ルンガ沖夜戦
was operating with a cruiser-destroyer force on 30 November 1942 to prevent the Japanese from reinforcing their garrison on Guadalcanal. During the Battle of Tassafaronga, Northampton along with four additional cruisers and four destroyers all opened fire on an unsuspecting Japanese task force of eight destroyers. The Japanese did not return fire for several minutes as the Americans stunning cannonade scored many hits and sinking one destroyer; "Takanami".