In order to intercept Kondo's force, Halsey, who was low on undamaged ships, detached two battleships, the and , and four destroyers from the "Enterprise" task force. The U.S. force, under the command of Willis A. Lee aboard the "Washington", reached Guadalcanal and Savo Island just before midnight on 14 November, shortly before Kondo's bombardment force arrived. Kondo's force consisted of the "Kirishima" plus two heavy cruisers, two light cruisers, and nine destroyers. After the two forces made contact, Kondo's force quickly sank three of the U.S. destroyers and heavily damaged the fourth. The Japanese warships then sighted, opened fire, and damaged the "South Dakota". As Kondo's warships concentrated on the "South Dakota", the "Washington" approached the Japanese ships unobserved and opened fire on the "Kirishima", smashing into the Japanese battleship repeatedly with both main and secondary battery shells, and causing fatal damage. After fruitlessly chasing the "Washington" towards the Russell Islands, Kondo ordered his warships to retire without bombarding Henderson Field. One of Kondo's destroyers was also sunk during the engagement.