When the Japanese raiders arrived over Pearl Harbor, the battleship Pennsylvania was in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard's large drydock and therefore was beyond the reach of the torpedoes that inflicted such devastation on four of the fleet's other heavy ships. Though bombers of the second wave attacked her, Pennsylvania was directly hit only once, by a bomb that struck amidships, putting some of her five-inch guns out of action but generally causing only minor damage to the heavily-constructed ship.
Also in the drydock, side-by-side ahead of Pennsylvania, the destroyers Cassin and Downes were not nearly so lucky. Several bombs hit on or near them, puncturing their thin hulls with fragments, releasing fuel oil and starting major fires that badly strained their structure. They were further damaged by exploding ammunition and the detonation of one of Downes's torpedoes, which blew a large hole in her midships port side. Finally, when the drydock was partially flooded as a precaution against an attack on its entrance caisson, Cassin came partially afloat and capsized against her consort. The fires caused additional, but superficial, damage to Pennsylvania's bow, and the two destroyers were almost completely wrecked.
This page features views of the battleship Pennsylvania and the destroyers Cassin and Downes during and soon after the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
For photographs of post-attack salvage work on USS Cassin
and USS Downes, see:
For other pictures of, or related to, attacks on ships in
and near the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: 80-G-19943 Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 The wrecked destroyers USS Downes (DD-375) and USS Cassin (DD-372) in Drydock One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, soon after the end of the Japanese air attack. Cassin has capsized against Downes. USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is astern, occupying the rest of the drydock. The torpedo-damaged cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) is in the right distance, beyond the crane. Visible in the center distance is the capsized USS Oklahoma (BB-37), with USS Maryland (BB-46) alongside. Smoke is from the sunken and burning USS Arizona (BB-39), out of view behind Pennsylvania. USS California (BB-44) is partially visible at the extreme left. This image has been attributed to Navy Photographer's Mate Harold Fawcett. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 158KB; 610 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 64482 USS Cassin (DD-372) (capsized, right) and USS Downes (DD-375) (left) In Drydock Number One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard on 7 December 1941, immediatly following the Japanese attack. Both ships had been severely damaged by bomb hits and the resulting fires. In the background, also in Drydock Number One, is USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), which had received relatively light damage in the raid. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 162KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-32511 Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 USS Downes (DD-375), at left, and USS Cassin (DD-372), capsized at right, burned out and sunk in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard drydock on 7 December 1941, after the Japanese attack. The relatively undamaged USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) is in the background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 64475 Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 Blistered paint and other fire damage to the forward hull of USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), in Drydock # 1 at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard shortly after the Japanese raid. Note Jack flying at the battleship's bow. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Online Image: 123KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 54561 USS Downes (DD-375) Burned out in Pearl Harbor Navy Yard's Drydock # 1, soon after the Japanese attack of 7 December 1941. View shows the ship's forward 5"/38 guns and her demolished pilothouse, seen from off her starboard bow. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 117KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-32430 Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 USS Downes (DD-375) burned out and sunk in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard's Drydock # 1, soon after the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack. This photo shows the ship's starboard forward superstructure, from the pilothouse forward to the bow. Railway car in the right background is marked "NYPH", "Shop 24", "Storage Car". Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 110KB; 590 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 54559 USS Downes (DD-375), nearest to camera, and USS Cassin (DD-372), capsized against Downes In Drydock Number One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, 8 December 1941, the day after they were wrecked by Japanese bombs and the resulting fires. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 134KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-32431 Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 USS Cassin (DD-372) burned out and capsized against USS Downes (DD-375), in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard drydock on 7 December 1941, after the Japanese attack. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 124KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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For photographs of post-attack salvage work on USS Cassin
and USS Downes, see:
For other pictures of, or related to, the 7 December 1941
Japanese attacks on ships in and near the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard,
see:
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 11 November 2000
Coding updated 22 April 2009