The Americans combined intelligence, preparation, a coordinated formation, and crews trained to execute decisions already considered before contact. The Japanese destroyers had completed their delivery and were returning by a route that carried them into the bombardment group. While the cruiser main batteries shifted between ships, Denver used its free starboard 5-inch battery to walk 84 rounds onto a shore position and silence it. Japan lost both destroyers, 174 personnel killed, and two captured. For the Americans, the action remained so one-sided that the official account devoted more attention to the shore bombardment than to the surface battle.
Chapter · 1:18:19-1:22:14
Preparation turns the battle into an American footnote
Advance warning, rehearsed responses, homogeneous ship groups, and trained crews let the Americans destroy two Japanese destroyers whose resupply mission had already ended.