Chapter II: Historical Record
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The USS UTAH

UTAH: Day of the Attack

One of the first vessels attacked by the Japanese was the 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 the UTAH and the nearby light cruiser RALEIGH. One torpedo slammed into the 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. This action infuriated Lt. Heita Matsamura, flight commander for the torpedo bombers from the carrier HIRYU, who had "specifically instructed his men to avoid UTAH." Nonetheless Matsamura s men attacked, and following the first hit, Lt. Tamotsu Nakajima, "young and inexperienced . . . followed suit." (Prange 1981).

Water began to fill the ship rapidly, and it listed 15 degrees. The senior officer aboard, Lt. Commander S.S. Isquith, realized that the 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 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 the 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 were located by the tapping 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.

Figure 2.38. The USS UTAH turned turtle after attack. (NPS: USAR Collection)

Thirty officers and 431 men survived the loss of the ship. At best estimates, six officers and 52 enlisted men were lost, some trapped aboard ship, others cut down by strafing aircraft. One of the many examples of heroism that day was displayed by Chief Watertender Peter Tomich. As the ship began to list, Tomich remained at his station so that others could escape. He enabled the men in his division of engineering to flee the sinking ship, and in doing so lost his own life.

The UTAH was declared to be temporarily out of service -- "in ordinary" -- on December 29, while salvage teams under Captain Wallin tried to determine if it could be salvaged.

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