Pennsylvania (BB 38) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 43 text:

UPPER LEFT Here IS the damage as revealed in the drydock at Guam The Jap aircraft torpedo struck at the starboard quarter and smashed both starboard screws. Several signal flags and the national ensign hang downwards from the gaping hole, blown out of a flag locker in the stern. LOWER LEFT: The Quarterdeck was a busy place. UPPER RIGHT: Preparing to take a look at the tor- PGdo's damage. MIDDLE RHGHT: The Chaplain conducts the funeral of four of the men who lost their lives in the torpedo explosion at Okinawa. LOWER RIGHT: The PENNSYLVANIA docked in ABSD No. 3 at Apra Harbor, Guam, after returning from Okinawa. . ,, , . .. O -- -H-..uf...-.....,.........,f...-.+L .1-:f,,fa.:a..a...fn:.r-fff-'-'4 :14.:.:.:.g.-:.: Q.:s.,.:a6-api-.-lf..,?.Lgn.4..:..--psi.fLv.-. .-'. . .- .- . ..,....,.....--. Y ., ...e.,-.. ...-M... ..,vo..-.-, ,, -- . . .. ., ,, ,, ' ' f -

Page 42 text:

I LEFT: The first division inspected by the Skipper. RIGHT: Lt. fig-'I Larry Lyn6H 61116665 smoker on the way home from Guam. The ship proceeded toward Puget Sound in company with the cruiser, ATLANTA, and a destroyer, the WALKE. On the l5th the ship stopped while divers went over the side to inspect the patch. Marine sentries armed with rifles stood by on deck to ward off sharks. They scored one probable, Two days later number three shaft suddenly carried 'away inside the stern tube and the shaft slipped aft. It was necessary to send divers down to cut through the shaft, letting the shaft and propeller drop to the bottom. On this occasion the sentries made one sure kill. Shipping water and with only one screw turning, the PENNSYLVANIA arrived at the Puget Sound Navy Yard on the 24th ofOcto- ber, l945. Since her first action at Pearl Harbor she had steamed almost l50,000 miles. Her self discipline had been excellent at all times: no man was ever lost overboard except by enemy action, she had never hit any friendly troops, installations, ships or planes and had never had to report not ready for any operation. Nearly T50 officers and almost IOOO petty officers were trained and transferred from the PENNSYLVANIA during this period. She probably fired more ammunition than any other ship in history. In recognition of her record the PENNSYL- VANIA was the only battleship honored with a Navy Unit Commendation, which was pre- sented by Rear Admiral Ralph W. Christie, Commandant of the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, on the quarterdeck of the ship as she lay in drydock at Bremerton on November third. Two days later Commander William M. Kaufman, the Executive Officer, relieved Cap- tain William M. Moses as commanding officer. Though hit at Pearl Harbor and again at the very end of the war, her career between the two disasters was distinguished enough to make any man proud to number himself as a member of her crew. The War History of the USS PENNSYL- VANIA was ended, but one more great ad- venture lay before her, the consequences of which might affect the fate of navies for years to come. On I6 January I9-46 the PENNSYLVANIA was designated a target ship in the Task Force which was to be submitted to Atomic Bomb tests in Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the summer of I946. On 23 January Captain Carl H. Bushnell, U. S. Navy, relieved Commander Kaufman as Commanding Officer and extensive prep- arations for the experiment were begun. As this story closes, the old battlewagon in full commission with all flags flying is standing proudly out through the Strait of Juan de Fuca on herlast iourney facing fire and blast for her flag as was her want always.

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'LQ UPPER LEFT 8. CENTER: She was plenty low in the water. UPPER RlGHT: 'Removing 40 mm. ammo from the after magazines subsequent to the torpedoing. CENTER LEFT: The crew massed while Captain Martin is relieved by Captain Moses. CENTER RlGHT: Lt. Johnny Asaff refereeS boxing bout at smoker on homeward iourney. LOWER LEFT: Crew's beer party at Gab Gab on Guam. LOWER RlGHT: Afternoon band concert on the boat deck.