How combat information centres changed night fighting

Before effective combat information centres, a commander could struggle to combine reports quickly enough during a night action. Attackers had the advantage of choosing when to engage and retaining the initiative. CIC personnel supplied a way to synthesize incoming information so the captain or admiral could concentrate on decisions. The benefit depended on officers accepting that help rather than seeing it as a challenge to their authority. Confusion around Guadalcanal also exposed South Dakota to danger beyond her electrical problems, while torpedoes threatened both American battleships. Later reliance on destroyers is connected to their manoeuvrability, responsiveness, different command arrangements, and the United States' ability to replace losses.