Mo's Manic Monday - Ship

Posted: Monday, December 03, 2007 by Travis Cody in
36



Welcome to another Manic Monday with Morgen. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Ship.

My information comes from the Naval Historical Center Online Library Listing.

In honor of Pearl Harbor Day coming up on Friday, I give you the Battleships of the United States Navy in December 1941.

USS Nevada, commissioned in March 1916 and decommissioned in August 1946 after use as a target for atomic bomb testing in July 1946 at Bikini Atol. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, USS Nevada managed to get underway. She was hit by several bombs and torpedos as she attempted to steam out of the harbor. Rather than take the chance of sinking in the channel and blocking the harbor to traffic, her Captain beached her. She was repaired and returned to the fleet to see action at Attu in May 1943, the Normandy D-Day landings in June 1944, Iwo Jima and Okinawa in 1945.

USS California, commissioned in August 1921 and decommissioned in February 1947, later sold for scrap in 1959. She was sunk by bombs and torpedos during the attack, but did not capsize. It took two years to complete salvage and repairs. USS California returned to the fleet and participated at Saipan, Guam and Tinian during June and July 1944. She was at Leyte Gulf in October and November 1944 and Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. USS California supported the occupation of Japan after the surrender in August 1945.

USS Maryland, commissioned in July 1921 and decommissioned in April 1947, later sold for scrap in 1959. She sustained only minor damage during the attack and was able to join the fleet for action in 1942 off the west coast as part of Task Force One. USS Maryland took part in operations at Tarawa and Kwajalein in 1943 and 1944, at Saipan in 1944, at the Palaus and Leyte Gulf in 1944, and Okinawa in 1945. She was damaged at Okinawa and did not return to action before the end of the war.

USS Oklahoma, commissioned in May 1916. She was moored outside of USS Maryland and was vulnerable to many torpedo hits during the attack that tore holes in her port side. She quickly rolled and sank, killing 400. Some of the crew were saved by salvage and rescue divers who were able to cut through her hull. Although she was righted and dry-docked, she was too damaged to repair sufficiently to return to the fleet. Formally decommissioned in 1944, sold for scrap in 1946, she was on a tow to California from Hawaii when she sank in 1947.

USS Tennessee, commissioned in June 1920 decommissioned in February 1947, later sold for scrap in 1959. During the attack, USS Tennessee took two bomb hits and was damaged by buring oil from USS Arizona. She operated off the west coast after repairs at Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington. She saw action in the Aleutians in August 1943, then at Tarawa, Kwajalein, Eniwetok, New Ireland, Saipan, Guam, Tinian, Anguar and Pelieu, and Leyte Gulf. She provided support at Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

USS West Virginia, commissioned in December 1923 and decommissioned in January 1947, sold for scrap in 1959. She was sunk by bomb and torpedo hits during the attack, but did not capsize. Modernized at Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington, USS West Virginia participated at Leyte Gulf, Mindoro, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She supported the occupation of Japan after the end of the war, and also brought Pacific War veterans back to the States.

USS Pennsylvania, Fleet Flagship, commissioned in June 1916 and scuttled at sea in 1948 after use as a target for atomic bomb testing in July 1946 at Bikini Atol and radioactive studies at Kwajalein. She was in dry dock during the attack. She participated in the Aleutians in 1943, the Makin raid, Kwajalein and Eniwetok, Saipan, Tinian and Guam, the Palaus and at Leyte Gulf, Lingayen Gulf, and Okinawa. She was the last major US Navy ship to take combat damage in World War II.

USS Arizona, commissioned in October 1916. Her forward magazines were exploded by a direct bomb hit. She took several other bomb and torpedo hits that nearly broke her in half. She capsized and sank with more than 1100 of her crew. Her armament and other salvagable equipment was removed, but USS Arizona and her crew were not further disturbed. The place where she sank is hallowed ground. In the 1960's, the USS Arizona Memorial was erected over her as a permanent shrine to honor those killed during the attack.



There were other ships heavily damaged or destroyed during the attack at Pearl Harbor, such as the training ship USS Utah which took torpedo hits and sank. The Japanese planes bombed targets off the west side of Ford Island, in the Navy Yard, and the airfields Wheeler, Hickam, Bellows, Ewa, and Kanoehe Bay.

36 comments:

  1. The sight of a naval ship sends shivers down my spine, as much as seeing the F-16s fly overhead every morning.

  1. Unknown says:

    Great MM post. It was a very interesting read.

  1. Unknown says:

    Great MM Post! That was an excellent post for me to learn new stuff. Thanx very much for sharing...

    My MM post this week involves cruising on the high seas.

    peace, Villager

  1. Gattina says:

    That's certainly a very interesting post, but not for me, sorry !

  1. I'm fascinated. Thanks for all the info!

  1. Janna says:

    I like the pictures, and your excellent descriptions of each.
    Somehow it makes me sad whenever I hear of a ship being sold for scrap.
    It's hard to explain.

    Great MM post. Thank you for the lesson!

  1. Shelia says:

    Great post, although I am always so saddened by the event of Pearl Harbor. Thanks for the history. Happy MM!

  1. Schmoop says:

    Well done my good man. Cheers!!

  1. Anonymous says:

    My Dad served on the USS California toward the end of WWII.

    Thanks for recognizing our Navy!
    happy MM!

  1. Anonymous says:

    what an awesome post this week!! I did mine on the USS Constellation (aircraft carrier). I think I toured the USS Arizona--the one in Hawaii now, right? Great MM! Have a wonderful Monday, Travis.

  1. Fascinating post. I've often wondered what happened to all of the ships there that day other than the Arizona.

  1. Ian says:

    Interesting post. I never knew that about all those ships.

    Ian

  1. Julie says:

    I'll bet you got "A's" on all your school reports didn't you?

    Very very informative my friend! So what's up for tomorrow since **wipes tears** dance is over?

  1. Julie says:

    **scratches head**

    Ummm so why does my name have a little smiley beside it on that list?

  1. Liz Hill says:

    A most excellent post sugar---perfect timing for the theme as well.

    It's important to remember what happened that day and its important to honor them.

    Well done

  1. I commend you for this post my friend, the best of the day. I have one I think will be good for Pearl Harbor Day.

  1. excellent post trav! is there any cake in here?

    smiles, bee

  1. Nice historical stuff. I had a minor in history and really loved the WWII stuff. If I would have thought I could make a living at history I might have gone on and majored there.

  1. Sandee says:

    Excellent Travis. Very well done and so right on the money for the word ship. Have a great MM. :)

  1. Jeni says:

    Very good post. I am interested in history -and very much so anything pertaining to wartime history. I don't know why that is though because I hate war but I do enjoy learning about the past ones and things along those lines.

  1. Unknown says:

    Your blog is in ship shape! Come aboard the ship at my blog!

  1. The Pearl Harbor Memorial (The rizona Memorial) is a wonderful place to visit! Thanks for all the info Travis!

    Thanks for visiting my post for MM!

  1. Lisa Ryan says:

    Lots of interesting info there Trav. Hope you're having a happy Monday!

  1. Akelamalu says:

    That was really interesting, thanks. :)

  1. Songbird: Oh me too.

    MTM: Thanks for stopping by.

    Villager: I'm glad I could return the favor.

    Gattina: Happy MM anyway.

    Kyra: You are most welcome.

    Janna: I understand perfectly. But then I think of all the things that can be made, and I realize how much more a part of the world the ship becomes.

    Shelia: Those events still make me sad too.

    Matt: Thank you Sir!

  1. Lois: Many thanks to your dad for his service.

    Bridget: I'll be by shortly. The memorial is for USS Arizona. The battleship you can tour is USS Missouri.

    Jamie: The focus is generally on USS Arizona, but so many of the other gals went on to distinguished service.

    Ian: I'm pleased to enlighten.

    Julie: **blush** When they were about things like this I did.

    Turn: I wish more people would take the time to understand that.

    Sarge: Thank you for the compliment. It means a lot.

    Bee: Just the leftovers in my sidebar. I didn't have any CAKE for you this weekend either. I'm falling down on the job!

  1. Charles: At one point I considered a history major and then teaching. But I got side-tracked.

    Sandee: Thanks dear!

    Jeni: WWII is a particular interest of mine, along with the Corps.

    Monkeys: Thanks!

    Teach: I was absolutely humbled by it.

    Lisa: Thank you my dear.

    Akelamalu: You are most welcome.

  1. Jeff B says:

    Travis, I'm a little late getting here today but I wanted to let you know what a great job you did with this.

  1. Holy Ship, Travis, that's a lot of history! :o)

    Happy MM, and an Awesome week!!


    Alice - I Was Born2Cree8
    http://iwasborn2cree8.blogspot.com/

    Reba @ Reba's Run
    http://rebasrun.blogspot.com/

  1. TopChamp says:

    In the same way as some folk knew I'd go down the pirate route, this was the one I thought you might do too.

    Impressive vessels & stories.

    I should have gone down a better route with mine I now realise. I live in a ship-building city... and drive past an enormous warship in the making weekly. Wasn't thinking on Sunday. Actually I was a bit inebriated.

  1. As always a moving tribute Travis

    Thanks for honoring these wonderful ships

  1. Linda says:

    As per always, an exemplary MM post with lots of great information!

  1. you know I love these pictures....

  1. Alice: Right back atcha!

    TC: I liked your Pirate recap. I think Navy yards are fascinating.

    V: So many of them get lost in the shuffle. Most people remember USS Arizona, but not as much about the others.

    Linda: Thank you!

    Katherine: Yup.

  1. You get an A on this paper. Do you have an apple for the teacher too????

    Seriously, you always write thoroughly and succintly. I appreciate that. And you're neat.
    Neatness counts, ya know.

    Lord, I need a vacation away from school.

  1. Mimi: I do have an apple, but I ate it for lunch. And thank you.