Done To The U.S.S. Arizona
To the left is an
enlarged view of the addition of the anti-aircraft platform
known as the "Birdbath" with a smaller signal mast attached to
the aft side of the platform. The smaller mast replaced a larger
mast removed when the anti-aircraft platform was installed on
the forward side of the Mainmast. The 'signal mast' in this copy
is the one on display in Wesley Bolin Plaza, East of Arizona's
Photo Below: Resting in the mud off Pearl Harbor after the
fires, which burned for several days, died down. The mainmast
collapsed as a result of a bomb striking the starboard side
(right side) of number two turret and causing the ammunition and
black powder to explode. The 1,800,000 pounds of ammunition
detonated with the force of one kiloton, directing the force of
the blast to the port side (left).
A survey team, in 1983, conducted under water explorations
of the hull of the battleship Arizona. Their finding disclosed
no evidence of torpedo damage however, there have been
differing points of view. The bow
and 20 feet toward the stern (rear of ship) was intact. The next
200 feet, where the explosion occurred, was 2 to 4 feet wider
and the armoured deck and hull plates were folded back. A 2-inch
crack separated the forward port side from the aft section and
continued under the hull almost SEVERED the starboard side. The
survey disclosed the number one turret, upright, 30 feet below
its original location and was concealed by 5 to 7 feet of murky
water. Four 5" anti-aircraft shells were found on deck and
removed. One and one half million gallons of fuel oil is still
being released via a small drop of oil every fifteen seconds.
| The bomb that sunk the Arizona
was designed to penetrate the deck and explode before it reached the
bottom of the ship. The bomb itself could not have sunk the Arizona but
after it was dropped in the powder magazine the resulting blast rendered
the ship incapable of defending itself.
She was awarded one battle star.
The USS Arizona Memorial is built directly over where the
main mast was removed, forward of turret three.
Copyright © 2002-2015 Lorraine Marks-Haislip