The Seventh Cruiser Squadron went ahead to regain contact while destroyer flotillas were dispatched for torpedo attacks. Perth's eyewitness account describes the cruisers shadowing the enemy before the British battleships opened fire at about 23:30. It gives a firing range of 5,000 yards and describes the fire as radar directed. Destroyers then closed to finish damaged ships and recover survivors, with one reporting that it had exhausted its torpedoes and taken aboard as many survivors as it could carry. Mist later obscured the remaining enemy ships and contact was lost.
Notable Point · 34:46-37:02
Night contact, close-range gunfire, and survivor recovery
Perth's eyewitness account follows night shadowing, battleship fire, and destroyer efforts to recover survivors.