In the Battle of Savo Island, one of the Quincy's shells struck the rear bridge of Vice Admiral Mikawa's flagship, the heavy cruiser Choukai. If the impact site had been only 20 feet further up the vessel, the top leaders of the Japanese fleet might have been annihilated.
Novelist Niwa Fumio was on board the Choukai as a war correspondent at that time, and sustained an injury to his right hand. Later, Niwa described his experience in this battle in his documentary novel, 海戦 ("Kaisen", "Naval Engagement," 1942). The upper left corner of this image is a part of his novel.
...It was a doomed assault; they were prepared to fight until the bitter end. Their rapid-fire bore down on us like a harsh sigh. That was the first time my heart truly began to race. I felt the imminent danger course through my body. It was as if the incoming vessel had set its sights on me alone. The fiery enemy ship seemed to rush forth like a wild roar, its whole length screaming out...A Fierce and Up-Close Battle in the Strait!Intense! The Enemies Suddenly Spout Crimson FlameEver-Composed and Reliable...Midnight AssaultThe Final Death of an American Heavy CruiserAsahi Shinbun
On August 25, 1942....each time a shot rang out, my body swung left and right. My flesh began to numb from all the shaking. It felt as if the my "axle" had dropped out of my body, and the thunderous noise stirred up a feverish ringing inside my head. Yet through it all I kept my journal open, at hand. I observed the progress of the battle from the port side. 4 to 5 feet ahead of me, an orderly and about 7 or 8 sailors were gathered near a speaking tube.
"What a dreadful attack. They're charging into our ship!" There came the voice of a soldier.
"They're charging! They're charging!"
Hearing this, I looked out to see a San Francisco-class heavy cruiser (the name given to the New Orleans/Astoria heavy cruisers by the Japanese), its bow pointed towards the portside of our ship, approaching steadily. The back half of the enemy vessel was already enveloped in flames. As it slid out of the darkness, illuminated by these flames, flashes emanated from the turret mounted in front of the bridge as shots fired. The fierce vigor the enemy displayed pierced my heart...
