The anti-aircraft fire of " New Jersey " and the other screening ships proved virtually impenetrable; two American ships were slightly damaged during the battle.
12.
From 25 November to 16 December, " Southard " stayed in the vicinity of New Caledonia, participating in drills and screening ships into and out of Noum�a.
13.
Only one enemy formation approached TG 58.1 and only one out of the 16 torpedo bombers got close enough to be shot down by antiaircraft fire from the screening ships.
14.
She served as screening ship and plane guard during the air operations covering the assault on Guadalcanal 7 August, and then patrolled the eastern Solomons to protect sea lanes to Guadalcanal.
15.
During the initial landings on 1 April 1945 " Harding " served as an outer screening ship, and continued this dangerous duty during the savage air attacks which followed.
16.
As screening ships engaged the cruisers and laid down concealing smoke, " Kalinin Bay " shifted her fire, and for the next hour traded shots with Destroyer Squadron 10.
17.
The remarkable resistance of the screening ships of the escort carrier groups against Kurita's battle-group remains one of the most heroic feats in the storied history of the US Navy.
18.
The Japanese aviators concentrated almost exclusively on the American carriers as the two drew apart with their respective screening ships, ultimately putting some of ocean between them by the end of the battle.
19.
One torpedo-bomber, damaged by anti-aircraft fire from the screening ships, crashed " San Francisco ", destroying the after control station and demolishing three 20 mm gun mounts.
20.
Advancing down the coast of the island of Samar towards the troop transports and support ships of the Leyte Gulf landing, they took Seventh Fleet's escort carriers and their screening ships entirely by surprise.
