Comments by "AtomicBabel" (@AtomicBabel) on "USS Helena - Guide 195" video.

The shall remain un-named guy in charge placed his flag on San Fran which he commanded in the past and the crew was very fond of him. Unfortunately, he was more of a staff officer than a tactical combat commander. Scott (on Atlanta) was experienced, CAPT Gil Hoover of Helena knew how to exploit radar, but un-named came out of a desk job, was in-experienced with new technology, commanding a task force in combat yet he was the senior officer. IMO, Scott would have done better (after learning from experience) and Hoover would have mopped the slot that night.
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@johnbelli6384 yes, Scott fought his first battle on San Francisco (with no SG) radar and was first to make the mistakes repeated at the NBoG. He did realise that he ignored Helena's reports and was studying up on the system when he was reassigned to TF 62.4 upon Callahan's arrival to command TF 67.4. TF 62.4 comprised of 4xDD, 3 attack transports and the flagship Atlanta. Thus, Scott flew his flag from her and did so when Atlanta and 2x DD joined up with TF67.4. Helena was on TF 67.4 thus not under Scott's command. The inaction (holding when several ships had firing solutions) and then bad decisions (famous odd/port even/starboard command) are what forfeited the advantage and turned the night into a melee. Were 11 IJN DD hard to dispatch? Yes again, and there were enough USN DD and CLAA to turn them. Could the 2 "big ones" be disabled by the smaller guns and torps of TF67.4? Hiei would attest to that. Yes, advantage does not guarantee victory, one could easily point to Tassaforanga. Finally, thank you for the opportunity to dig out some old reads.
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