The Recovery and Reuse of American Warships from Pearl Harbor

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, left a significant mark on the United States' naval fleet stationed there. However, the resilience and resourcefulness of American military leaders ensured that many of the damaged ships were salvaged, repaired, and returned to service. This article explores the fate of these ships and their roles in the subsequent years of World War II.

The Damaged Battleships and Their Fate

Of the eight battleships present in Pearl Harbor, only two, the USS Arizona and USS Utah, were left severely damaged. The Arizona, which exploded and sank with the loss of many lives, had its guns salvaged and used to replace worn-out barrels on other ships. The Utah, despite being salvaged and having its upper works cut away, never returned to service. Due to the extent of the damage and the chronic issues with age, the Utah was towed for scrapping in California, but it broke free and sank in the open ocean.

The remaining battleships, USS Oklahoma, USS Pennsylvania, USS Maryland, USS Tennessee, USS Nevada, USS California, and USS West Virginia, were all refloated and repaired.

Individual Ship Overviews

USS Pennsylvania
Applying to the drydock, Pennsylvania suffered only a single bomb hit, which was successfully repaired before the ship was ready for active duty. It never left active service during the war except for a later refit.

USS Maryland, USS Tennessee, USS Nevada, USS California, and USS West Virginia
These battleships ranged in the time they took to be repaired, with the Nevada returning to service in October 1942, Maryland and Tennessee in February 1942, California in January 1944, and West Virginia in July 1944. All of them were extensively refitted and played crucial roles in the U.S. island hopping campaign in the Pacific Ocean.

Post-Pearl Harbor Service and Legacy

After the war, the older and more damaged ships were seen as outdated. By 1959, West Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, and California were all scrapped. Nevada and Pennsylvania, the newest and one of the oldest ships, respectively, at 27 and 37 years, were designated as target ships for nuclear bomb testing at Bikini Atoll in 1948.

Nevada, though heavily irradiated, remained afloat and was towed back to Pearl Harbor and used as a practice target by the USS Iowa. Despite this, the damage was too severe and she could not be sunk by conventional means, leading to her final destruction by a torpedo strike.

Key Takeaways
1. Many US warships from Pearl Harbor were salvaged and repaired.
2. The ships played significant roles in the Pacific campaign, with newer ones being sent to their final resting places or to nuclear tests.
3. The legacy of Pearl Harbor includes both recovery and sacrifice, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of American naval power.

Keywords: Pearl Harbor, American Warships, Recovery and Repair