About 0200, the San Francisco engaged the Japanese battleship Kirishima, cruiser Nagara and a destroyer which crossed her bow and went down the port side Many of the Frisco's guns were put out of commission.
The Japanese ships concentrated their fire on the battered San Francisco. A direct hit on the navigation bridge killed or badly wounded all the officers except for communications officer Lt. Cmdr. Bruce McCandless.
Command of the ship fell to Lt. Cmdr. Herbert E. Schonland, but he felt his own efforts were needed to keep the ship "afloat and right-side up" so he ordered McCandless to remain in charge. Steering and engine control was lost, shifted elsewhere, but that too was lost.
It was transferred elsewhere, but that was also lost. All communications were down. The ship was taking a battering.
Soon afterwards, fortunately, the enemy ceased firing and the San Francisco did as well and withdrew eastward along the north coast of Guadalcanal.
--GreGen
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