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The two divisions could then switch roles if a repeat torpedo attack proved necessary, or alternate roles if barges were encountered, which could be dealt with by the second division's extra guns if necessary.<ref name=ohara/> Having learned the harsh lessons of naval combat at night after the Battle of Kolombangara, the [[Battle of Kula Gulf]],<ref>Morison pp. 194–195.</ref> and a previous PT boat skirmish, and having finally addressed the technical problems that had plagued their [[Mark 15 torpedo]]es since the beginning of the war, the American destroyers did not give away their position with gunfire until their torpedoes started striking their targets.<ref name=ohara/>
''Dunlap'', ''Craven'' and ''Maury'' fired a total of 24 torpedoes<ref>Morison p. 216.</ref> in the space of 63 seconds before turning to starboard and withdrawing at high speed, using the mountainous island to their east to help camouflage their movements. The Americans were operating on the assumption that the Japanese had nothing to match their new centrimetric SG radar; they knew that their older meter band radars could not differentiate between the surface ships and the island and presumed Japanese radars were no better. In the event, none of the Japanese ships present actually had radar and the looming mass of the island served to conceal the American ships from visual observation.<ref>Hara pp.176–177</ref> ''Lang'', ''Sterett'' and ''Stack'' turned to port to [[Crossing_the_T|cross their opponent's T]] and opened fire as soon as the torpedoes started detonating. All four Japanese destroyers were hit by American torpedoes. ''Hagikaze'', ''Arashi'', and ''Kawakaze'' burst into flames and either sank immediately or were quickly sunk by naval gunfire. The torpedo that hit ''Shigure'' was a dud that passed through her rudder without detonating, allowing her to escape into the darkness. ''Shigure'' fired eight torpedoes
==Aftermath==
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