Three weeks later, "Akatsuki" returned to "Ironbottom Sound" as part of a powerful bombardment force built around the battleships and . On the night of 12–13 November 1942, in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, this unit encountered a task force of U.S. Navy destroyers and cruisers. Operating on the right flank of the Japanese battleships, "Akatsuki" is often credited with illuminating and then torpedoing : however, her junior torpedo officer, Michiharu Shinya – one of her few survivors - later stated unequivocally that "Akatsuki" was overwhelmed by gunfire before being able to launch any torpedoes. Soon after illuminating "Atlanta", she was heavily hit by American gunfire and sank early in the action near Savo Island at position , with the loss of all but 18 crewmen (out of a total complement of 197), who were later captured by U.S. forces. These crewmen were later imprisoned at the Featherston prisoner of war camp in New Zealand.