"Pensacola" followed next astern in the cruiser column. Observing "Minneapolis" and "New Orleans" taking hits and slowing, "Pensacola" steered to pass them on the port side and then, once past, returned to the same base course. At 23:39, "Pensacola" took a torpedo abreast the mainmast. The explosion spread flaming oil throughout the interior and across the main deck of the ship, killing 125 of the ship's crew. The hit ripped away the port outer driveshaft and the ship took a 13-degree list and lost power, communications, and steering.