the starlight, that dim light in which you can see a great deal when you are fully dark-adapted, I saw the target." Through his binoculars, he made out the silhouette of a light cruiser crossing ahead of the Atlanta Atlanta at six thousand yards. Close ahead, and startlingly so, the four van destroyers were broadside to his s.h.i.+p's course, making emergency turns to avoid running into their enemy. Captain Samuel Jenkins swung the helm sharply left. When Callaghan saw the s.h.i.+p heeled over and veering away to the west, he radioed, at six thousand yards. Close ahead, and startlingly so, the four van destroyers were broadside to his s.h.i.+p's course, making emergency turns to avoid running into their enemy. Captain Samuel Jenkins swung the helm sharply left. When Callaghan saw the s.h.i.+p heeled over and veering away to the west, he radioed, "What are you doing, Sam?" "What are you doing, Sam?"

"Avoiding our own destroyers," was the reply. was the reply.

At 1:46 a.m., Callaghan said, "Come back to your course as soon as you can. You are throwing whole column into disorder." "Come back to your course as soon as you can. You are throwing whole column into disorder." But the disorder was not Jenkins's doing. The disorganization of Task Force 67 was irreversible now. It was forced upon it by geometry, by Callaghan's belated perception of his tactical situation, and by the imperatives felt by individual commanders toward survival of their s.h.i.+ps. But the disorder was not Jenkins's doing. The disorganization of Task Force 67 was irreversible now. It was forced upon it by geometry, by Callaghan's belated perception of his tactical situation, and by the imperatives felt by individual commanders toward survival of their s.h.i.+ps.

Coordinated task force navigation was growing difficult when the American task force commander issued his last meaningful command to his column as it moved north. It was an order to change course ninety degrees to the left-directly into the midst of Abe's widely dispersed force. The Portland Portland's quartermaster logged the order with some uncertainty. Other s.h.i.+ps did not log it at all. It is possible the order reflected Callaghan's recognition that, confronted with battles.h.i.+ps, cruisers could prevail only at point-blank ranges, where a battles.h.i.+p's heavier armor was no proof against eight-inch fire.

REAR ADMIRAL ABE'S first indication of an enemy presence came from the destroyer first indication of an enemy presence came from the destroyer Yudachi. Yudachi. Unsure of his own location, her captain, Commander Kiyos.h.i.+ Kikkawa, reported an enemy force in the direction of Lunga Point. A minute later, the Unsure of his own location, her captain, Commander Kiyos.h.i.+ Kikkawa, reported an enemy force in the direction of Lunga Point. A minute later, the Hiei Hiei's lookouts reported four enemy cruisers at nine thousand meters (ninety-eight hundred yards). Abe sent a blinker message to his Bombardment Unit: "PROBABLE ENEMY s.h.i.+PS IN SIGHT, BEARING 136 DEGREES."

[image]

Order of Battle-The Cruiser Night Action [image]

U.S.

TASK GROUP 67.4.

RADM DANIEL J. CALLAGHAN.

San Francisco (CA) (flags.h.i.+p) (CA) (flags.h.i.+p) Portland (CA) (CA) Helena (CL) (CL) Atlanta (CLAA) (CLAA) Juneau (CLAA) (CLAA) Cus.h.i.+ng (DD) (DD) Laffey (DD) (DD) Sterett (DD) (DD) O'Bannon (DD) (DD) Aaron Ward (DD) (DD) Barton (DD) (DD) Monssen (DD) (DD) Fletcher (DD) (DD) j.a.pan BOMBARDMENT FORCE.

RADM n.o.bUTAKE KONDO.

Hiei (BB) (flags.h.i.+p) (BB) (flags.h.i.+p) Kiris.h.i.+ma (BB) (BB) Nagara (CL) (CL) Akatsuki (DD) (DD) Ikazuchi (DD) (DD) Inazuma (DD) (DD) Amatsukaze (DD) (DD) Yukikaze (DD) (DD) Teruzuki (DD) (DD) Asagumo (DD) (DD) Harusame (DD) (DD) Murasame (DD) (DD) Yudachi (DD) (DD) Samidare (DD) (DD) [image]

[image]

(Photo Credit: 27.1) On contact with the Americans, "pandemonium" broke out within the chain of command of the j.a.panese force, according to Captain Hara of the Amatsukaze. Amatsukaze. In the In the Hiei, Hiei, Captain Masao Nis.h.i.+da and his gunnery officer debated what type of ordnance the flags.h.i.+p should be loading. Prepared for a bombardment mission, the gunnery officer had Type 3 incendiary and high-explosive projectiles loaded in his hoists. They settled in favor of armor-piercing ammunition. But as crews in the sh.e.l.l decks and turrets of both the Captain Masao Nis.h.i.+da and his gunnery officer debated what type of ordnance the flags.h.i.+p should be loading. Prepared for a bombardment mission, the gunnery officer had Type 3 incendiary and high-explosive projectiles loaded in his hoists. They settled in favor of armor-piercing ammunition. But as crews in the sh.e.l.l decks and turrets of both the Hiei Hiei and and Kiris.h.i.+ma Kiris.h.i.+ma scrambled to remove bombardment rounds from the hoists and ready storage execution, it was clear that execution was more difficult than decision. "There was a stampede in the magazines, men pus.h.i.+ng and kicking to reach the armor-piercing sh.e.l.ls stored deep inside," Hara wrote. Evidently the j.a.panese were unsuccessful switching out their projectiles, judging by the volume of pyrotechnics that burst over Callaghan's formation that night. scrambled to remove bombardment rounds from the hoists and ready storage execution, it was clear that execution was more difficult than decision. "There was a stampede in the magazines, men pus.h.i.+ng and kicking to reach the armor-piercing sh.e.l.ls stored deep inside," Hara wrote. Evidently the j.a.panese were unsuccessful switching out their projectiles, judging by the volume of pyrotechnics that burst over Callaghan's formation that night.

For the leading s.h.i.+ps, the shooting would begin at a range so close that mechanical sensors were altogether unnecessary. The Battle of Friday the 13th would go down as the first naval engagement in the steam age to begin with a nearly blind head-on collision in the dark.

28.

Into the Light THE HELENA HELENA'S GUNS WERE LAID ALMOST TO THE HORIZONTAL-AND still no order to commence firing had come-when a piercing beam of light stood out in the darkness to port, artificial and startling, stinging the night-adjusted eyes of every American sailor manning a topside station. "The light seemed high, as though s.h.i.+ning down on us from a higher elevation than our own fighting bridge," wrote Ensign Bin Cochran. "There was a shocking moment when, staring into that light, all seemed completely silent. Everything around us in the night was quiet and black and here we were standing out for all to see." On the lightless nighttime sea, the flare of a match could be seen for miles around; the searchlight was overwhelming in its brightness. still no order to commence firing had come-when a piercing beam of light stood out in the darkness to port, artificial and startling, stinging the night-adjusted eyes of every American sailor manning a topside station. "The light seemed high, as though s.h.i.+ning down on us from a higher elevation than our own fighting bridge," wrote Ensign Bin Cochran. "There was a shocking moment when, staring into that light, all seemed completely silent. Everything around us in the night was quiet and black and here we were standing out for all to see." On the lightless nighttime sea, the flare of a match could be seen for miles around; the searchlight was overwhelming in its brightness.

"There was a feeling, one that you knew was without logic, that there was protection in getting out of the direct glare of that light," Cochran continued. "Everybody I could see crouched into a shadow." It was while squatting in that undignified position, stooping behind the four-foot-high sides of the Helena Helena's open bridge, that Rodman Smith decided he'd had enough and hustled over to his skipper. "Permission to open fire, Captain?"

Hoover, ducking out of the light himself, shouted back to his gunnery officer, "Open fire!"

The Atlanta Atlanta was swinging through her own turn to avoid a collision with the van when the searchlight, probably from the destroyer was swinging through her own turn to avoid a collision with the van when the searchlight, probably from the destroyer Akatsuki, Akatsuki, lit upon her from abaft the port beam. Captain Jenkins reacted as commanders had been trained in peacetime: "Counter-illuminate!" he shouted. His gunnery officer, Lieutenant Commander William R. D. Nickelson, Jr., preferred to respond with other hardware. At once he shouted into his headset mike: "f.u.c.k that! Open fire!" His a.s.sistant, Lloyd Mustin, was recording accurate ranges from the narrowcasting fire-control radar and didn't need help from other wavelengths. lit upon her from abaft the port beam. Captain Jenkins reacted as commanders had been trained in peacetime: "Counter-illuminate!" he shouted. His gunnery officer, Lieutenant Commander William R. D. Nickelson, Jr., preferred to respond with other hardware. At once he shouted into his headset mike: "f.u.c.k that! Open fire!" His a.s.sistant, Lloyd Mustin, was recording accurate ranges from the narrowcasting fire-control radar and didn't need help from other wavelengths. "Action port. Illuminating s.h.i.+p is target," "Action port. Illuminating s.h.i.+p is target," he instructed his gun captains. Mustin, controlling the after trio of five-inch mounts, and Nickelson slewed their directors onto the lights and opened fire immediately. he instructed his gun captains. Mustin, controlling the after trio of five-inch mounts, and Nickelson slewed their directors onto the lights and opened fire immediately.

As Abe's battles.h.i.+ps lofted star sh.e.l.ls high in the air, which burst behind the American cruisers, the j.a.panese destroyers. .h.i.t Commander Stokes's destroyer van with terrific fire. The Atlanta Atlanta came under fire now, too. Captain Jenkins had just ordered the antiaircraft cruiser's torpedoes fired-she was basically an oversized destroyer-when small-caliber projectiles from the came under fire now, too. Captain Jenkins had just ordered the antiaircraft cruiser's torpedoes fired-she was basically an oversized destroyer-when small-caliber projectiles from the Akatsuki Akatsuki plowed into her port torpedo director. The officer a.s.signed to that station, Lieutenant (j.g.) Henry P. Jenks, was one of the first casualties. With the loss of automatic control, the bulky torpedo mount, loaded with four big Mark 15s, was too heavy to operate manually with sufficient speed. plowed into her port torpedo director. The officer a.s.signed to that station, Lieutenant (j.g.) Henry P. Jenks, was one of the first casualties. With the loss of automatic control, the bulky torpedo mount, loaded with four big Mark 15s, was too heavy to operate manually with sufficient speed.

But guns were the USN's weapon of choice. By the white light of his carbon-arc fixtures, Mustin could see his own salvos. .h.i.tting the water just short of the Akatsuki Akatsuki's searchlight. He called corrections to his spotter, who upped the pointer elevation and walked the next one right in. As their target, followed by another destroyer, crossed Atlanta Atlanta's bow heading north, "You couldn't help but see our projectiles were just tearing into it," Mustin said. "Shooting into a destroyer-size hull from six hundred yards, you just don't miss. You just don't miss."

The Akatsuki Akatsuki paid the price of all vessels that uncloaked themselves first in the night. Gunfire from the paid the price of all vessels that uncloaked themselves first in the night. Gunfire from the Atlanta, Atlanta, the the San Francisco, San Francisco, the the Helena, Helena, and several destroyers converged on her. Soon she was wrecked and afire, her steering, power, and communications gone, her deadly torpedoes still in their tubes. and several destroyers converged on her. Soon she was wrecked and afire, her steering, power, and communications gone, her deadly torpedoes still in their tubes.

The destroyers Inazuma Inazuma and and Ikazuchi, Ikazuchi, trailing the trailing the Akatsuki Akatsuki just ahead of the just ahead of the Hiei Hiei's starboard beam, exited the rain squall and took over the lead. j.a.panese naval doctrine generally dictated the firing of torpedoes prior to the opening of bright, position-revealing gunfire. Conning his s.h.i.+p past the battered Akatsuki, Akatsuki, Commander Masamichi Terauchi, captain of the Commander Masamichi Terauchi, captain of the Inazuma, Inazuma, saw silhouettes of American s.h.i.+ps ahead, blinking with flashes of gunfire. He had had no instructions from Abe. The first signal that came from the saw silhouettes of American s.h.i.+ps ahead, blinking with flashes of gunfire. He had had no instructions from Abe. The first signal that came from the Hiei Hiei conveyed not orders, but requests for information. In the absence of orders, Terauchi and his torpedomen would do what they did best. Launching at angles to lead the American line, they were as prodigious as ever. Each of the destroyers loosed six torpedoes toward the conveyed not orders, but requests for information. In the absence of orders, Terauchi and his torpedomen would do what they did best. Launching at angles to lead the American line, they were as prodigious as ever. Each of the destroyers loosed six torpedoes toward the Atlanta, Atlanta, their closest target, before the their closest target, before the Ikazuchi Ikazuchi was. .h.i.t hard, taking at least three eight-inch sh.e.l.ls around her forward gun mount. The burning s.h.i.+p was forced to retire. was. .h.i.t hard, taking at least three eight-inch sh.e.l.ls around her forward gun mount. The burning s.h.i.+p was forced to retire.

Soon after the shooting started, Callaghan ordered, quite superfluously, "Odd s.h.i.+ps commence fire to starboard, even to port." "Odd s.h.i.+ps commence fire to starboard, even to port." Given that steel was already flying, and that the American column was in the midst of executing a sharp turn, the use of a command based on s.h.i.+ps' relative headings-starboard and port-was "a display of futility," Mustin thought. "Starboard was north with us and port was south, but it was east for other people and so on." Though Callaghan was trying to avoid wasteful concentrations of his gunfire, micromanaging a captain's decisions in battle was risky business. A s.h.i.+p's own officers usually knew what they should be shooting at, especially after the shooting had started. Given that steel was already flying, and that the American column was in the midst of executing a sharp turn, the use of a command based on s.h.i.+ps' relative headings-starboard and port-was "a display of futility," Mustin thought. "Starboard was north with us and port was south, but it was east for other people and so on." Though Callaghan was trying to avoid wasteful concentrations of his gunfire, micromanaging a captain's decisions in battle was risky business. A s.h.i.+p's own officers usually knew what they should be shooting at, especially after the shooting had started.

Commander Jesse Coward, the captain of the destroyer Sterett, Sterett, third in line, had all guns and his torpedo tubes trained on an approaching target to port. But when Callaghan's order came, requiring odd s.h.i.+ps to fire to starboard, he complied begrudgingly, swinging his weapons to the opposite beam. Lieutenant Cal Calhoun, the gunnery officer, ordered his fire controlmen to seize hold of the closest enemy target to starboard. A light cruiser, the third in line, had all guns and his torpedo tubes trained on an approaching target to port. But when Callaghan's order came, requiring odd s.h.i.+ps to fire to starboard, he complied begrudgingly, swinging his weapons to the opposite beam. Lieutenant Cal Calhoun, the gunnery officer, ordered his fire controlmen to seize hold of the closest enemy target to starboard. A light cruiser, the Nagara, Nagara, filled that bill. filled that bill.

Several of the Sterett Sterett's mounts were loaded with star sh.e.l.ls. From four thousand yards their effect was spectacular if ineffective, detonating on contact and enveloping the light cruiser's forecastle in magnesium-phosphorous pyrotechnics. The next four-gun salvos from Coward's tin can were common projectiles. These packed a harder punch, and Sterett Sterett fired a dozen such salvos at the fired a dozen such salvos at the Nagara Nagara as she pa.s.sed by. Life and death had been set loose on their own schedule, and task force commanders no longer had much to say about it. as she pa.s.sed by. Life and death had been set loose on their own schedule, and task force commanders no longer had much to say about it.

When the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng opened fire on a destroyer skitting away to the east, probably the opened fire on a destroyer skitting away to the east, probably the Yukikaze, Yukikaze, Captain Parker lost use of his voice radio from the concussion. Mute now and blind without fire-control radar, Parker would fight without the benefit of hearing Callaghan's course and speed orders. He had rung up twenty-five knots after opening fire, but was able to hold it only briefly. Just a couple of minutes after opening fire, the Captain Parker lost use of his voice radio from the concussion. Mute now and blind without fire-control radar, Parker would fight without the benefit of hearing Callaghan's course and speed orders. He had rung up twenty-five knots after opening fire, but was able to hold it only briefly. Just a couple of minutes after opening fire, the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng was. .h.i.t hard by sh.e.l.lfire and began losing power. Enveloped by enemy s.h.i.+ps and raked by lighter weaponry, the destroyer slowed and lost steering control. And then a new threat appeared on her starboard hand. was. .h.i.t hard by sh.e.l.lfire and began losing power. Enveloped by enemy s.h.i.+ps and raked by lighter weaponry, the destroyer slowed and lost steering control. And then a new threat appeared on her starboard hand.

The large vessel's dark form was ma.s.sive, eldritch, as it loomed off the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng's port bow in the flash-lit darkness. This was the Hiei. Hiei. The recognition of the battles.h.i.+p spread down the van, from the The recognition of the battles.h.i.+p spread down the van, from the Cus.h.i.+ng Cus.h.i.+ng to the to the Laffey Laffey to the to the Sterett Sterett to the to the O'Bannon. O'Bannon. Parker came right, with his crews swinging the rudder by hand, and fired six torpedoes by local control. The range to their big target was about twelve hundred yards-too close to miss, but also too close for the torpedoes to arm themselves en route. A destroyer's life expectancy within hailing distance of a battles.h.i.+p was short. The Parker came right, with his crews swinging the rudder by hand, and fired six torpedoes by local control. The range to their big target was about twelve hundred yards-too close to miss, but also too close for the torpedoes to arm themselves en route. A destroyer's life expectancy within hailing distance of a battles.h.i.+p was short. The Hiei Hiei's secondary guns and several destroyers tore into the Cus.h.i.+ng, Cus.h.i.+ng, landing accurate fire on each of her gun mounts, and blasting her engineering plant with medium-caliber ordnance. She shook from the impact of hits from s.h.i.+ps all around her, and very quickly her loss of steam power was complete. The other s.h.i.+ps of the van, pa.s.sing her on both sides, carried the battle forward, moving in and among Abe's s.h.i.+ps. Lieutenant Julian Becton, the executive officer of the landing accurate fire on each of her gun mounts, and blasting her engineering plant with medium-caliber ordnance. She shook from the impact of hits from s.h.i.+ps all around her, and very quickly her loss of steam power was complete. The other s.h.i.+ps of the van, pa.s.sing her on both sides, carried the battle forward, moving in and among Abe's s.h.i.+ps. Lieutenant Julian Becton, the executive officer of the Aaron Ward, Aaron Ward, wrote, "It was disorganized. It was individual, with every s.h.i.+p for herself. Perhaps if Tennyson had seen it he would have called it magnificent." wrote, "It was disorganized. It was individual, with every s.h.i.+p for herself. Perhaps if Tennyson had seen it he would have called it magnificent."

The Laffey Laffey now found herself leading the American van. Tom Evins, her torpedo officer, was deafened by the s.h.i.+p's battery as it fired on a destroyer ahead-"a roar so constant as to create the impression that there was no noise at all." Though the s.h.i.+p had ridden in Scott's van at Cape Esperance, each battle seized the mind in unique ways. For the sailors in the now found herself leading the American van. Tom Evins, her torpedo officer, was deafened by the s.h.i.+p's battery as it fired on a destroyer ahead-"a roar so constant as to create the impression that there was no noise at all." Though the s.h.i.+p had ridden in Scott's van at Cape Esperance, each battle seized the mind in unique ways. For the sailors in the Laffey, Laffey, that signature image was the that signature image was the Hiei, Hiei, closer to hand now than anyone might ever have wished. The great vessel's proximity registered stunningly on Evins through the time-slowing numbness of five senses strained by overload. "There, bearing down on us on a collision course from the port side, was what seemed to be the biggest manmade object ever created," he said. closer to hand now than anyone might ever have wished. The great vessel's proximity registered stunningly on Evins through the time-slowing numbness of five senses strained by overload. "There, bearing down on us on a collision course from the port side, was what seemed to be the biggest manmade object ever created," he said.

Richard Hale, the pointer in gun two, was startled to see the battles.h.i.+p's bridge and superstructure through his pointer's scope. "It was so close we could throw hand grenades and hit it." The five-inch guns trained out and started a brisk cadence, joined soon, Hale recalled, by the chattering twenties. "The flight of our sh.e.l.ls to the target was instantaneous," he wrote. "We saw them penetrate their bulkheads and explode inside."

"She was only about a thousand yards away, and there was clearly not a second to lose," said Tom Evins. "It seemed like an eternity before I was able to launch our single spread of five gas-operated steel fish. Meanwhile the great battles.h.i.+p came relentlessly on, as if to crush us." The effect from the destroyer's point of view was like the head of a great ax slicing toward them through the water.

The Laffey Laffey's captain, Lieutenant Commander William E. Hank, rang emergency full astern. Cross-connecting his engine and fire rooms, with burners full open, he then signaled emergency full ahead. The captain's s.h.i.+phandling had been a source of consternation and embarra.s.sment to the crew when he showed a willingness to use emergency engine orders during routine docking. Now the circ.u.mstances required it. The destroyer leaped forward as her screws bit into the seas. Surging just past her fantail went the Hiei, Hiei, "so close Hank could have hit her with a slingshot," Julian Becton wrote. The destroyer's gunners riddled the j.a.panese s.h.i.+p with guns of all calibers. A sailor named John H. Jenkins, impressed with the opportunity at hand, ran to a twenty-millimeter mount whose operator was hanging lifeless in the harness. Wrapping his arms around the corpse, using it as a s.h.i.+eld, he raised the barrel and fired a clip into the battles.h.i.+p's portholes. As fire from the "so close Hank could have hit her with a slingshot," Julian Becton wrote. The destroyer's gunners riddled the j.a.panese s.h.i.+p with guns of all calibers. A sailor named John H. Jenkins, impressed with the opportunity at hand, ran to a twenty-millimeter mount whose operator was hanging lifeless in the harness. Wrapping his arms around the corpse, using it as a s.h.i.+eld, he raised the barrel and fired a clip into the battles.h.i.+p's portholes. As fire from the Laffey Laffey and the other three destroyers raked the and the other three destroyers raked the Hiei Hiei's bridge, Admiral Abe took shrapnel to the face, and Captain Masao Nis.h.i.+da fell wounded, too. Abe's chief of staff, Commander Masakane Suzuki, was a fatality. As heavier blows fell, delivered by American s.h.i.+ps farther away, flames and smoke washed through the pilothouse. Jenkins saw pieces of the superstructure falling onto the great fourteen-inch turret below it.

Having momentarily "blinded the Cyclops," in Becton's words, the Laffey Laffey pulled away to the north, under heavy fire but opening the range. Her narrow escape from a collision with a s.h.i.+p eighteen times her weight was only the first of her hurdles. As the s.h.i.+p headed for Savo Island, looking to use the island's silhouette as camouflage, the trio of destroyers on Abe's northern flank of his van, the pulled away to the north, under heavy fire but opening the range. Her narrow escape from a collision with a s.h.i.+p eighteen times her weight was only the first of her hurdles. As the s.h.i.+p headed for Savo Island, looking to use the island's silhouette as camouflage, the trio of destroyers on Abe's northern flank of his van, the Asagumo, Murasame, Asagumo, Murasame, and and Samidare, Samidare, began crossing ahead of her from port to starboard and took the began crossing ahead of her from port to starboard and took the Laffey Laffey under fire. "The whole world suddenly seemed to burst into the brilliance of an eerie blue midday as the star sh.e.l.ls exploded over our heads," Tom Evins recalled. "The under fire. "The whole world suddenly seemed to burst into the brilliance of an eerie blue midday as the star sh.e.l.ls exploded over our heads," Tom Evins recalled. "The Laffey Laffey was designed for 37.5 knots but we were making in excess of forty," wrote Lieutenant Eugene A. Barham, her engineering officer. was designed for 37.5 knots but we were making in excess of forty," wrote Lieutenant Eugene A. Barham, her engineering officer.

The battles.h.i.+p Kiris.h.i.+ma, Kiris.h.i.+ma, steaming on the steaming on the Hiei Hiei's port quarter, fired on the Laffey. Laffey. Two sh.e.l.ls bit into her bridge and her number two gun mount. According to Evins, "The next second I was hanging onto a stanchion, trying to keep myself from being thrown from the s.h.i.+p. She seemed to pitch herself into the air and then nosedive for the bottom. Tons of water poured down over our superstructure; it was difficu