Three Brooklyn-class cruisers and four Fletcher-class destroyers entered Kula Gulf for a short bombardment corrected by Black Cat aircraft. Their own gun flashes made the force visible to Japanese destroyers approaching with troops and supplies. The Japanese commander avoided a gun battle, used his radar-equipped flagship to direct the group, and launched fourteen Long Lance torpedoes from about six nautical miles. One torpedo fatally struck USS Strong, alerting Admiral Ainsworth to danger even though he initially suspected a submarine rather than a distant surface attack.
Chapter · 1:12:15-1:17:40
A New Georgia bombardment exposes USS Strong to a Long Lance
Three Brooklyns and four Fletcher-class destroyers bombarded New Georgia, but their gun flashes exposed the force to a long-range Japanese torpedo salvo.