Battle of Tassafaronga
On November 29, the task force sailed to intercept a Japanese destroyer-transport force off Guadalcanal. Just before midnight 30 November, the American ships transited Lengo Channel as the Japanese task group steamed west of Savo Island to enter Ironbottom Sound. The two opposing task forces clashed in the Battle of Tassafaronga. ... American destroyers launched torpedoes as the enemy range came within five miles of Pensacola's cruiser formation. Japanese destroyer Takanami, hit many times, was afire and exploding. American flagship Mimmeapolis (CA-36) took two torpedo hits; New Orleans (CA-32) closed the disabled Mimmeapolis and ran into a torpedo that ripped off the forward part of the warship. Pensacola turned to prevent collision with two damaged American ships but silhouetted by the burning American cruisers, she came in the Japanese line of fire. ... One of 18 torpedoes launched by Japanese destroyers hit her below the mainmast. Her engine room flooded, three gun turrets out of commission, and her oil tanks ruptured the oil-fed flames engulfed Pensacola's main deck aft where torpedoes and machine gun ammunition exploded. ... Her dead numbered 7 officers and 118 men. One officer and 67 men were injured.
