at 2300, the third escort force's "natori" and her destroyers arrived with the western support force's "mogami", "mikuma" and . "shiratsuyu" opened fire on the allies. "natori", with "hatsuyuki" and "shirayuki", then opened fire and rapidly closed the range. at 2308, the allied cruisers turned northeast and "natori" and her destroyers headed southeast in three columns. between 2310 and 2319 they launched 28 torpedoes at the allies. "perth"s gunfire damaged "harukaze"s rudder and "shirayuki"s bridge.