The December 7, 2009, Chicago Tribune had an article about the mini subs that alerted me to the PBS special.
A Japanese mini sub fired two 800 pound torpedoes in Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941, most likely at the West Virginia and Oklahoma. It is believed to have been scuttled in the harbor the next day.
The Japanese submarine I-16 received a radio call from the mini sub at 10:41 pm December 8th reporting that the attack was a success, but they couldn't get out of the harbor so were going to scuttle the ship.
A photograph taken from an attacking Japanese plane seems to show a mini sub attacking in the harbor. It is believed that only the blast from a submarine-fired torpedo would have had the force to capsize the Oklahoma. Had it been hit by a lighter aircraft torpedo, it would have sunk by settling straight down to the harbor bottom.
It is believed that the mini sub was scuttled in a part of Pearl Harbor called West Loch, where, on May 21, 1944, a huge explosion took place as ammunition was being loaded for Operation Forager against the Mariana Islands. This was kept top secret and the salvage ship Valve was sent to the area to remove the debris. It is believed that the wreck of the submarine was removed at the time and dumped outside the harbor.
A Little Known Part of the War. --Cooter
Showing posts with label West Loch Disaster. Show all posts
Showing posts with label West Loch Disaster. Show all posts
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Monday, July 13, 2009
West Loch Disaster-- Part 2
CHAIN REACTION
A chain reaction ensued with explosion after explosion taking place as the LSTs blew up. A total of 163 men were killed and 395 wounded. Fires burned for 24 hours and twenty buildings ashore were badly damaged. Six LSTs were sunk and many damaged.
It was kept secret for 16 years. No conclusive evidence has been found to explain the cause. Possibly gasoline fumes or mortar shells exploded while being handled.
It was afterwards recommended that LSTs not be nested together during loading, but Admiral Nimitz vetoed the idea because of lack of facilities and LSTs continued to be loaded in groups, but much more carefully..
LSTS
A LST had a crew of 119 and could carry 200 Marines, 80-100 barrels of high octane fuel and 6000 cubic feet of ammo.
You can see pictures at
www.nps.gov/archives/usar'scrs'scrs2z.htm
Like I Said, I'd Never Heard of It. --Cooter
A chain reaction ensued with explosion after explosion taking place as the LSTs blew up. A total of 163 men were killed and 395 wounded. Fires burned for 24 hours and twenty buildings ashore were badly damaged. Six LSTs were sunk and many damaged.
It was kept secret for 16 years. No conclusive evidence has been found to explain the cause. Possibly gasoline fumes or mortar shells exploded while being handled.
It was afterwards recommended that LSTs not be nested together during loading, but Admiral Nimitz vetoed the idea because of lack of facilities and LSTs continued to be loaded in groups, but much more carefully..
LSTS
A LST had a crew of 119 and could carry 200 Marines, 80-100 barrels of high octane fuel and 6000 cubic feet of ammo.
You can see pictures at
www.nps.gov/archives/usar'scrs'scrs2z.htm
Like I Said, I'd Never Heard of It. --Cooter
West Loch Disaster-- Part 1
Most people are well aware of what took place at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, but few, including myself, are aware of what transpired May 21, 1944, in what is referred to as Pearl Harbor's second greatest disaster, the West Loch Disaster.
KHNL TV ran a segment on it May 21st. All that remains of it is a rusting ship and about 40 survivors on the 65th anniversary.
One survivor, Harry Horn, recalls that it was a Sunday afternoon and 29 LST (Landing Ship Tank) were in Pearl Harbor's West Loch loading ammunition, vehicles, and fuel for the Saipan invasion.
At 3:08 PM, there was an explosion aboard the LST-353, "We heard the explosion and we felt the explosion as the ship lifted up and banged down! I remember just hearing cut the lines, cut the lines and just get the hell out of here! Get out of here!"
More to Come. --Cooter
KHNL TV ran a segment on it May 21st. All that remains of it is a rusting ship and about 40 survivors on the 65th anniversary.
One survivor, Harry Horn, recalls that it was a Sunday afternoon and 29 LST (Landing Ship Tank) were in Pearl Harbor's West Loch loading ammunition, vehicles, and fuel for the Saipan invasion.
At 3:08 PM, there was an explosion aboard the LST-353, "We heard the explosion and we felt the explosion as the ship lifted up and banged down! I remember just hearing cut the lines, cut the lines and just get the hell out of here! Get out of here!"
More to Come. --Cooter
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