ACTION REPORT | ||
USS MARYLAND | BB-46 | |
SERIAL 0229 | 15 DECEMBER 1941 | |
ATTACK OF DECEMBER 7, 1941. | ||
REPORT OF CAPT. D.C. GODWIN COVERING AIR ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, 7 DECEMBER 1941, CLAIMS 4 JAPANESE PLANES DESTROYED. USS MARYLAND SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WITH PERSONNEL LOSSES OF 4 DEAD AND 13 INJURED. |
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET | ||
BB48/A16/Of10/(0229) | BATTLESHIPS, DIVISION FOUR | |
U.S.S. MARYLAND | ||
Pearl Harbor, T.H., December 15, 1941. |
From: | The Commanding Officer. |
To: | The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. |
Subject: | Attack of December 7, 1941. |
Reference: | (a) Cincpac Confidential Despatch 102102 of December, 1941. |
1. In accordance with reference (a), the following report is submitted:
A. DAMAGE TO ENEMY
Seven (7) enemy planes were reported shot down by the Anti-aircraft batteries of this vessel, the destruction of four (4) being quite definitely confirmed.
B. OFFENSIVE MEASURES TAKEN DURING RAID
All Anti-aircraft batteries were promptly manned at the beginning of the attack. The machine gun battery placed torpedo planes under fire immediately, it being believed that the first two such planes approaching this ship and the Oklahoma met destructive fire. All A.A. batteries were employed against the dive bombing and strafing attacks which followed the torpedo attack. The approximate amount of ammunition expended is as follows:
5"/25 - 450 rounds
1.1" - 4500 rounds
.50 cal. M.G. - 2500
C. (1) OWN LOSSES
Deaths: | Officers -1; Men - 2. |
Seriously injured | Officers - 0; Men - 3. |
Slightly injured | Officers - 0; Men - 10. |
Subsequent to the attack Lieut.(jg) James B. Ginn, U.S. Navy, aviator of the VO-4 unit attached to this ship was killed in a crash while on patrol duty. |
Machinery: Torpedo air compressors placed out of commission due to flooding of compartment in which they were located, following bomb hits.
Hull: Damage not yet completely ascertained due to the flooded condition of forward compartments. Known damage to 1600, December 14, 1941, is as follows:
D. DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT OF PERSONNEL
The conduct of the entire personnel of this ship is considered distinguished. Outstanding, however were the actions of the following:
SHORT, Leslie Vernon, Sea.1c., USN, a machine gun striker, while writing a letter near one of the guns of M.G. Group A, after observing the bombing of Ford Island, loaded a machine guns and opened fire effectively on the first two approaching torpedo planes, before battle stations had been manned.
GEISER, Andrew Joseph, S.F.1c., USN, arriving among the first at his battle station in Central Station, had the aviation gasoline stowage compartment flooded, probably avoiding a serious explosion due to the fact that an enemy bomb struck the forecastle directly above the gasoline stowage.
Ensign William J. MANNING, USN, by his quick action in breaking open locked 1".1 ammunition magazines and starting an ammunition supply train of men not having A.A. gun stations resulted in the effective use of the 1".1 guns in a very short time following the discovery of the attack.
In addition to the above, the assistance rendered by Captain W.R. Carter, U.S. Navy, and Commander W.F. Fitzgerald, Jr., U.S. Navy, Chief of Staff and Operations Officer, respectively, of the Staff of Commander Battleships, in getting the A.A. Battery (5"/25) in action promptly was very helpful.
Likewise considered deserving of praise is the cool, intelligent and efficient actions of ANDERSON, Charles Green, Cox., U.S. Navy, 321-30-28 and HEITZMAN, Raymond Arthur, G.M.3c., U.S. Navy, 321-30-37, in connection with the prompt organization of their gun crew and the operation of their 5"/25 Cal. gun thereafter.
E. OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST
[signed]
D.C. Godwin.
Copy to:
ACTION REPORT | ||
USS MARYLAND | BB-46 | |
SERIAL 0234 | 19 DECEMBER 1941 | |
ATTACK OF DECEMBER 7, 1941. | ||
REPORT OF CAPT. D.C. GODWIN, USN, TO COMMANDER IN CHIEF PACIFIC, COVERING DAMAGE SUSTAINED AT PEARL HARBOR FROM TWO HITS BY JAPANESE PLANES AT 0908. |
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET | ||
BB48/A16-3/Of10/ | BATTLESHIPS, DIVISION FOUR | |
U.S.S. MARYLAND | ||
December 19, 1941. |
From: | Commanding Officer. |
To: | The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. |
Via: | (1) Commander Battleships, Battle forces. (2) Commander Battle Force. |
Subject: | Damage sustained in action December 7, 1941. |
1. In accordance with the requirement of Article 840, U.S. Navy Regulations, 1920, the following known damages sustained in action on December 7, 1941, and the corrective action taken to date to make the ship seaworthy and to restore it to its previous battle efficiency is submitted.
2. Summary of damages and losses sustained by departments:
General wreckage of deck, fittings, topside gear including anchor and paravane chains, piping and electrical circuits between frames 9 and 20 on Upper and Main Decks. Trunk A-404-T badly holed and W.T. doors and hatches bulged; hatches in trunks A-407-T and A-507-T also bulged; ladders in trunks wrecked; Bulkhead 9 wrecked on main Deck level.
Shell holed at frame 10 about 22 foot waterline, 18" by 22". This missile apparently penetrated deck of A-201-A and detonated in A-103-A, the blast being principally aft, to starboard, up and down. Much canvas and 5t30 lifejackets in this compartment absorbed many fragments and splinters and possibly saved further holing of the shell. Five fairly large (about 3") holes in bottom A-1-V, several loose and missing rivets and many gouges and splinter holes in shell plating of A-1-V, principally in vicinity of frame 14. Seam badly bulged at frame 14, starboard, about 14 foot waterline, leaky. Some floors and frames (beams) in A-1-V completely wrecked. Bulkhead 15 badly wrecked with whole panels blown through into A-104-A from A-103=A. Much of deck and overhead plating of A-103-A wrecked, holed and torn. This hit apparently accounted for all underwater body damage and damage to stores from resultant flooding of fore part of ship. Bulkhead 9 leaky at bounding angles. Blast damage upward wrecked deck and hatches in A-201-A. Structural damage in A-104-A apparently limited to vicinity frame 15 includes deck and longitudinal bulkheads. W.T. Hatch from A-204-T to A-104-AA and W.T. Door to A-205-E buckled from blast.
Minor damage to foremast structure, holes in secondary forward and shield around forward .50 cal. machine gun station.
From Keel up bulkhead 90, First Platform Deck to bulkhead 15, Second Platform Deck to bulkhead 20, thence to keel.
ITEM | DAMAGE | STATUS OF REPAIRS |
No. 1 and No. 2 Torpedo Air Compressor | Electric motor and starting panel wiring insulation damaged. Bearing journals and cylinders walls corroded. H.P. air gauges inoperative. | Motors and panels are in Navy Yard. Mechanical end is being repaired in place. Gauges are in Navy Yard. |
Degaussing Cable "A" Coil | Cut on port side. Damaged on Stbd. side. | Port side due for replacement 18 December 1941. Stbd. side 19 December 1941. |
Light and power wiring in vicinity of bomb hits. | Wiring broken, insulation damaged. | Main and second deck wiring restored. Approximately 2 to 3 days to complete repairs. |
Eight submersible pumps | Burnt out during pumping operations. | Seven have been repaired to date. |
Twelve spare armatures. | Insulation damaged. | Navy Yard baking out. Six completed. |
No. 1 and No. 2 Diesel oil pump motor and starting panel. | Insulation damaged. | Navy Yard is repairing. |
Diesel Oil Purifier motor. | Insulation damaged. | Navy Yard is repairing. |
RADAR | - - - - - | Estimated completion four (4) more days. |
Six inch piece knocked out of coaming of gun port, starboard side. Hole gouged out of third hoop, left gun (gouge 2 inches by 1 inch).
Bomb fragment hit rammer cylinder just forward of slide and dented cylinder to such extent that rammer piston could not slide through. (Rebored by Navy Yard and replaced).
ITEM | DAMAGE | STATUS OF REPAIRS |
Antennae | Forestay antenna feeding into 2 antenna trunks destroyed. | Being replaced by ship's forces. |
Windows (Flag Bridge) | Broken by gunfire. | Being replaced as expeditiously as possible. |
Sheets | 103 |
Blankets | 64 |
Pajama coats | 62 |
Pajama trousers | 65 |
[signed] [Capt.] D.C. GODWIN. [USN]
BB46/P15/0f10/ (3018) |
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET BATTLESHIPS, DIVISION FOUR U.S.S. MARYLAND |
|
Pearl Harbor, T.H. December 11, 1941. |
From: | The Commanding Officer. | |
To: | The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. | |
Subject: | Meritorious Conduct -- Enemy Action, December 7, 1941 -- report of. |
"After breakfast on Sunday morning, I came to Group "A" Machine Gun Station to write some letters home and address some Christmas cards. Suddenly I noticed planes diving on the Naval Air Base nearby. At first I thought they were our planes just in mock diving practice attack but when I saw smoke and flames rise from a building, I looked closer and saw that they were not American planes. I broke out ammunition nearby, loaded my machine gun and opened fire on two torpedo planes coming in from the east which had just dropped two torpedoes. Flames and smoke burst from the first plane I aimed at, and it veered off to the left falling toward the hospital. I think I also hit the second plane which I aimed at immediately after shooting at the first one but by then I was so busy that I cannot say for sure".
[signed]
D.C. GODWIN.
CC: Combatships.
HEADING |
COMMANDER BATTLE FORCE U.S. NAVAL MESSAGE |
DESTROY BY BURNING |
151900 | CONFIDENTIAL MAILGRAM | 151900 |
YOUR MAILGRAM 11310 OF DECEMBER 1941 X FIRST ATTACK WAS DIVE BOMBING OF HANGERS ON FORD ISLAND AT ZERO SEVEN FIFTY X SIX PLANES FROM SE PASSED DIRECTLY OVER SHIP AT AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT TWO THOUSAND FEET X RISING SUN INSIGNIA CLEARLY VISIBLE X DIVING ANGLE TWENTY TO THIRTY DEGREES PULLING OUT AT ABOUT FIVE HUNDRED FEET X SECOND WAS TORPEDO ATTACK ON BATTLESHIPS FROM PORT BEAM AT ZERO SEVEN FIFTY-FIVE X NO ACCURATE OBSERVATIONS ON NUMBER AND METHOD DUE TO POSITION OF SHIP INBOARD OF OKLAHOMA X APPEARS THAT OKLAHOMA WAS HIT FIRST AND CALIFORNIA LAST X DIVE BOMBING AND STRAFING ATTACKS BY FORTY TO FIFTY PLANES ON ALL SHIPS UNTIL ABOUT ZERO EIGHT THIRTY X DIVE ANGLE APPROXIMATELY FORTY DEGREES X ATTACKS WERE MADE BY INDIVIDUAL PLANES FROM VARIOUS DIRECTIONS X AFTER LULL OF TEN TO FIFTEEN MINUTES CONTINUED UNTIL ABOUT ZERO NINE THIRTY X BOMBS FROM DIVE BOMBERS SMALL OR INTERMEDIATE CALIBER X AT ABOUT ZERO NINE HUNDRED HORIZONTAL BOMBING ATTACK CAME IN CONSISTING OF TWO GROUPS OF SIX PLANES EACH AT ALTITUDE OF ABOUT ELEVEN THOUSAND FEET X ONE GROUP CAME FROM ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DEGREES TRUE OTHER FROM ABOUT ONE FIFTY TRUE X BOMBS DROPPED WERE HEAVY CALIBER X HOLES INDICATE STRAFERS USED FIFTY CALIBER AND THIRTY CALIBER X NO EVIDENCE OF HITS BY LARGE CALIBER BUT OBSERVERS CLAIM FIRE FROM SOME PLANES INDICATE LARGER CALIBERS USED X OCCASIONAL DEFLECTION OF TRACER FROM PLANE SHOT AT INDICATES POSSIBLE ARMORING OF VULNERABLE PARTS
MAILGRAM | DATE RECEIVED : 16 DEC '41 (GCT) | JF/F |
CWO | ||
FROM: | ACTION TO: | INFO TO: |
USS MARYLAND 151900 |
CINCPAC | COMBATFOR COMBATSHIPS |