On 30 October 1942, "South Dakota" and the destroyer collided while the latter was investigating a sonar contact with a submarine. Both ships were able to continue to Noumea, where repaired them. The battleship joined the "North Carolina"-class battleship and four destroyers to form TF 64. The ships intercepted a Japanese bombardment force on the night of 14–15 November, and, in a battle now known as the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, they damaged the cruisers and in addition to forcing the battleship and destroyer to be scuttled. During the battle, a power failure incapacitated "South Dakota" and she received considerable topside damage—42 shells hit the ship, knocking out radio communications and three fire control radars along with destroying the main radar set.