Robert B. Simons US Navy USS Raleigh

Robert B. Simons -- About 0755 on the morning of December 7, 1941, I was in my cabin drinking a cup of coffee when I heard and felt a dull explosion in the ship. Looking out my airport I saw the water boiling amidships. I started up to the bridge and was met by lieutenant Taylor who reported that the Japanese were attacking the Fleet. All hands were called to general quarters and about five minutes later this ship opened fire with the anti-aircraft battery of 3"/50 caliber, 1/1" and .50 cal. guns. Ensign J.W. Werth, USN, was controlling the starboard battery and Ensign J.R. Beardall, Jr., USN, the port battery, both doing a splendid job. The guns were magnificently handled; all hands from chief petty officers to mess boys volunteering to fill out the regular gun crews and keep ammunition supplied. The ship started to heel over to port and it was reported that an airplane torpedo had struck #2 fireroom, flooding it, and that #1 fireroom was the steaming fireroom, but all fires went out due to water and oil. The damage control party under Ensign H.S. Cohn, D-V(G), USNR and Carpenter R.C. Tellin, USN, was directed to counterflood to bring the ship on an even keel, and they handled their jobs to perfection. It appeared, however, that the ship would capsize. Orders were given for all men not at the guns to jettison all topside weights and to put both airplanes in the water first.  Both planes were successfully hoisted out by hand power alone, and were directed to taxi over to Ford Island and report for duty, along with all the aviation detail on board. The senior doctor was directed to report to the U.S.S. Solace, to aid in caring for the injured and wounded from other ships (we had no dead and only a few wounded on this ship). An oxy-acetylene outfit and crew were sent over to the capsized U.S.S. Utah to cut out any men in the hull. One man was rescued and this man, as soon as he took a deep breath, insisted on going back to see if he could rescue any of his shipmates. A signal was sent to send pontoons and a lighter from alongside the Baltimore to this ship, and they were delivered expeditiously and secured to our port quarter with steel hawsers under the ship and acted as an outrigger. Extra manila and wire lines were run to the quays to help keep the ship from capsizing. Our torpedoes, minus their warheads, were pushed overboard by hand and beached at Ford Island. Both torpedo tubes, both catapults, the steel cargo boom, were all disconnected and jettisoned by hand power. Also, all stanchions, boat skids and life rafts and booms were jettisoned. Both anchors were let go. Shortly after 0900 a glide-bombing attack came in which met with a warm reception. Many near misses fell about the ship. Only one bomb hit. This bomb hit #7 3" ready ammunition box a glancing blow and went through the carpenter ship, then through an oil tank, piercing the skin on the port quarter below the water line, and finally detonating on the bottom of the harbor about fifty feet from the ship. In its flight this bomb went over the heads of the gun crew of #7 3" gun and also passed very close to our two large tanks containing 3000 gallons of high-test aviation gasoline. This plane machine-gunned the ship also. Apparently the enemy planes had expected to find the Lexington and Enterprise near our berth and fired at the Utah and Raleigh, as the carriers were fortunately not in. When it appeared that the ship might not capsize or sink (the water was 45' deep at our berth) Ensign J.H. COYLE, USN, of the Raleigh, was told to see if he could find an oil bottom that was free from water and to raise steam in either #3 or 34 fireroom, as water was getting in to the after engine room and #3 and #4 firerooms, and if they were flooded there would be little hope of keeping the ship afloat. This was done and the pumps started. Meanwhile the gun crews on the top side kept up a heavy and accurate fire. Five bombing planes which this ship had under fire and on which hits were observed, were seen to crash close aboard, either in flames or in fragments. It would be difficult to single out all individuals who acted above and beyond the call of duty, as the conduct of every one was magnificent. The commanding officer, however, was particularly pleased to note that the junior officers and non-rated men acted like veterans and their spirit and morale was only heightened by the surpriseattack. As this ship has been in the Hawaiian Detachment for over two years, many of the married officers and men live ashore when not in the duty section. When the attack opened, the acting gunnery officer, chief engineer, and damage control officers were all Ensigns. Those officers and men who were ashore reported back to the ship most expeditiously and participated valiantly in the last plane attack. After the attack and during the night of December 7th, the ship would vary in list from 11 degrees port to 8 degrees starboard without any apparent reason and was very tender. The tugs Sunnadin and Avocet came alongside during the afternoon and furnished light, steam and food as fast as practical and their services were very helpful. Damage to enemy: The following ammunition was expended on this vessel during the day:  3"/50 caliber 266 rounds .50 caliber 9990 rounds 1.1" 3270 rounds Many planes were taken under fire from time to time without apparent results. However, there were five planes destroyed which this vessel registered hits on and assisted in their destruction, namely: #1 - Bomber flew over stern from starboard to port, burst into flames over Raleigh and crashed on deck of U.S.S. Curtiss. #2 - Plane flew over bow from starboard to port and crashed near Pearl City. #3 - Plane flying north on our starboard beam crashed in water between Dobbin and Baltimore. #4 - Plane off our stern flying over air station towards Curtiss was hit by a 3" shell and was blown to pieces in the air. #5 - A plane flying across our stern had its tail blown off and fell over by Pearl City without burning or great damage. The pilot may have escaped. One torpedo ran between the bow of the Raleigh and the stern of the Detroit and apparently sank in shoal water at Ford Island without exploding and is still there. The end of the bomb that went through the port quarter of this ship was recovered from the damaged fuel tank and was forwarded to Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. Damage control and salvage efforts are being continued successfully at the time of this report.

Information provided by Thornwell Simons

"My grandfather, Robert B. Simons, was Captain of the USS Raleigh at the time of the attack. There's a lot he doesn't mention -- like the fact that he fought the first wave of the battle in his purple naval academy bathrobe, and then changed into his full dress whites expecting to die in them -- but on the whole it just makes a striking read." ---Thornwell Simons