The USS Arizona (BB-39) was one of the most iconic and tragic casualties of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Struck by several bombs, including a devastating armor-piercing bomb that detonated the forward magazine, the battleship exploded in a massive fireball, killing 1,177 crew members and sinking quickly to the harbor's shallow bottom. The wreck of the Arizona was never "found" in the sense of being lost; its resting place in Pearl Harbor was immediately known after the attack. However, its fate and the subsequent decisions about salvage and preservation are a story of military necessity, reverence, and memory.
1. The Attack and Sinking of the USS Arizona
During the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the Arizona was moored at Battleship Row.
A bomb penetrated her deck and ignited her forward ammunition magazines, causing a catastrophic explosion.
The resulting fire burned for two days, leaving the ship a twisted, charred wreck.
The ship sank to the shallow harbor floor with most of its crew trapped inside.
2. Immediate Salvage Efforts
After the attack, the U.S. Navy assessed the wreckage at Pearl Harbor to determine which ships could be salvaged and returned to service. Many battleships, such as the West Virginia and California, were successfully raised, repaired, and rejoined the fleet. However, the Arizona was deemed unsalvageable for several reasons:
Structural Damage: The forward explosion had torn the hull apart, and the ship's deck and superstructure were severely warped.
Depth: Though the harbor's shallow depth made accessing the wreck easier, the Arizona was so badly damaged that refloating her was impractical.
Human Losses: Over 1,000 crew members were entombed in the wreck, and removing the ship would have meant disturbing their remains, a decision the Navy deemed inappropriate.
3. Salvage Operations
While the ship itself was left in place, some salvage efforts were conducted to support the war effort:
Armaments: The Navy removed the Arizona’s main battery guns (14-inch) and other usable weapons to repurpose them for coastal defense installations.
Fuel: Remarkably, the Arizona had taken on nearly 1.5 million gallons of fuel shortly before the attack. Salvage crews extracted some of this fuel, but much remained in the wreck, and oil continues to slowly seep from the ship to this day, creating the "black tears" visible on the water's surface.
Smaller Equipment: Other recoverable items, such as anti-aircraft guns, were salvaged for use elsewhere.
4. The Decision to Leave the Wreck
In 1942, the Navy officially decided to leave the wreck of the Arizona in place. The ship was declared a total loss and a war grave. This decision was rooted in respect for the sailors who had perished aboard her and practical considerations about the ship's condition.
5. Preservation and Memorial
In the years following the war, the Arizona became a symbol of the sacrifices made at Pearl Harbor:
Discovery and Surveys: The wreck was never "lost," but post-war surveys were conducted to assess its condition. Divers and naval historians frequently examined the site in the decades following the war.
USS Arizona Memorial: In 1962, the USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated, spanning the midsection of the sunken battleship. Funded partly by public donations and efforts led by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Elvis Presley, the memorial serves as a place of reflection and remembrance.
Current State: The ship remains where it sank, a protected National Historic Landmark. The oil seeping from the wreck continues as a poignant reminder of the tragedy.