a scouting line at six-mile intervals zig-zagging at 15 knots on base course 020°. 0730: Lead ships Coghlan and Richmond made radar contact with the two trailing Japanese transports and a destroyer on course 080° at . A navigating officer on one of the transports visually observed the American force minutes later. 0740: The Americans changed course to 080° and the rear ships increased speed to operate as a compact group. Five radar contacts were counted. 0755: The Japanese turned northward to course 340° and the Americans came to course 000° to follow. 0811: The Americans visually identified the radar contacts as two transports, two light cruisers, and a destroyer. 0820: The Americans sighted the masts of four more Japanese ships on the horizon. 0835: The Americans identified the masts as two heavy cruisers and two destroyers and turned to course 240°. 0838: The Japanese transports swerved off to the northwest. 0839: The Americans increased speed to . 0840: Nachi opened fire on Richmond at a range of . The second and third salvos were straddles. 0841: Richmond opened fire on Nachi. The third salvo was a straddle. 0842: Salt Lake City opened fire on Nachi at a range of . The second salvo was a straddle. As the range closed, Bailey opened fire on Nachi at a range of and then switched to a light cruiser. Coghlan opened fire on Nachi at a range of . 0845: Nachi launched eight torpedoes. All missed. 0850: One of Richmond′s shells hit the starboard side of Nachi′s signal bridge, killing 11 and wounding 21. Another shell hit Nachi′s mainmast and severed the flagship radio communication. 0852: One of Richmond′s 6-inch shells hit Nachi′s torpedo compartment. Another of Richmond′s 6-inch shells hit Nachi′s control room, killing two and wounding five. Nachi dropped back after losing electrical power to ammunition hoists and gun mounts. 0903: Richmond ceased firing. Salt Lake City continued firing from stern turrets. 0910: Salt Lake City was hit by an projectile fired by Maya. The starboard observation plane caught fire and was jettisoned. 0920: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya. Two men were killed. 1010: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya. 1059: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya. 1103: Salt Lake City was hit by an 8-inch projectile fired by Maya. Salt