World War II: Damage Reports and Photos from the Pearl Harbor Attack

Description

Pearl Harbor: Damage Assessment Reports

Timeline of Events (December 7, 1941)

• Morning, December 7, 1941: The primary event is the surprise attack by Japanese forces on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This attack is detailed in damage reports and images included in the source, though specific times are not detailed within the given document’s text.
• Attack Phase: The attack included both torpedoes and bombs targeting U.S. naval vessels. This is evidenced by the text stating “TORPEDO AND BOMB DAMAGE REPORTS.”
• Damage Assessment: Following the attack, detailed reports were compiled documenting damage to specific vessels. These reports focused on vessels including the USS Honolulu, Oglala, Helena, Helm, Raleigh, Curtiss, Vestal, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.
• Ongoing Assessment (December 7, 1941 – August 15, 1956): The collection included a “Submarine Report – Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo and Gunfire Damage” covering a long period, including losses suffered on December 7th, but also continuing to August 15, 1956. This indicates that the US Navy continued to assess the impact and details of damage related to these types of attacks, during and well after WWII.
• Summary Reports (October 17, 1941 – December 7, 1942): A “Summary of War Damage” for US Battleships, Carriers, Cruisers, and Destroyers is included, though it is a summary spanning just over a year, starting before and continuing after the Pearl Harbor attack. This document provides a consolidated review of damage to US ships in the first year of the war.
• Photo Documentation: Photographs were taken to document the damage to vessels. These photos are part of the compiled reports and provide visual evidence of the attack’s impact.
• Declassification (1994): The reports were declassified on September 12, 1994, allowing for the public release of these wartime documents.

Cast of Characters (Primarily Naval Vessels)

It’s important to note that the main “characters” in this context are the vessels themselves, as the document focuses on the damage incurred by these ships rather than the individual people who served on them, but they represent the stories and experiences of the men that served on them and are named here.

• U.S.S. Honolulu (CL-48): A Brooklyn-class light cruiser. It was damaged during the Pearl Harbor attack, likely by bomb and/or torpedo.
• U.S.S. Oglala (ARG-1): A converted minelayer, later classified as an internal combustion engine repair ship. It sustained damage at Pearl Harbor.
• U.S.S. Helena (CL-50): A St. Louis-class light cruiser. It was hit by a torpedo during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
• U.S.S. Helm (DD-388): A Gridley-class destroyer. It experienced damage at Pearl Harbor.
• U.S.S. Raleigh (CL-7): An Omaha-class light cruiser. It was hit by a torpedo at Pearl Harbor, and also suffered bomb damage in the attack.
• U.S.S. Curtiss (AV-4): A seaplane tender. It was damaged during the Pearl Harbor attack.
• U.S.S. Vestal (AR-4): A repair ship. It was severely damaged during the attack, and took on heavy flooding from multiple torpedo hits.
• U.S.S. Pennsylvania (BB-38): A Pennsylvania-class battleship. It was damaged by bombs during the Pearl Harbor attack.
• U.S.S. Tennessee (BB-43): A Tennessee-class battleship. It experienced bomb damage during the Pearl Harbor attack.

Notes

• The source material primarily concerns the ships and the physical damage they sustained. Human roles are not emphasized.
• The lack of specific human characters in this documentation highlights how damage was often characterized by what was lost, rather than individuals lost.
• The timeline reflects the attack on December 7, 1941, and subsequent efforts to assess war damage, including reporting spanning many years.

World War II: Damage Reports and Photos from the Pearl Harbor Attack

This document consists of 165 pages detailing reports and photographs of the destruction caused during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Most of this information remained classified until 1994. The classification of the War Damage Reports was lifted by the authority of OPNAVINST S5513.16 on September 12, 1994.

Reports on Torpedo and Bomb Damage

There are 126 pages of reports concerning torpedo and bomb damage related to the following vessels: U.S.S. Honolulu (CL-48), U.S.S. Oglala (ARG-1), U.S.S. Helena (CL-50), U.S.S. Helm (DD-388), U.S.S. Raleigh (CL-7), U.S.S. Curtiss (AV-4), U.S.S. Vestal (AR-4), U.S.S. Pennsylvania (BB-38), and U.S.S. Tennessee (BB-43). Additionally, the reports include the Submarine Report on Depth Charge, Bomb, Mine, Torpedo, and Gunfire Damage, along with Losses in Action from December 7, 1941, to August 15, 1956, and a Summary of War Damage for U.S. Battleships, Carriers, Cruisers, and Destroyers from October 17, 1941, to December 7, 1942.

Images of Damage to Vessels at Pearl Harbor

This section contains 39 pages of reports featuring images of the damage incurred during the Pearl Harbor attack, showcasing a total of 45 identifiable images