Astoria, Quincy, and Vincennes steamed at ten knots with all three captains asleep while fighting developed south of Savo Island. Flares, gunfire, and the destroyer Patterson's warning did not produce an immediate full alert or evasive manoeuvres. Japanese cruisers launched torpedoes five minutes before their searchlights and guns fully exposed the attack, so the northern force was already in danger when its crews recognized the threat. Astoria even ceased fire for a crucial minute when her newly awakened captain feared that the gun director had engaged friendly ships.
Chapter · 1:08:07-1:10:52
The northern cruiser force is surprised off Savo Island
Warning failures, sleeping captains, and a slow alert let Japanese cruisers launch torpedoes before the northern force reacted.