A16-3/DD390/(067) |
UNITED STATES FLEET
DESTROYERS, BATTLE FORCE |
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U.S.S. Ralph Talbot (390)
December 12, 1941. |
From: |
The Commanding Officer. |
To: |
The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. |
Via: |
(1) The Commander Destroyer Division Eight.
(2) The Commander, Destroyer Squadron Four.
(3) The Commander, Destroyers Battle Force. |
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Subject: |
Action Taken During the Air Raid Attack, Dec. 7, 1941. |
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Enclosure: |
(A) Sketch of harbor showing where planes were believed shot
down by Ralph Talbot.[not attached] |
The USS Ralph Talbot was moored bow to southward
to buoy X-11 with the Patterson alongside to port and the
Henley to starboard.
- Under way at 0900 and passed sea buoy No. 1 at 0934.
- Expended 150 rounds 5"/38 caliber and 1500 rounds .50
caliber.
- Two planes that this vessel was firing on were seen to crash
and another started to smoke badly but due to other approaching
planes its further flight was not observed. One plane dove low
over the bridge and was hit by our forward .50 caliber machine
guns. It was seen to crash along the shore by Pearl City, marked
A on the enclosed sketch. Other ships were also firing at this
plane. While standing out the after 5"/38 caliber guns fired
on planes attacking the Curtis. One plane was seen to
fall to pieces just after gun No. 3 fired and it fell in the
vicinity of the place Marked B. The Curtis was undoubtedly
firing on these planes.
- There were no personnel or material casualties due to enemy
bombing or machine gun fire. The JA talker on the bridge had
his arm grazed by a .30 caliber machine gun bullet fired by a
plane.
- All hands behaved excellently. CHAVIES, Edward J. Cox., and
MARSHALL, Robert L., Sea2c., are worthy of special mention. Chavies
went down the anchor chain hand over hand and swam out to the
buoy and tripped the pelican hook as the motor whaleboat was
slow in reaching the buoy to let go our chain. This was during
a period of much machine gun fire by enemy planes. MARSHALL,
a new man, was in No. 3 handling room sending up shells. One
shell started to drop from the rack and as he had his arms full
he tried to put his foot under the falling shell. He believed
that it might explode if it dropped to the deck. Fortunately
only one toe was mashed and he kept right on with his work until
a lull in the action when he requested help.
[signed]
RALPH EARLE, Jr.