Destroyer Division 46 appeared in hindsight to have had a torpedo opportunity against Japanese ships. During the battle, the crews could not tell whether the radar contacts were Japanese vessels or their own cruisers. Firing would have risked torpedoing friendly ships and turning the engagement into an American defeat. Early identification equipment could also be confused by stray and enemy signals. Later knowledge of each ship's position made the opportunity look clearer than it had been to the officers deciding whether to fire.
Notable Point · 2:10:17-2:11:47
Why radar contacts did not justify every torpedo shot
A missed torpedo opportunity becomes much less clear when judged by the uncertain identification available to crews during the battle.