THE NEVADA AND UTAH ON DEC7,1941

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Pearl Harbor was attacked at 0748 on Dec 7, 1941 by 353 Jap aircraft. Eight Battleships of the Pacific Fleet were attacked, four sunk. Six were later returned to service to fight again. The USS Utah, although a Battleship that was sunk, is not counted in this number because it was being used as a training ship. The Battleships Arizona and Oklahoma were total losses. In addition, three cruisers and three destroyers were damaged but returned to service. American lives lost were 2,403 with 1,178 being wounded.

Although the wrecks of the Arizona and Utah still rest at Pearl, the Oklahoma sank as it was being towed to the US.

15 men received the MOH for their heroic actions on that day, many others were probably deserving as well.

One recipient was Chief Boatswain(Navy CWO) Edwin Joseph Hill. From his citation, " Chief Boatswain Hill led his men of the line handling details of the USS Nevada to the quays, cast off the lines (dove into the harbor) and swam back to his ship. Later, while on the forecastle, attempting to let go the anchors, he was blown overboard and killed by the explosion of several bombs." The Nevada was berthed just forward of the Arizona, it had a free route to go around Ford Island and head for the open waters of the Pacific.

As a result of Chief Boatswain Hill's efforts, the USS Nevada was the only Battleship to get underway on Dec 7. It was hit by six bombs and one torpedo as it attempted to escape the carnage at Pearl. The crew was later forced to beach her near Hospital Point to prevent her blocking the main ship channel.

On that day, six B5Ns from Soryu attacked the USS Utah moored at Ford Island in berth F-11. Six torpedoes targeted the Utah, two struck.

Serious flooding resulted, the Utah listed to port and settled by the stern. The crew abandoned ship, all but Chief Watertender Peter Tomich. From his citation," Although realizing that the ship was capsizing, as a result of enemy bombing and torpedoing, Tomich remained at his post in the engineering plant of the USS Utah, until he saw that all boilers were secured and all fireroom personnel had left their stations, and by so doing lost his own life." 64 officers and men were killed, 461 survived.

Photos:
1. Map of Ford Island and important points. Map from iTouchMap.

2. Hospital Point.
3. Wreck of the USS Utah.
4. Me at the memorial of the USS Utah.
5. Me and my CMC at Ford Island Control Tower. Tower was pictured in both Tora, Tora, Tora and the movie Pearl Harbor.

 

[brick]

My father was a powder loader on a 14" rifle on the Nevada and was there on 7 December 1941.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

The Nevada was refloated on Feb 12, 1942 at Pearl, underwent major repairs at Puget Sound Navy Yard that were completed by Oct 1942.

She went on to provide fire support in Alaska in the capture of Attu. In the Atlantic, she provided escort for convoys. During the Normandy invasion on D-Day, she distinguished herself with her extremely accurate gunfire. Although bracketed 27 times by counter-battery fire, she was never hit. Later in the Pacific, she joined Task Force 54 in providing fire support for the invasion of Okinawa.

 

[kaaskop49]

The State of Nevada is still extremely proud of her namesake battleship. She is mentioned every December 7th during ceremonies commemorating the heroic actions taken by Americans during the attack.

Kaaskop49
Shield #5103

 

[Cyrano]

I seem to remember that the Utah was used as a target ship and had been heavily armor plated to withstand the impact of naval gunfire. It had some sort of radio operated remote control so it could be moving when shot at, that was pretty much hi-tech for the day.

 

[BUFF]

My dad was in the Seabees, put there after volunteering for the Navy because of his construction skills. On arrival at Pearl about a year after the attack, he said the place was still a mess. He picked up a scrap of steel, very rough in texture about 3 inches long and 1-1/2 inches wide . His chief said it was a bomb casing fragment from a Japanese bomb, incorrectly called 'shrapnel.' A while later, he found a cylindrical ceramic tube about 2 inches long and 1//2 inch thick. It had numerous wholes running the length of it, all the same size. His chief told him it was from a Japanese incendiary bomb. I have them now.