USS Tennessee (BB-43) Timeline of Events During the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor

Chronological Report of General Events, as Recorded in Central Station, U.S.S. Tennessee 
on Sunday, December 7, 1941

This is a chronological report of all reports received by ship's service telephone and other means, and recorded in Central Station during action on December 7, 1941. A few of the following entries are not entirely accurate, as can be realized by reading the "Narrative of Events of Action", nor is this report to be considered absolutely complete. 

0758	-	Attacked by enemy planes (Japanese).
----	-	Oily water around stern burning.
----	-	Canvas awning on stern on fire, Turret III.
----	-	Smoke pouring into Repair I. Smoke so thick, cannot see.
----	-	Repair I have man standby magazine flood, Turret III.
----	-	All boats on fire.
----	-	Fire in maintop. secondary aft.
----	-	Fire in maintop seems to be out.
----	-	West Virginia's quarterdeck and planes on fire.
----	-	Fire on Turret III.
----	-	Could not get morphine out of doctor's room because it was unsafe; men report that room was too hot to go in and cut safe open.
----	-	D-310 excessively hot - investigate.
----	-	Squadron of planes diving on Navy Yard.
----	-	Repair I, unit 3, abandoned station - too hot.
----	-	Fire on topside seems to be under control.
----	-	D-310-A is all right.
----	-	Set Condition ZED in lower handling room of Turret III.
----	-	Oklahoma seems to be capsizing.
----	-	California down by the stern.
----	-	West Virginia has pretty bad fire below Signal Bridge.
NOTE:		Tennessee was hit twice, soon after attack began; one hit (bomb) on face of Turret II, and bomb hit on top of Turret III, penetrating.
0930	-	Enemy planes coming in on port beam.
----	-	West Virginia's gangway still burning.
0940	-	Wounded being removed from the West Virginia.
----	-	Oklahoma upside down.
----	-	Bow blown away on Arizona.
----	-	Destroyers getting underway on other side of Ford Island.
----	-	Fire either on Argonne or dock.
----	-	Air attack coming in on starboard bow.
----	-	West Virginia on fire from Turret I to bow. Flames up as high as foretop.
----	-	Fire on port quarter (oil on water).
----	-	Firemain ruptured, port side, boat deck. (False Report)
0948	-	Planes coming in on starboard bow; do not know whether enemy or friendly.
----	-	Ship will not get underway until further orders. Engineering Department, standby.
----	-	Destroyer getting underway from Navy Yard.
----	-	Unidentified ship in Pearl Harbor down by stern.
0951	-	Lighter alongside starboard beam on fire (ammunition lighter, top blown out, can see no ammunition on it).
0954	-	Bow of Maryland on fire.
0955	-	Still playing fire hose on ammunition lighter. Fire seems to be under control.
0956	-	Solace getting underway.
0958	-	Fire on bow of Maryland under control.
----	-	Superstructure on West Virginia on fire - 4 or 5 men trapped, trying to escape by crane.
----	-	Fire (oil on water) at our stern is out.
----	-	Fire very close to D-310-M.
1002	-	Flood D-310-M (D-306-M and D-312-M also flooded, not isolated).
1005	-	West Virginia preparing to abandon ship.
1008	-	Arizona aflame all over.
1010	-	Planes approaching from starboard beam; did not come in.
1020	-	Arizona looks as if she is on the bottom.
----	-	Word passed for the 5th division to lay aft to relieve the fire party.
1024	-	Torpedo boats leaving harbor.
1027	-	People coming from West Virginia on board Tennessee by way of a five inch gun.
1032	-	Arizona abandoning ship.
----	-	Repair II reports all C&R soundings normal.
----	-	Repair IV reports all soundings normal.
----	-	Repair III reports all soundings normal.
----	-	Pull circuit L28 at Aft Distribution Board.
----	-	Mr. Teague says hatches cannot be opened from inside wardroom country - too hot.
1033	-	Ship 6° down by stern from flooding of D-306, D-312-M.
1036	-	Unit 2, Repair I, combatting fire in W.R. country.
NOTE:		Dead man forward of conning tower, sent stretcher party.
1058	-	Naval Air Station planes in air.
1100	-	Repair II told to open drain valve and core valves in GSK. Valves to Sk Bay.
----	-	Enemy plane coming in on bow. All hands, not engaged in fighting fire, seek cover.
1103	-	Destroyer putting to sea, (other side of Ford Island).
----	-	Gasoline stowage filled with CO2.
1121	-	2° list to port.
1130	-	Bridge steering telegraph out (being repaired).
----	-	Sending planes from Hickam Field.
1135	-	Two planes bearing 270°
1136	-	Light cruiser putting out to sea.
----	-	Turning engines over, to keep fire on water away from ship.
1150	-	Channel reported to have been mined.
----	-	Told repair III to rig submersible pump in wardroom country, and pump water overboard via port hole. Power from steering aft.
1156	-	Army fortresses up in the air.
----	-	Believe enemy planes and submarines lying in channel.
1210	-	Draft of ship (internal): Fwd, 34' 6"; Aft, 35' 10¼"; Mean, 35' 4¼"
----	-	Enemy transport reported 40 miles off Barber's point.
----	-	Parachute troops landing on Barber's Point (later, proved false).
----	-	After Battle dressing Station send stretcher party to left gun, Turret III, and remove casualties.
----	-	Three planes on starboard beam coming this way (do not know whether enemy or no). Said planes flying low; apparently, turning away.
----	-	Organize a crew of about 30 men to relieve men of Turret IV who are fighting fire on water.
1230	-	Secure all fresh water, except galley and drinking.
1245	-	Planes on port bow (do not know whether enemy or not).
1246	-	California sinking fast, stern underwater.
----	-	Close all topside hatches, as turrets will be fired. (Did not).
----	-	Gun four port reported Hoist #22, 5"/51, in B-510 was damaged.
----	-	Powder can be sent up, but is slowed.
----	-	Draft of ship, Fwd: 34'9".
----	-	Magazine temperature of Turret I - 84°.
1340	-	Plane coming in on starboard beam. (Proved to be friendly).
1415	-	Set Condition ZED from Turret III, second deck, aft.
----	-	Repair I, unit 2, leading out fire hose to play water on West Virginia.
----	-	Received report that one of our destroyers sank Jap sub.
1500	-	Report states that Wake Island had been bombed by 30 bombers.
----	-	Ens. Kable still alive. Hudgell dead; also, Miller and Adams.
1551	-	Repair 4 - all outboard voids normal. All sounding normal.
NOTICE:		Pennsylvania had been hit while in dry dock.
----	-	No. 2 MG repaired, and in commission again.
1628	-	Open up wardroom country and sleepy hollow.
----	-	Fire on West Virginia seems to be under control.
----	-	Repair I cut off #32 vent system; smoke coming down.
1647	-	Told Fwd Battle Dressing Station to send doctor and stretcher party to West Virginia bridge to get Captain.
----	-	Ship astern (Arizona) blew up.
----	-	Two planes bearing 350°.
1659	-	Engines ahead 1/3.
----	-	Engines ahead 1/3.
----	-	Repairs 2 and 4p - send 2 rescue breathers each, and spare Oxygen bottles to starboard side of West Virginia quarterdeck.
1703	-	Word received to stop main engines.
----	-	Delivered 6 gas masks to West Virginia.
1755	-	Plane, bearing 345. Plane signalled with red light; did not understand meaning of signal.
1823	-	Plane bearing about 300.
1833	-	Plane bearing about 345. (Running lights on; believed friendly).
1835	-	Plane on port beam; running light on.
1837	-	Plane coming in from dead ahead; bright lights on it.
1838	-	Plane bearing about 245.
1855	-	Enterprise plane approaching Oahu.
1900	-	Plane bearing from dead ahead; running lights burning.
1953	-	Word passed over loudspeaker: "All men having hammocks in port hammock nettings remove them, and stow same inboard.

 

 

 

USS Ramapo (AO-12) Timeline of Events During Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor

Statement of Francis T. Bean, A.M.1c., U.S. Navy,
Regarding Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941

0756	About four enemy bombers attacked the Naval Air Station coming in, apparently, from south, dropping their bombs on the south end of Ford Island. One hanger was struck and set on fire and some PBYs near the ramp were destroyed. These planes were first identified as Japanese because of the insignia on their fuselage. As they wheeled away the insignia on their upper and lower sides of their wings would be seen.
0758	Ramapo went to General Quarters. Ships in the harbor gradually opened fire with A.A. batteries and A.A. machine guns.
0800	Single engined, single-winged torpedo planes carrying one torpedo each commenced an attack on the battleships at Ford Island, coming in along the channel from the Submarine Base and flying astern of the Ramapo. We opened fire as soon as possible, about 0806 with machine guns and approximately 0810 with the 3". Our ammunition was ready in ready boxes and the gunnery officer gave the order to the machine guns to open fire on any enemy aircraft without further orders. Five enemy planes were destroyed in this attack.
0807	Emergency SAIL hoisted on Signal Tower. Arizona hit by torpedo.
0809	Arizona hit by second torpedo. About two minutes later a spurt of flame came out of guns in #2 turret, followed by explosion of forward magazines. The foremast leaned forward, and the whole forward part of the ship enveloped in flame and smoke and continued to burn fiercely.
0814	The Oklahoma suffered two hits by torpedoes. She commenced settling and later turned over.
0820	West Virginia hit by one or two torpedoes amidships, which caused her to commence settling slowly. These hits also caused her to burn amidships.
0820	California hit by one torpedo, commenced listing slowly to port until about 13° list was reached.
0830	Dive bombing attacks by single engined monoplanes aimed generally at the Naval Air Station, battleships and drydocks. Oglala was apparently hit in this attack as she was seen to be listed soon afterwards.
0910	Nevada got underway and stood out of channel, firing continuously, but was attacked by torpedo planes when off the drydocks, and at the same time was subjected to heavy dive bombing attack. She later was beached.
0920 to 0940	Dive bombers attacked Navy Yard and Hickam Field. Five bombs from high altitude horizontal bombers, (two-motored) struck the water close to Rigel showering her, the destroyers to port of her, the New Orleans and Ramapo with shrapnel or bomb fragments. This attack destroyed the Downes and Cassin who were in the drydock ahead of thePennsylvania, for a cloud of flame and smoke was seen in the general direction of the drydock. Later a second cloud was observed to the right of the first one. It was later determined that this was the Shaw and the floating drydock. The MTBs on the deck of the Ramapo opened fire during this attack and the PT 30 hit one plane that was attacking the battleships.
1020	CL underway from a berth north of Ford Island.
1115	Raleigh observed to have been damaged for she had a list of about 15°.
1125	Enemy planes passed over to starboard.
1132	CL underway from Navy Yard.
1135	Enemy planes flew over to port.
1140	Detroit stood out.

     The torpedo planes launched their torpedoes from a height of about 20 feet, for we were looking down on them from the signal bridge, and at a distance of about 500 or 600 yards from the battleships.

          Our fire apparently did not effect the high altitude horizontal bombers, for none broke formation. They were flying in a five plane V formation, and only five bombs were dropped from one formation at a time.