California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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fbi: TN 'Ns E .. ln., 'K N. Wi-ro REMEMBERS PEARL HARBOR by Joseph A. Ryan They came on a serene Sunday morning, From carriers anchored secretly at sea. Winging to Hawaii, without warning, Couriers of death by perfidy. In two successive, savage waves The sneaky bastards came In Bombers and Zeros - fantasizing glory - Destined for eternal shame. In the Sabbath quiet below them, In peaceful repose, their targets lay, Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Wheeler Field, Schofield Barracks. ASLEEP! NOW, TORPEDOES AND BOMBS AWAY! I In two hours the carnage was completed, The 'fDastardly deedn was done, The gloating bastards flew back to their carriers, To toast the Emperor and the Rising Sun. Back clouds billowed over Pearl Harbor. Hickarn, Schofield and Wheeler lay gored. But out of the death and destruction, The Spirit of America roared. . Pearl's ships, once proud, were in ruins. Their sailors entombed, forever, under the sea, Their souls and the souls of their loved ones, VW11 remember Pearl Harbor for all eternity. number seven. This fire remained largely un- controlled due to the loss of pressure on the fire main and the lack of sufficient fire extin- guishers to cope with it until the tugs came alongside at about 1015 hours to supply fire protection and assistance. A horizontal bombing group had, at 0825 hours, dropped four bombs which fell harm- lessly between the bow and the Northern quay of berth Fox-two. 'fLight and power, with the pressure on the fire main were restored at about 0845 hours and maintained until 1000 hours. Such resto- ration was effected by lighting off the after four boilers with cold oil and natural draft. During this process the after plant was iso- lated and was ready in all respects for getting underway at about 0910 hours. The Engi- neering Plant was secured on orders to aban- don ship. f'At 0845 hours, Cammander E.E. Stone, Executive Officer, returned to the ship and as- sumed command ofthe ship, and Commander Battle Force returned aboard. f'At 0900 hours, Captain J.W. Bunkley, Commanding USS California CBB-445 re- tumed aboard. Lieutenant Commander O.F. Naquin, the Engineer Officer, and Lieutenant Commander K.V. Dawson, the Gunnery Of- ficer, returned aboard about 0905 hours. At 1002 hours, the Captaij, with the ap- proval of Commander Battle Force, due to the enveloping flame from fuel oil fire on the sur- face of the water, orderedc the ship to be aban- doned temporarily. At 1015 hours, the order to abandon ship was cancelled, flames from the water having cleared the ship, and battle stations topside were manned and a large number of men re- turned from the bach to resume work. A large number remained to procure fire fighting equipment on Ford Island. The fire aboard the ship was fought with all available fire equip- ment on board and such that was obtained from Ford Island- and extensive salvage operations of movable gear was started. The ship was listing about 8 degrees to port. The engineer- ing plant suffered no mechanical or electrical casualty that would have prevented its opera- tion during the engagement. The fire in A-611, however, produced such heat and smoke in the forward engine room as to make its operation possible only with great difficulty. Damage Received- Personnel Officers Five C55 killed. Six C65 wounded. Men Forty-eight C483 killed. Fifty-eight C585 wounded. Forty-five C451 missing. KC UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET BATTLE FORCE, BA TTLESHIPS USS CALIFORNIA CBB-442 PEARL HARBOR, TH. DECEMBER 22, 1941 Damage To Enemy At 0830 hours shot down an enemy dive bomber with forward machine guns, which crashed in flames. 'fAt 0832 hours, one enemy plane shot down over Ford Island by either own fire or that of another ship. f'Distinguished Conduct- Personnel The following named men and officers were outstanding in their work during the battle at Pearl Harbor, T.H., December 7, 1941 in the ammunition supply and in removing the wounded: Ski Lman, J.H., Commander CSCJ, USN Cage, W.F. Ensign, USNR Pharris, J.C. Gunner, USN Newman, J., C.S.K. CPAJ, USN Pearson, G., C.S.A. CPAJ, USN Keener,J.C.,S.K.lc.,USN Bell, C.R., G.M. 5c., USN Nix, J.P., Sea.lc., USN Doran, G.P., Sea. 2c., USN Jeffery, I.W., Ensign, USNR CDeceasedJ Jones, H.C., Ensign, USNR CDeceasedJ Underwood, R.C., C.G.M. CPAJ USN Reeves, T.J., C.R.M. CPAJ USN CDeceasedJ O'Connell, W.F., G.M. lc., USN London, J.F., S.K.lc., USN Cleveland, E., Sea. lc., USN Bonthius, R.C., Sea, 2c., USN For outstanding work in removing the wounded trapped in either closed compart- ments or in compartments on fire: Hall, B.C., Ensign, USN Walker, W., Jr., Ensign, USN Settle, R.L., Ensign, USN Champion, C.H., Ensign, USN Gunnels, C.W., Ensign, USN Rudden, T.J., Jr., Ensign, USN Canfield, R.B., Ensign, USNR Lyden, C.J., Ensign, USNR Osmon, S., Boatswain, USN Price, E.V., C.E.M., USN Belden, E.W., M.M. lc., USN Bezvoda, S.F., E.M. lc., USN Illian, E., E.M.lc., USN Hall, C.H., Ensign, USN Kirkpatrick, R.D., Jr., Ensign, USN McGrath, T.P., Ensign, USN Lewis, W.A.J., Ensign, USN Nicholson, A.T., Jr., Ensign, USN Fain, E.M., Ensign, USNR La Barre, C. A., Ensign, USNR Taylor, L. S., Ensign, USNR Miller, R.W., Chief Electrician, USN Campbell, E.R., C.E.M. CAAJ, USN Bly, C.L., M.M.lc., USN Maxwell, G.R., E.M.lc., USN Alford, L.B., E.M.lc., USN Ward, D.E., B.M.2c., USN Isenhour, R.A., M.M. 2c., USN Minckley, R.F., E.M.2c., USN Franck, D.E., E.M.3c., USN Litz, C.L., E.M.3c., USN Greenbaum, H., E.M.3c., USN Garoutte, J.H., F.lc., USN Toth, H.J., F.2c., USN Pluard, F.D., F.3c., USN Samuel, H., F.3c., USN Nunnelley, L.E., F.3c., USN Brooks, W.M., M.Att.lc., USN Celesteine, B., M. Att.lc., USN Fleming, C.H., M.M. 2c., USN Koepplinger, C.F., Bmkr., 2c., USN Streeter, C.L., E.M.2c., USN Coon, R.V., E.M.3c., USN Waite, J.E., E.M.3c., USN Wilson, K.L., E.M. 3c., USN Rountree, W.H., F.lc, USN Gary, T.J., Sea. 2c., USN CDeceasedJ Galyean, C.W., F.3c., USN Ebberson, L.F., F.3c., USN Bottolfson, R.L., F.3c., USN Bacot, J.D., M.Att.lc., USN Wallace, H., Jr., M.Att.2c., USN For obtaining ammunition from other ships while under fire: Applegate, H.A., Pay Clerk, USN Pavlin, B.F., E.M.3c., USN For treatment of the wounded although bumed about the face and the arms from fires nearby his station: Jewell, J.D., Commander, CMCJ, USN Fleming, W.S., B.M.lc., USN, Gun Captain of five inchl25 gun number four, who, al- though wounded, continued to direct his gun crew and by his coolness and example, under fire, instilled confidence in the men about him.

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and Zed. Only the most obvious openings such as doors and hatches could be secured and in some cases, even this was done in darkness and in the presence of heavy oil fumes which spread through the entire third deck area rap- idly after the torpedo hits. This flooding through ventilation systems is probably due in part to failure to close the deck and bulkhead fittings of the systems and in part to the rup- ture of ventilation ducts themselves. In one case at least, that of the Center Motor Room, it was definitely established before the area was evacuated, that the ventilation duct itself was ruptured and water pouring through the open- mg. f'The general floodingon the second deck and into the Machine Shop flat from that deck was due to the effect of the bomb hit at 0830 hours which hit abreast casemate number one at frame 59, penetrated the main deck and ex- 'ploded an the second deck, and which com- pletely destroyed the watertight integrity of the first and second decks between frames 26 and 100 approximately, and between the second deck and the machinery spaces tthird deckj reached by the large centerline hatch about frame 65. f'About 0810 hours Fire Control ordered all five inch!51 personnel to assist in the five inch anti-aircraft CA.A.J ammunition service. About 0815 hours Control ordered turret crews to assist in five inch anti-aircraft tA.A.j am- munition supply. The effectiveness of Turret I and II was restricted in this capacity for access handling room access, trunks, and subsequently access via the forecastle and the third deck was blocked by the fire that developed from the bomb hit at 0830 hours. Turret III personnel advanced along the partial flooded starboard ammunition passageway to frame 48. Oil was leaking through the door of frame 48. The fumes of fuel oil in Compartment A-51 made it untenable. In the meantime an additional group was organized, Ensigns H.C. I ones, W.F. Cage, and I.W. Jeffery, to assist further in the ammuni- tion supply. Repair V sent a party to assist this supplyf' UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET BATTLE F ORCE, BA TTLESHIPS USS CALIFORNIA IBB-441 PEARL HARBOR, TH. DECEMBER 22, 1941 HSubject: Report of Raid tRevisedJ, De- cember 7, 1941. About 0810 hours the light and power was off the ship. Ammunition was obtained from A-231 U2-M and passed into Handling Room A-233-M and up Hoists Number ll, Number 21, Number 13, and Number 23 by hand operation. Men in this vicinity were overcome with fuel oil fumes and had to be removed. Gunner J.C. Pharris, with replace- ments from the broadside guns, succeeded in removing the overcome men and getting sixty- two rounds from magazines to the guns. En- sign E.R. Blair obtained, with a ten had work ing party, 1,600 rounds belted fifty calibre machine gun ammunition from the fifty cali- bre magazine in the torpedo hold forward be- fore that compartment flooded. No further ammunition thereafter was available or ob- tained from the ship's magazines during the engagement. The ship was badly shaken by either a near bomb hit or torpedo hit at 0820 hours. Main radio room was flooded and abandoned. Compartment A-518 started to fill with fuel. NThree dive bombing attacks were made between 0815 hours and H923 rio succezaivley lrorri the xtarboair i ahead, and from port bow The 1 near hits along starboard :ide eau .ed sized holes Ltfflldfullifl between the armor and gallery deck. Uri the dive horririiri tack, at 0830 hours. a hit was made ah casemate number one, frame 59. penetr the main deck and explosed ora the second on the starboard side, This hit started a amidships on the second deck between a 51 to 77, main deck, frames 51 to ar casemates number three. number ri' aff , l' I W , A L. ... li f T A A f A R A .- . . X I X . I X! ,QILMFW J ng -x ffl .L . M' 17 -,--1-Q USS Calhfornia band, 1937. fC0urIesy QfJ0e Let'e1zg.l Bfllfffitllijl Ci'z1frfoi'i1i'41. fClUllI'ff'.X'Y rif'1'sfr1m!r1' Hcrzirl is

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Baldwin, R.M., C.Y. CPAJ, USN, for his outstand- ing work in performing his duties of Damage Control Officer in a very efficient manner while the First Lieutenant commanded the ship. OPERATIONAL HISTORY F RoM SALVAGE TO DECOMMISSION, I 942- I 94 7 The USS Calqfornia CBB-445 was berthed at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor on that fateful December 7, 1941 day, the day of the merci- less Japanese attack. Atthe time when the bombing attack was launched against the Na- val Air Station, General Quarters was ordered. Before anti-aircraft batteries could be supplied with sufficient ammunition the ship was taken under strafing attack. Concurrently, torpedo planes commenced their attack on the battle- ships and the USS Calgfornia CBB-445 was struck with three torpedoes, two amidships and one forward, causing the ship to list. Forward, because of the rupture of fuel tanks, the third deck commenced flooding with fuel. The strength of the fumes was such as to overcome the ammunition party attempting to expedite the delivery of ammunition. Water entered the fuel lines causing loss of light and power at this critical time. The flooding of compart- ments in close proximity to the torpedo hits prevented the necessary access to make pos- sible some control of damage. Three dive bombing attacks were made, coming succes- sively from the starboard bow, from ahead, and from the port bow. The explosion of near hits along the starboard side, from ahead, and from the port bow. The explosion of near hits along the starboard side caused minor sized holes in the hull, and a hit abreast casemate number one penetrated the main deck and exploded on the second deck, on the starboard side. This hit started a fire arrridships which remained largely uncontrolled due to the loss of pressure on the fire main. The attack left the USS Calgfornia CBB-445 listing eight degrees to the port side. Five officers and forty-eight enlisted men were killed, forty-eight enlisted men were missing, and six officers and fifty-eight enlisted men were wounded as a result of that attack. During the attack, the USS California CBB-445 downed one aircraft and assisted in shooting down another. By Thursday of the following week, December 11, 1941, the USS Calgfornia CBB-443 was sitting on the bottom due to flooding. Having been pumped free of water and re- floated the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 entered dry-dock on April 9, 1942. Underwater repairs were effected and on June 7, 1942 she left dry- dock under her own power once again. It was not until October, 1942, however, that she was underway from Pearl Harbor en route to the Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, for reconstruction and rearming with a new sec- ondary dual purpose battery of sixteen five inch, thirty-eight caliber guns. Many of those examining the wreckage in the port at the close of 1941 were appalled. CINCPAC Admiral Chester W. Nimitz thought WMM' Q, ' 4 we 4. 9 Z W, at Wwwk Q Q! WW Motor launch - Captain Lv gig crews ofthe BB-44. fCourtesy ofjoe Lorenz., several of the sunken ships were finished. Despite the carnage, plans were made to raise as many of the ships as quickly as possible in an enterprise which, when completed, would prove one of the engineering Hmiraclesn of the Second World War. As the new year of 1942 dawned, efforts to get the USS Calyfornia CBB-445 up were begun under the able general direction of Pearl Harbor Navy Yard salvage boss Captain Homer N. Wallin, with Lieutenant W. L. Painter the Prune Bargew project officer. They, together with the shipls Acting Captain, Commander J. F. Warris, various divers and salvage experts, and all of the ship's ratings not yet transferred, quickly recognized one important fact- the slow sinking meant that the USS Caljornio CBB-445 was not badly damaged below the wa- terline. It was then decided to re-float the dam- aged port side. Using an untried idea, the seals on the subsequently-built patches would be made of tremic cement, the underwater kind used for bridges and dry-docks. To make the re-floating job easier, the first step would be to lighten the ship. Commander Warris and 500 bluejackets began the awesome task of clearing the USS Calgfornia CBB-445. Nine of the twelve 14- inch guns were removed Cthose in turret num- ber four were underwater and therefore notre- movableb, as were the broadside guns, the ship and flag towers, the catapults, cranes, boars, anchors and anchor chain, and the main mast, which was cut off at its base. Meanwhile, en- gineers and divers, mainly from the Pacific Bridge Company, built wooden fence-like cof- ferdams, which were placed around the quar- ter-deck and in the forecastle area. When huge deep-well centrifugal pumps arrived, and as divers plugged the leaks, the huge electrical machines, with power from Ford Island. pushed out thousands of gallons of water. As the pumps gradually lowered the wa- ter level, workmen cleaned out the refuse cont- partment by compartment. Regular and can- teen stores plus 14-inch and lesser shells and powder were removed. Personal property was put under guard and classified infomation was turned over to the proper authorities. About 200,000 gallons of free oil was collected. Meanwhile, Commander Hyman G. Rickover became involved in a plan which could allow 50 General Electric specialists and more than 100 Pearl Harbor electricians to reclaim and recondition the ship's various electric motors and electric-drive machinery. Rotten stores were flushed out and with great dignity. a num- ber of bodies of the crew were sent ashore for identification and proper burial. ln a pleasant surprise, it was found that the work of plug- ging the leaks was so successful that the over- flow from the pumps was greater than the in- flow of sea water. This good news meant that. with additional plugging. it would be possible to raise the dreadnought without patches over the torpedo damage. The USS California tBB-4-ll carrie atioat on an even keel on March 24. 19-12. her draft being about 40 feet. Once the colferdams were struck off. she was placed in Dry-dock Num- ber Two on April 9. 1942, where she was wel- comed by Admiral Nimitz. who had come down personally to witness the event. The USS Calijinrnici QBB-4-ll was bruised but not bro- ken: battered but unbowed. She would sail and fight again. The USS Cc1liforn1'clfBB--l-ll remained in dock until .lune 7, 1942. ln the dock, perma- nent structural repairs were made to almost all of her damage. After a few trials to test her power and seawotthiness, Commander Warris vessel departed Pearl Harbor under her ow n power on October 10. 1942. A week later. she met the brand new destroyer USS LitiIIXt'l'UOI'f QDD-6085, and arrived at the Puget Sound Nayy Yard on October 20, 1942. Captain Henry P. Burnett. who had .rs- sumed command in October. 19-13. began .1 - s--X . rigid tutrttulum of statrtlartlt:ation trials .rs soon as the newly --motlernifed old battleship 'Ss ,Y 5 Q, ,rj 5 4 ig ,- -K Jw ft 1 if. 5' .