The communists, too, had changed tactics. More guns were brought in to defend the coasts, while enemy accuracy had improved as well. On 20 August 1952, once more off Sŏngjin, "Thompson" was taken under fire by a Chinese battery. A shell hit the flying bridge, killing four and wounding nine. "Thompson" attempted to return the fire, but the excellently concealed shore guns made the return shelling's accuracy difficult and ineffective. Retiring from the scene, the stricken "Thompson" transferred her casualties to , then operating 16 miles (30 km) south of Sŏngjin.