CBS World News - July 23rd, 1943
July 23rd, 1943
CBS World News
"The world today. The Columbia Broadcasting System now presents a summary of the all the important world news today. Reports from CBS correspondents by trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific short wave radio, and the latest developments as received by the Columbia's news room here in New York.
Commander Feuersturm will report on the most recent events in the pacific"
"The recent naval battle in the pacific was a strategic victory for our naval forces. For the loss of three carriers and two battleships, we sunk seven carriers, four battleships, and countless other vessels. A note to Germany: Our navy is prepared, strong and able to take them on should the even consider letting their carriers venture from the safety of the Baltic Sea."
"The extent of damage on some of our carriers is not yet known, one carrier had to be towed into port after taking a pounding from enemy aircraft. Two others were ravaged by fires and had to be escorted to a temporary holding location for repairs. Before the attack on the Chinese mainland can occur, we have to build our transport fleet back up. Even after this turn of events, the Japanese adiminstration still refuses any peace proposal. Don't worry Japan, we havn't forgot about your Chinese assets yet. We will be coming, and in force."
"Thank you, Commander Feuersturm. That was Commander Feuersturm reporting from Tokyo, Occupied Japan. Before we leave you tonight, we will read out a entry that was given to us from a sailor that served in the battle. It will show you that, even though we live in relative peace here, the front lines are not as pleasant as they are at home."
"Petty Officer Glosette, on the USS Maryland"
"..The seas were rough as the battle carried on, as if mother nature was sending her worst. It didn't take long for the fleets to engage themselves......."
".....A deafening crackle that spit across the war zone which caused everyone on our ship to turn the the source of the sound, the USS Colorado. One shell had pierced her just below the forward turret, and the other had obviously knocked out the fore command deck. It was quite an amazing, albeit shocking, sight. The entire ship seemed to convulse. The sides of the ship warped in then out a number of times. Sailors were jumping off the decks with reckless abandon, no life jackets or boats. Everywhere panic, and the number of men in the sea grew and they splashed about. Then came the most thunderous explosion I have ever heard, blowing out the glass on our deck. The fore turret of the USS Colorado was blasted off its nest and landed about 40 feet from the ship, creating a huge wave that overcame some of the poor sailors in the water. My ears were, I don't know how to put it, but all the sound just left me, all but a constant ringing. I stumbled about as debris hit our ship, of which caused some injury to my fellow crew. By the time I managed to get back on my feet, we could see the Colorado had blown itself in half, and sailors being sucked into the void it created. Behind us, fire had competley engulfed one of our carriers. Another was in flames, drifting, as its sailors desperately trying to keep the beast afloat. Two cruisers churned their engines tried to turn from the drifting carrier, which collided mid ship of the slower cruiser. This is hell, there is nothing else to describe it. When will it end?"
Japanese Ships vs American Ships
52 vs 56
Sunk and crippled ships over the two naval engagements south of Japan:
United States Navy
- Carriers (3 lost, 3 put out of action for repairs)
- USS Ticonderoga
- USS Intrepid
- USS Lexington
- USS Ranger (1 strength left)
- USS Bunker Hill (~50 strength left)
- USS Feuersturm (~25 strength left) *from my other carrier group*
--
- Battleships (2)
- USS Colorado
- USS Maryland
--
- Other
- 4 transports (8 from the first naval engagment)
Japanese Imperial Navy
- Carriers (7)
- IJN Akagi
- IJN Amagi
- IJN Ryujo
- IJN Soryu
- IJN Hiyo
- IJN Zuikaku
- IJN Junyo
--
- Battleships (4)
- IJN Mustu
- IJN Yamashiro
- IJN Nagato
- IJN Hyuga
--
- Heavy Cruisers (10)
- IJN Furutaka
- IJN Takao
- IJN Maya
- IJN Kinugasa
- IJN Izumo
- IJN Nachi
- IJN Kako
- IJN Chokai
- IJN Asama
- IJN Atago
--
- Battlecruisers (2)
- IJN Kongo
- IJN Hiei
Out of my two carrier groups, I started 1943 with 10 carriers. After this, I was down to 4 combat-able carriers. I also lost most of my transport capacity this year, losing 14 of my 20 transports. I was not pleased....