The loss of at the Battle of Savo Island in August 1942 was the largest single ship loss the RAN experienced during World War II. In the early hours of the morning of 9 August 1942, "Canberra" was severely damaged off Guadalcanal in a surprise attack by a powerful Japanese naval force. "Canberra" was hit by 24 shells in less than two minutes, with 84 of her crew killed, including Captain Frank Getting. Following an order to abandon ship, "Canberra" was sunk the next day by a torpedo from a US destroyer, to prevent it being captured.