Raymond W. Garland US Marine USS Tennessee |
On the morning of December 7th, 1941, I was part of the Marine detail that was about to raise the flag on the quarterdeck of the USS Tennessee just prior to the attack of the Japanese. The first plane that I saw was a dive-bomber that flew by, mast high. We all ran to our battle stations. My station was on a five-inch gun. From my station I could see the USS Arizona, which was behind the Tennessee, so I had a clear view of the Arizona blowing up. I was awarded a Purple Heart 56 years later. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Official report of the USS Tennessee Moored starboard side to interrupted quay Fox 6, Pearl Harbor, TH with 9 lines, 2 wire and 7 manila lines. USS West Virginia moored alongside to port side with 7 manila and 1 wire line. Boiler #1 steaming for auxiliary purposes. Ships present various units of US Pacific Fleet and various yard craft. SOPA is Combat for in the USS California. Combatdiv 2 in this ship. 0415 The following named men returned to the ship, duties completed as temporary Store Patrol, Honolulu, T.H.: Moye, W.H. TC1c; Schramm, C.W. WT1c; Hutchinson, C., GM2c; Ogg, C.W., EM2c; Harvey, F.G. MM2c; Bradford, J.C., SK1c. About 0755 planes, observed to be Japanese by their markings, were seen dropping bombs on Ford Island. This ship went to general quarters and started setting condition Zed. Immediately after the bombing of Ford Island, planes began torpedoing and bombing the battleships and other ships in the harbor. This ship opened fire with 5" 25 caliber, 3" 50 caliber, and 50 caliber machine guns about five minutes after the first attack. Orders for sortie were received but later cancelled for battleships. This ship was ready to get underway with both plants and 6 boilers about 0930. Shortly after the attack began the Oklahoma, West Virginia, and California received torpedo hits. The Oklahoma listed over and in about 10 minutes capsized. The West Virginia listed heavily but was righted by counter flooding. The California listed. The Arizona received several large bomb hits at least one of which apparently penetrated the magazines. There was a large explosion forward. The foremast fell forward and burning powder, oil and debris was thrown on the quarterdeck of the Tennessee. The Arizona settled rapidly by the bow. The Nevada got underway but was struck by bombs and torpedoes and grounded in the channel. Large fires were raging around the Arizona and West Virginia. The Arizona was moored to quays about seventy-five feet astern of the Tennessee and the West Virginia was moored to the Tennessee. The burning powder, oil, and debris from the Arizona explosion plus the intense heat from the fires started fires in the stern and port quarter of this ship. These fires and the subsequent wetting caused considerable damage to the ward room and officers' quarters in this vicinity. The fires were brought under control about 1030. The Captain returned aboard about 1000 and resumed command. During the engagement the Tennessee received two bomb hits, one on turret III and one on the center gun of turret II. The hit on turret III wrecked the high catapult and penetrated the roof of the turret. The bomb broke into large pieces but did not explode. The explosive charge spilled into the turret and burned. Fragments of the bomb strongly indicated that it was a converted 15" armor piercing shell and weighed from 1500 to 2000 pounds. The training gear and rammers were damaged. The range finder was completely wrecked. Several casualties occurred as a result of this hit. Casualties will be listed separately. The hit on turret II split the hoop on the center gun, rendering it inoperative. Fragments from this hit caused casualties on the machine gun stations. The active fighting was over by about 1000 although small numbers of planes were observed and fired at through the day, no more bombs or torpedoes were observed. It is believed that this ship shot down four enemy planes. When fires started in and around the West Virginia and Arizona, this ship led out all fire hoses and fought fires in the former and the oil fires on the water that endangered this ship. This fire fighting continued throughout the day and night. About 1030 it was decided to try and move the ship forward so as to escape the fires from the badly burning Arizona. Both engines went ahead five knots but the ship did not move. It is believed that the West Virginia, as a result of her torpedo hits had wedged the Tennessee so close to the quays that she could not move. The engines were kept turning over from five to ten knots throughout the day and night in order that the screw current could wash the burning oil from the stern of the Tennessee. During the bombing #3 motorboat was sunk. Number 2 motor launch burned and sank when caught in the oil fire from the Arizona. When the fires started magazines number 306, 310, 312 were flooded. At about 1800 fire broke out in the after crane room, caused by heat from fires on the Arizona. At 1930 fire under control. After airplane crane out of commission. At 2104 commenced firing on planes crossing over the ship. 2109 ceased firing. At the end of the day the ship was in the following condition; main battery ready for action except center gun in turret II and left gun in turret III. All guns of other batteries ready for action. High catapult out of commission. After airplane crane out of commission. No underwater damage. Main propulsion machinery and ship's lighting and power not affected. Considerable damage in officers' quarters due to fire and slight damage to forward machine gun platform and Navigation Bridge. None of which affected the fighting ability of the ship. The following ammunition was expended during the battle: 760 rounds 5"/25 AA cannon, 180 rounds 3"/50, 4000 rounds 50 caliber machine gun. Various officers and men reported aboard from out of action ships. Lists will be appended when available. J.T. Acuff, Lieut-Comdr., USN |
Information provided by Ray Garland. |
