History of USS Utah (Part 3)

USS Utah: The Day of the Attack

One of the first vessels attacked by the Japanese was Utah. Commanders Genda and Fuchida, planners of the attack, had ordered their pilots to ignore the training ship, which as a non-combat ship was not worthy of attack, but eager pilots dropped two torpedoes on Utah and the nearby light cruiser Raleigh. One torpedo slammed into Utah's port side at 8:01 a.m. as the crew raised the flag on the fantail. Some minutes later a second hit the same area.

The torpedoes that struck Utah were designated by the Japanese as Type 91 Modification 2 weapons. They were 18 feet long, and carried an explosive charge of 452 lbs. To keep the air-dropped torpedoes from striking the bottom of the harbor when released, the weapons were fitted with plywood extensions to their fins, which helped to stabilize them more quickly. Model by Andy Hall.

In this dramatic photo, taken just minutes after the Japanese attack began, Utah heels sharply over to port,
putting a terrific strain on its mooring lines. Moments later, the mooring lines snapped and the ship
rolled completely over, trapping dozens of men below decks. U.S. Naval Historical Center photo G266626.

Water began to fill the ship rapidly, and it listed 15 degrees. The senior officer aboard, Lt. Commander S. S. Isquith, realized that Utah was sinking and gave the order, "All hands on deck and all engine room and fire room, radio and dynamo watch to lay up on deck and release all prisoners." The crew was ordered to the starboard side of the vessel to escape the danger of loose timbers pinning men down or striking them. These timbers had been used in previous weeks to cushion the deck from practice bombs dropped by planes from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. By 8:05 the list had increased to 40 degrees. The ship was lost. "Abandon Ship over the starboard side" was shouted over the din. As the men scrambled for safety, the increased list caused the timbers to loosen and slide in the water, crushing the men below. At about 8:12 Utah capsized after mooring lines snapped. The ship's boats rushed in and picked up men in the water. Constant strafing made the job hazardous, and many men sought shelter by swimming to the side of the mooring quay. The wounded and injured were treated along the shoreline or sent to the dispensary at the Naval Air Station at Ford Island. As survivors continued to struggle ashore, many sought protection in trenches dug by the Public Works Project. While the crew huddled for protection, loud banging was heard coming from the ship's hull. A party of Utah men volunteered to investigate while the attack was still underway. They eventually climbed onto the upturned hull and listened intently. Machinist Mate S. S. Szmanski and two seaman located some trapped men by the tapping they heard coming from void space V-98. The rescue party went immediately to work to free the trapped personnel. Szmanski obtained a cutting torch from the USS Raleigh and a hole was cut, allowing F2C John Vaessen to be rescued. For his action that day, Szmanski was awarded the Navy Cross.

This Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Chief Water Tender Peter Tomich, whose actions enabled many other members of Utah's crews to escape to safety. After his death, the Navy could not locate Tomich's next-of-kin, so the medal now resides in Tomich Hall, the main academic building at the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island. U.S. Naval Historical Center photo NH95030k.

Salvage

The immediate problem faced by the salvage teams was to determine the extent of damage and whether the ship could be righted. In November 1942, a series of surveys was completed that included establishment of a mud line from bow to stern. Early thinking believed that an air bubble could be used to float the hull to drydock. Closer examination determined that Utah simply could not hold enough compressed air to make such a trip.

Another approach was considered. The conditions that faced Utah were similar to those in the righting of USS Oklahoma. Captain Wallin and his staff decided that the Oklahoma's method would accomplish the task. Like the Oklahoma, a series of 17 electric winches, cables and wooden struts was used to right the ship. Work on Utah proceeded slowly but effectively until early in 1944. As the ship began to roll back to an upright position, the vessel failed to grip the bottom. As the winches pulled, the vessel slid toward Ford Island. Immediately work stopped, and salvage engineers pondered the problem. It was resolved that continued salvage would be costly for a ship that was not valuable in the war effort, so by March 1944 work stopped. Utah rested on its side at a 38-degree angle.

U.S.S. Utah under salvage at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on February 13, 1944. The ship, which capsized to port after being torpedoed in the Japanese attack, is seen at about the 68 degree position at the completion of the first pulling period. Her blister plating has been cut away around the turn of the bilge to provide fairlead to hitch pads. Salvage efforts rolled it back toward Ford Island, but it was not refloated. U.S. Naval Historical Center photo NH64301.

In 1956, a new effort to remove Utah was rekindled, but soon a number of issues began to plague the effort. First, no funds were available. Second, the equipment used initially to right the vessel had been sold. Third, the project could take one and a half to two years. Perhaps the most important factor leading to discontinuing the plan was raised by the Chief of Naval Operations: he simply stated that the vessel was the final resting place of 58 sailors and should not be disturbed.

Early in 1970 it was proposed by the shipmates and supporters from the state of Utah that a memorial be built to honor the dead. On May 27, 1972 Senator Moss of Utah, who had led the fight for approval and construction, dedicated the memorial.

The legacy of USS Utah was ever-present in the struggle of the Pacific. The training it had provided to the pilots, warships, subs and antiaircraft gunners enabled the Pacific Fleet to be an effective fighting force early on. The testing weapon system had allowed that fleet first-hand experience in working effectively. The ship had contributed significantly to the scientific testing of remote systems, gunnery training and aerial attack. In a larger sense, Utah helped prepare America for war.