Cleveland cruisers and Fletcher destroyers formed a layered screen

The Cleveland-class cruisers carried twelve rapid-firing six-inch guns apiece and used radar to locate targets in darkness. At the likely engagement ranges, twelve-shell salvoes and a faster rate of fire gave them repeated opportunities to hit opponents armed with eight-inch guns. Destroyer Squadron 23 also had radar and was among the US Navy's most thoroughly worked-up formations. Two decades of demanding training had given American and Royal Navy destroyer forces something of an elite status, with aggression expected to remain under professional control. Burke and Austin each led a four-ship Fletcher division. The three-column arrangement placed destroyers around the cruiser core, making a torpedo attack on the cruisers more difficult because an opponent first had to get through the screen.