Radar contact brought a destroyer-led torpedo exchange

Radar contact at 02:27 gave Merrill the opportunity to send Burke's destroyers toward the northern flank while turning the cruisers away from Long Lance torpedo danger. Austin's division was to attack from the south, separating the destroyers' torpedo attacks from the cruisers' gunfire role. An eight-ship squadron commonly divided into two four-ship divisions, with the senior divisional commander also leading the squadron. Burke therefore accompanied Division 45 while Austin led Division 46. The first American and Japanese torpedo salvoes missed as both sides maneuvered, but the Japanese formation separated into roughly three groups. A misunderstood order sent Foote in the wrong direction, and fear of colliding with friendly ships frustrated her effort to rejoin the fight.