The battleships Arizona and Oklahoma, as well as the target ship Utah, were total losses after the bombing Pearl Harbor by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. The Arizona and Utah were left where they had sunk. The Oklahoma was raised and sold for scrap, however she sank again while being towed to the West Coast in 1947. The California, whose personnel killed totaled 98, was refloated and repaired.
The West Virginia was refloated but her damage was so extensive that her repairs took until July 1944. The Nevada also was refloated.
The Maryland's damage was so slight that her repairs were completed by December. The Tennessee's main turret had been hit by one bomb but it did not explode. A second bomb hit her forward main turret. Splinters from this hit killed the captain of the West Virginia.
The Pennsylvania was damaged nearly as much by debris from the Cassin and Downes as from Japanese bombs. However, she was eventually repaired and returned to service. Along with the Nevada, she saw service in the Aleutians in 1943.
The Helena and the Raleigh were both quite badly damaged, but the Honolulu only slightly.
The bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan accomplished two major events: It put the United States of America into World War II and vastly put into action that good old American gumption for getting things done.
In addition, between December 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945, the United States Navy commissioned into service "eighteen fleet carriers, nine light fleet carriers, 77 escort carriers, eight battleships, thirteen heavy and 33 light cruisers, 349 destroyers, 420 destroyer escorts, 73 frigates and 203 submarines."
Previous: USS Nevada Faces Severe Fate: USS Arizona Spewing Burning Oil.
Recommended Reading:
Bombing Pearl Harbor: A Day of Infamy.
Japan Favors War with America: U. S. Places Trade Embargo Against Japan.
Prelude to War: Japan Negotiates and Prepares for Attack.
Japan Starts Pearl Harbor Attack: Bombers Headed for Oahu.
Attack on Pearl Harbor Begins: American Ships Meet their Doom.
The USS Arizona: A Memorial for all Times.
New War Industry: Rent a Spy: Before the Pearl Harbor Attack.
A Hawaiian Boy Becomes a Man: Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941.
Sources:
Boswell, Douglas, compiled and edited by. All About Hawaii. Star-Bulletin Printing Co. Honolulu, Hawaii.
Willmott, H. P. Pearl Harbor. Cassell & Co., Wellington House, London, England, 2001.
