Wellard
Posts: 57
Joined: 6/6/2006 From: Inverness,Scotland Status: offline
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Here by way of interest are the official reports regarding the ship damage at Pearl(a little bit early but makes good reading) 1st Report Dated 12 December, 1941 PEARL HARBOR, T. H., December 12, 1941 Secret From: Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Fleet. To: The Chief of Naval Operations. Subject: Damage to Ships of the Pacific Fleet resulting from Enemy Attacks at Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. References: (a) Cincpac Secret Desp. 072244 of December 1941. (b) Cincpac Secret Desp. 081015 of December 1941. (c) Cincpac Secret Desp. 100220 of December 1941. (d) Cincpac Secret Desp. 102043 of December 1941. 1. The following report relative to damage sustained by ships of the Pacific Fleet resulting from enemy attacks on 7 December 1941 is submitted. This amplifies reports submitted by references (a) to (d) inclusive: (a) Battleships. ARIZONA sunk at berth as result of aircraft torpedoes and heavy bombs which exploded forward magazines. Ship is considered to be a total wreck. CALIFORNIA sunk at berth as a result of hits by two or more aircraft torpedoes; also received one large bomb hit amidships which caused serious fire. Recommendations regarding salvage and repairs will be forwarded later. NEVADA damaged by heavy bombs, possible mine in the channel and aircraft torpedoes. Beached across from hospital point to prevent sinking after an attempt to sortie. Batteries intact and manned though no power is on the ship. Recommendations regarding salvage and repairs will be made later OKLAHOMA capsized at berth as a result of receiving three or more hits by aircraft torpedoes. Recommendations regarding salvage will be made later. PENNSYLVANIA slightly damaged by bomb hit, starboard side of boat deck while in drydock number 1, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor. Repairs have been completed and ship is ready for service. MARYLAND damaged by bomb hit on forecastle and near miss. Ship was moved to the Navy Yard on 11 December and is expected to be fully ready for service 13 December. TENNESSEE received one heavy bomb through turret top which did not explode, but put 2 rammers out of commission. Also one bomb hit aft which cracked one 14" gun. Heat from the ARIZONA fire melted and ignited paint in after portion of the second deck which was badly burned out. Ship is now heavily wedged to mooring by reason of the WEST VIRGINIA leaning against her. Steps are being taken to dynamite the mooring to permit the removal of the TENNESSEE. Repairs are proceeding and it is estimated that by 14 December ship will be ready for service less one 14" gun. WEST VIRGINIA sunk at berth as result of four aircraft torpedoes and one bomb hit. There is considerable damage from fire. Recommendations regarding salvage and repairs will be made later. (b) Cruisers HELENA damaged by bomb hit from frame 30, starboard side, opening up side under armor belt for distance of about 50 feet. Number one and two fire rooms and forward engine rooms flooded. Ship is now in drydock #2, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor to effect repairs to make seaworthy. It is estimated that new shell and framing will be completed within two weeks and ship will be able to operate with two shafts and with all gun batteries in commission. It is recommended that ship proceed to Mare Island for completion of repairs to hull and machinery. HONOLULU damaged by near miss at approximately frame 40 port side. Hole approximately 20 feet by 6 feet underwater. Ship being docked in drydock #1 today and it is estimated that work will be completed to make her fully effective by 16 December. RALEIGH damaged by one aircraft torpedo which flooded forward half of machinery plant. Also hit by small bomb forward which penetrated three decks and went out ships' side and did not explode. It is proposed to dock the RALEIGH following completion of the HONOLULU to effect underwater repairs to make seaworthy. Recommendations as to whether all repairs to make the ship fully serviceable should be undertaken at Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor or a mainland navy yard, will be forwarded later. (c) Destroyers CASSIN and DOWNES damaged by bomb in number one drydock, Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor ahead of PENNSYLVANIA. Bomb hit DOWNES exploding her torpedoes warheads and causing serious oil fire. CASSIN was damaged by fire and was knocked off drydock blocking and fell over on DOWNES. DOWNES appears to be total loss except for salvageable parts and materials. Recommendations regarding salvage and repairs to CASSIN will be forwarded later. SHAW hit by bomb while docking on floating drydock. Forward part of ship and floating drydock badly damaged by fire resulting from oil and powder. After part of ship not seriously damaged. Recommendations regarding repairs will be forwarded later. (d) Auxiliary vessels. OGLALA sunk by aircraft torpedo and near miss by bomb at ten-ten dock at Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor. Recommendations regarding salvage and repairs will be forwarded at a later date. UTAH damaged and capsized as a result of hits by aircraft torpedoes. Recommendations regarding salvage and repairs will be forwarded later. CURTISS damaged by enemy plane out of control which flew into crane mast and by bomb which exploded damaging hangar space causing fire which destroyed all radio equipment. Ship is entirely seaworthy. Repairs are [4] proceeding and ship will be ready for operations less one amidships crane by 15 December. VESTAL damaged by a bomb hit aft while at berth at Pearl Harbor, is undertaking repairs with own repair force. It is estimated that the ship will be fully ready as a repair ship by 17 December. Docking may not be required. 2. It is believed that the sinking of the OKLAHOMA, NEVADA, CALIFORNIA and WEST VIRGINIA is in large part due to the ships having been in condition X- RAY. Had time been available to set condition ZED before receiving damage, progressive flooding might have been avoided. H. E. KIMMEL Copy to: Buships Buord
< Message edited by Wellard -- 7/17/2006 7:01:46 PM >
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