From that moment on, deadly accurate Japanese gunfire pounded her unmercifully, and she began to lose speed. Turning to the right to avoid "Quincy"s fire at about 0201, "Astoria" reeled as a succession of enemy shells struck her aft of the foremast. Soon thereafter, "Quincy" veered across "Astoria"s bow, blazing fiercely from bow to stern. "Astoria" put her rudder over hard left and avoided a collision while her battered sister ship passed aft, to starboard. As the warship turned, s searchlight illuminated her, and men on deck passed the order to No. 2 turret to shoot out the offending light. When the turret responded with "Astoria"s 12th and final salvo, the shells missed "Kinugasa" but struck the No. 1 turret of .