"Long" went to 25 knots and opened fire, but a "kamikaze" crashed into her portside below the bridge about 1 foot above the waterline. With fires and explosions amidships, "Long" lost power and internal communications, and was unable to fight fires forward. Her commanding officer, Lieutenant Stanley Caplan, fearing an explosion in the forward magazine, gave permission for men trapped on the forecastle to leave the ship, but through misunderstanding, the crew aft abandoned ship. All were quickly rescued by standing by to aid the burning but still seaworthy ship.