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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Oglala (CM-4) Salvage, 1942

Though Oglala was originally evaluated as a total loss, with the only salvage goal being to clear valuable pier space, it was ultimately decided to fully recover and repair the ship. The salvage effort was complex work, with the inherent difficulties of righting and refloating a capsized ship compounded by Oglala's poor stability. Fifteen to eighteen divers were kept busy for nearly 2000 underwater hours during the salvage, patching her hull, rigging chains, cutting away unwanted structure and executing many other tasks. After her tophamper had been removed, ten salvage pontoons were used to pull the ship upright while air was pumped into her to lighten the load. The first righting attempt, made on 11 April 1942, failed when several connecting chains parted. However, a second try succeeded twelve days later.

Oglala was now upright, but still mostly underwater. A large wooden cofferdam was built around the edges of her decks to allow water to be removed from her interior. The ship was refloated in June, but resank on 25-26 June when the failure of a pump led to cascading flooding in her forward hull. Afloat again on 29 June, she promptly went down for a third time when the cofferdam failed. After another raising, a serious fire on 2 July nearly produced a fourth resubmergence. However, the next day Oglala was finally drydocked, completing a job that became a legend among marine salvors. She received temporary repairs during much of the rest of 1942 and, in December, left Pearl Harbor for the U.S. west coast, there to be refurbished for active service.

This page features views of USS Oglala under salvage at Pearl Harbor during 1942.

For other views of USS Oglala, see:

  • USS Oglala (CM-4), 1917-1965.

    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 50139

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    Capsized to port beside Pearl Harbor's 1010 Dock, circa January 1942. She had been sunk during the Japanese attack on 7 December 1941.
    An oiler is at the Ford Island gasoline wharf in the center distance. In the extreme right distance is the capsized hull of USS Oklahoma (BB-37).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center.

    Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60675

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    Salvage work underway at Pearl Harbor, circa early 1942. Oglala had capsized alongside 1010 dock during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid.
    One of Oglala's motor launches is in the right foreground, with a diver embarked. Salvage pontoons (including YSP-17) are in the background, and an oiler is by the Ford Island gasoline wharf in the distance.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60673

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    Under salvage alongside 1010 dock at Pearl Harbor in early 1942. She had capsized there during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center.

    Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60674

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    Under salvage alongside 1010 dock at Pearl Harbor in early 1942. She had capsized there during the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid.
    The wreck of USS Arizona (BB-39) is in the left distance.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center.

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 60671

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    Capsized alongside 1010 dock at Pearl Harbor, with salvage work underway, 17 March 1942. Chains encircling her hull are part of the righting tackle.
    USS West Virginia (BB-48) and USS Arizona (BB-39) are sunk in the middle distance.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center.

    Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 44580

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    Under salvage alongside 1010 Dock, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, circa 11 April 1942.
    YSP-13 and YSP-15 are among the salvage pontoons being used to try to raise Oglala's capsized hull.
    An oiler and the sunken USS West Virginia (BB-48) are in the background.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 112KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64492

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    Salvage pontoons (with YSP-13 among them) surfacing during the initial attempt to right the ship, 11 April 1942. This effort failed when some of the pontoons broke loose from their righting bridles.
    The Oglala had capsized and sunk alongside Pearl Harbor's 1010 Dock during the 7 December 1941 Japanese air raid.
    Note barge Guam 3201 at left, with a mobile crane on board.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 64236

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    At the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in mid-1942, after she was salvaged.
    The ship had been sunk alongside Pearl Harbor's 1010 Dock during the 7 December 1941 Japanese air attack.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Historical Center.

    Online Image: 131KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 61896

    USS Oglala (CM-4)


    At the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, following completion of salvage and initial repairs, circa December 1942. Oglala left Pearl Harbor for the west coast on 23 December of that year. She had been sunk in the 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     

    For other views of USS Oglala, see:

  • USS Oglala (CM-4), 1917-1965.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    11 November 2000