On the night of 12–13 November 1942, in the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Yūdachi escorted the Bombardment Force of Rear Admiral Abe Hiroaki. The lead ship in the formation at beginning of battle, Yūdachi had to swerve to avoid U.S. ships, then torpedoed USS Portland (CA-33). After Yūdachi was disabled by gunfire of the U.S. cruiser-destroyer group, 207 survivors were removed by the Samidare, which then failed to scuttle her with a torpedo. The abandoned hulk was later sunk by gunfire of Portland, southeast of Savo Island at position (
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09°14′S 159°52′E). According to James Hornfischer, Yūdachi showed a white flag before Portland fired, but this was deliberately ignored by the American captain, who directed his gunnery officer to "sink the S.O.B." [6]