At about 0200, "San Francisco" trained her guns on . At the same time, she became the target of off her starboard bow and of a destroyer which had crossed her bow and was passing down her port side. The enemy battleship joined the cruiser and the destroyer in firing on "San Francisco" whose port battery engaged the destroyer but was put out of action except for one mount. The battleship put the starboard battery out of commission. "San Francisco" swung left while her main battery continued to fire on the battleships which, with the cruiser and the destroyer, continued to pound "San Francisco". A direct hit on the navigation bridge killed or badly wounded all officers, except for the communications officer, Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless. Command fell to the damage control officer, Lieutenant Commander Herbert E. Schonland, but he thought his own efforts were needed to keep the ship "afloat and right-side up", so he ordered McCandless to stay at the conn. Steering and engine control were lost and shifted to Battle Two. Battle Two was out of commission by a direct hit from the port side. Control was again lost.