On December 7, 1941, the world exploded in a firestorm of destruction. Bombs rained from the sky as Japanese fighters swooped low over Pearl Harbor, strafing ships and sowing chaos. The deck of the mighty USS Pennsylvania quivered with each deafening blast.
In Dry Dock Number 1, Pennsylvania was spared the torpedoes that took apart her sister battleships at anchor on Battleship Row. But there was no escape from the hellish inferno consuming the harbor.
Acrid black smoke choked the lungs as fires raged unchecked. The destroyers Cassin and Downes, ahead of Pennsylvania in the dock, erupted into flames as Japanese bombs found their mark. A 1,000-pound torpedo tube from the disintegrating Downes flew through the air and crashed down on Pennsylvania’s forecastle as men were thrown off the deck.
Even though she was partly disabled at the lift dock, Pennsylvania’s sailors had no intention of staying idle. They rushed to battle stations and manned the anti-aircraft guns, filling the sky with tracer fire in a desperate attempt to fight back against the swarms of Japanese attackers. Fifteen Pennsylvania crewmen perished that day, with another 38 wounded. But through courage and sheer grit, damage control teams contained the destruction. Though battered, Pennsylvania endured.
All around, the carnage was unimaginable. The guts of the American Pacific Fleet lay ripped open and bleeding. Battleships Oklahoma and West Virginia capsized. Arizona exploded in a volcanic eruption and sank to the bottom, taking 1,177 sailors with her to a watery grave. Over 2,400 Americans were lost or wounded on this date, which will live in infamy.
But as the nation reeled on its knees, the Pennsylvania and her crew stood unbowed, a defiant fist raised against the onslaught. One of the only large warships to emerge under her own power, the resilient battleship would set forth to avenge her fallen comrades and exact retribution from the Japanese aggressors. Through fire and fury, Pennsylvania’s guns would thunder for vengeance across the vast Pacific.
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A battleship is a fortress of steel and machinery, a hulking mass of engineering might. But it is the crew, with their skill, spirit, and dedication, that breathes life into this leviathan. It is they who transform cold metal into a mighty instrument of power, making the USS Pennsylvania not just a ship, but a living testament to the strength and resolve of those who served aboard her
You can't help but admire the courage and patriotism of that generation!
what revenge are you taking from earth that you had to make all ships and bombs only to kill people you went to "trade" with?
Go get a ruler or tape measure and hold your hands 14" apart. Now envision that space filled with a projectile, launched from the guns of the Pennsylvania. Holy crap!!!
I learned that U.S.S. Utah is also sunken at Pearl Harbor. My grandfather joined the U.S.N. in February 1942 as a raw Seaman 3rd class at the age of 26. The younger sailors called my Papa "Old Man" (at age 26!) He stayed in the U.S.N. until the Japanese surrender. He was honorably discharged as a PETTY OFFICER 1st CLASS in 1945. He served on a submarine-chaser that didn't have a name, just a number designation. I'm HONORED to have my Papa's funeral flag. 🇺🇸⚓️🗽🦅💪🏻🫡
Forecastle is pronounced "Fock-Sill", I know, crazy right? It's how it is, though.
Only Oklahoma capsized, West Virginia sunk on a level keel due to the quick thinking of crew who counter flooded compartments on the opposite side to keep her upright allowing her salvage and successful return to the fleet later on in the war.
1921?
The Oklahoma was the only battleship to fully capsize. The West Virginia listed, threatening to capsize, but counter flooding righted her and allowed her to settle on the harbor bottom relatively upright.
This channel must not be able to afford fact checkers or they just don’t give a sh*t. They can afford an overly dramatic narrator.
Dark you are getting better relevant video and no B/S out of context stuff keep it up
West Virginia did not capsize. She took 6 torpedo hits and sank into the mud upright.
You got a couple of things wrong there, I did a report on PEARL HARBOR in 1972 in high school history and wrote to PEARL HARBOR information officer for details. #1, the bomb that took out the ARIZONA pierced the deck between #1 and #2 turrets and exploded in the forward magazine, the wire mesh on top of the funnels was intact. #2, WEST VIRGINIA did not capsize, it was sunk upright and was raised, refitted and fought on. #3, there were 3 ships sunk and lost that day, ARIZONA, the target ship UTAH capsized, and the OKLAHOMA witch was capsized, it was later raised but was lost in a storm as it was being towed back to the U.S. for refit. The first two are still there and consdered WAR GRAVES as they are still manned by their crews. The rest of the video I can't comment on.
Those shells the Japanese used were modified 16 inchers from the battleship Nagato. Which is why the American navy couldn't wait to sink her at bikini atoll.
The USS Nevada was the ONLY battleship to actually get underway during the attack. She was beached so as not to possibly block the channel leading into Pearl Harbor. And then there was the destroyer, USS Shaw. She just refused to die.
The bomb down the stack is from an original report but was actually an error as they inspected the armored grates inside of the stacks and found no penetration.
No doubt someone was confused and all the madness of the day.
Good video, you hardly ever hear about this battle ship
The West Virginia did not capsize. It sank upright thanks to prompt Damage Control. Heck, @1:44 that's the West Virginia.
@3:00 The Arizona didn't take a bomb down her stack. The bomb pierced her deck beside her #2 turret. It set off a daisy-chain explosion in the forward magazine. The resulting explosion destroyed the forward third of the ship, even lifted the forward mast thirty feet before crashing back down. Perhaps the most used foorage of the Attack was recorded on the deck of the hospital ship USS Solace was Dr. Haakenson. That footage is at the very beginning of this video. Except it's been flipped. The explosion happening on the left side of the screen. Solace was moored north of the Arizona, with the battleship's bow pointed south-west. So the explosion should be on the right side. Also the original footage was in color and included additional footage of high level Japanese aircraft, Kate torpedo-bombers flying in tight V formations before the Arizona's demise.
Because the Pennsylvania was in drydock it sat lower than the ground level. As such the gunners had difficulty in locating targets. George Walters was a civilian crane operator contracted with the US Navy. Seeing the battleship in danger, Walters climbed into his large crane and used it as a weapon. In the thumbnail of this video, to the right of the red circle, that crane was operated by Walters.
Moving his machine back and forth and swinging the arm, he tried to fend off the low flying aircraft. Also using crane arm as a pointer Walters warned Pennsylvania's gunners of incoming aircraft. A bomb went off near Walters's crane that knocked him senseless. He recovered and continued to work for the Navy a further twenty-five years, passing away in 1999 at the age of 95.
Last note, her sister ship, the Arizona, the fires raged on her deck for two day. It took another two days for the heat in the steel to cool down. When salvage crews came aboard they found that her 5" guns were still trained skyward. the deck littered with spent shell casings. Proof that she went down fighting. That wasn't the end for her. Nine of Arizona's 14" guns were salvaged and put to use. Six of them went to become Battery Pennsylvania and Battery Arizona as part of O'ahu's defenses. Neither saw combat.
Three 14" barrels of the Arizona did see combat. I have read some sources claiming they were recovered from the wreck. Others, including the official plague on one of the barrels, claiming those barrels were removed before the battle to be relined. Either way, those three barrels of the Arizona were installed on the USS Nevada, herself a Pearl Harbor survivor. In addition, three other barrels were installed in Nevada's #3 turret. These guns were salvaged from the USS Oklahoma, that capsized at Pearl Harbor, killing 429 of her crew.
With these new guns the Nevada used them to shell Iwo Jima and Okinawa, part of the Japanese home islands. Gaining a measure of personal revenge for her fallen comrades.
Pennsylvania coming home, with bandages all over: "I got them Ari. You don't have to cry anymore".
Arizona reaches up, her body covered in burn marks and injuries, she reaches up to the water's surface, but all she can do is form the words with her lips: "Thank you sister. Don't forget me. Or them". With that, Arizona returns to sleep, tears still leaking.
Despite this, Penny looks on with a knowing look. She places roses over her sister's grave. Though her black tears still leak, staining the water, she feels Arizona is finally at peace. Arizona opens one crying eye, and she smiles with true joy for a moment: as rose petals float down over her. Covering her like a warm hug.
Why do they always take the ships that should be museums in to target practice, it really pisses me off
The West Virginia did not capsize. It settled down upright on the bottom of her mooring area. Also, most of the superstructure remained above water.
The overly dramatic language used in this video is offensive and obnoxious.
There were zero Marines on Attu. The amphibious landing was carried out by the US Army Seventh Infantry Division and the Alaskan Scout (not sure of the official title and strength of unit).
I would like to see locations on a map
Out & back Pearl Harbor 81 on the USS DIXON AS 37 enroute to Diego Garcia to tend Submarines and surface warcraft during the Iranian hostage issue.
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Arizona was hit with at least one modified 18" armor piercing shell from the super heavy battleship Musashi which detonated her magazine. The blast went up her smokestack.