USS CALIFORNIA (BB-44)

SS CALIFORNIA (BB-44) History and Recovery Efforts of the USS California (BB-44) At approximately 0755 hours on the morning of 7 December 1941, a fleet of Japanese aircraft carriers launched an air strike against the U.S. Pacific Fleet based at Pearl Harbor, on the island of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii (see Figure 1). The surprise attack inflicted serious damage on the ships anchored at “Battleship Row” and thrust the United States into World War II. On Sunday morning, December 7, the battleship USS California (BB-44) occupied berth F-3, somewhat removed and isolated from the other capital ships moored at “Battleship Row” off Ford Island (see Figure 2). In the first attack by enemy planes, two torpedoes struck the port side of the California and caused damage that was later judged as “far-reaching and disastrous.” Underwater protection against such attacks failed and water poured into the lower compartments of the battleship causing an immediate list to port. The crew of the California promptly reported to their battle stations and opened fire with 50-caliber machine guns and 5-inch anti-aircraft guns. The topside gunners, however, soon encountered an acute shortage of ammunition as the hoists that carried shells from below deck were without power after the first explosions. Officers ordered counterflooding to combat the list, but at 0845 hours, California was attacked by a second wave of Japanese planes. Several bombs landed near the ship and buckled underwater compartments, causing additional flooding. One bomb penetrated the main deck amidships and exploded inside the battleship, starting a fire that burned out of control due to a loss of water pressure and a lack of fire extinguishers. The crew were forced to abandon California when burning oil from “Battleship Row” threatened to further engulf the ship, but they retrieved firefighting equipment from Ford Island and returned to save the ship, now listing to 8 degrees (see Gallery). The USS California eventually settled in shallow water but was refloated in 1942 to join the war effort. Initial casualty figures from the attack on Pearl Harbor included 5 officers and 48 enlisted men killed. 45 crewmen were missing.