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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9 U. S. S. RALEIGH FG;ep

January 14, 1942      

CONFIDENTIAL

From: The Commanding Officer.
To: The Chief of the Bureau of Ships.
Via: The Commander Destroyers, Battle Force.
The Commander Cruisers, Battle Force.
The Commander, Battle Force.
 
Subject: War Damage Report.
 
Reference: (a) Buships conf. serial C-EF 13/A19, C-S51-3,(374) C-EN 28/A2-11 dated 28 October 1941.
(b) Comfourteen Conf. serial C-L11-1/NY 10(Y-052l) dated 22 December 1941.
(c) Comdesbatfor conf. serial L11-1/A9(01692) dated 24 December 1941.
(d) Comcrubatfor conf. serial L/(01407) dated 19 December 1941.
(e) Combatfor conf. serial A9/L11-1/(01215) dated 17 December 1941.
 
Enclosure:   (A) Sketch of torpedo hit.
(B) Sketch of bomb hit and patch.
(C) Blueprint of damage. (Not Included)
(D) P.H. photographs Nos. 4-42 - 15-42 incl. (Not Included)
(E) Sketch showing location of jettisoned gear.

       1.       On 7 December 1941, the U.S.S. RALEIGH suffered such damage as to make submission of detailed report required by reference (a) necessary. A complete damage control log was kept but is so detailed and lengthy that it is not believed that it would clarify or augment record of events and actions taken and accordingly it is not included.

       2.       A brief narrative is given herewith:
       U.S.S. RALEIGH, in condition X, at regular mooring, F12, at eastward side of north channel, Pearl Harbor, T.H., was subjected to attack in first wave of Japanese torpedo planes on morning of 7 December 1941. At 0756 LZT, two torpedoes were fired at ship from about 300 yards, one passing about 25 yards ahead of ship, the other hitting ship amidships. Ship took sharp heel to starboard as enormous spray of water rose over quarterdeck, then settled back to gradually list over to port. Personnel immediately went to General Quarters, repair parties proceeding with setting of condition Z. Guns were manned and 3" AA battery and machine guns were firing on attacking planes within five minutes of first hit, using the ammunition

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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from filled ready boxes and clipping rooms. Condition Z was completely set and counter flooding, started within fifteen minutes. Ammunition supply had been organized and replacements were arriving at entire battery within same period.

       About 0900 LZT ship was subjected to dive bombing attack among which were several near misses. At 0908 bomb hit aft at frame 112, nicking lower corner of filled 3" ready ammunition box and passed on down through three decks and out through hull below waterline exploding clear of ship about 100 feet to port. Fortunately bomb missed ready ammunition as well as full aviation gasoline tank about ten feet forward, either of which might have been disastrous. Although missile passed through full fuel oil tank no fire resulted. There were no casualties other than three persons suffering minor shrapnel wounds none of which was serious.

       Opening up of after tanks by bomb detonation caused extensive flooding which, coupled with flooded section amidships, reduced buoyancy and stability to such extent as to make ship exceedingly tender. Pumping and jettisoning topside was resorted to with continuous efforts towards repair of bomb hole aft, and on 12 December, hole had been temporarily patched with a wooden caisson and life-jackets, so that satisfactory buoyancy and stability had been restored. By 15 December semi-perminent reenforced concrete patches had been placed over all holes in hull and decks aft so that ship was kept dry with own pumps. Pontoon outrigger had been rigged on 8 December as a safety precaution.

       On 23 December ship was moved to navy yard repair basin where navy yard took over repair.

       On 3 January 1942 ship entered Drydock #1, N.Y.P.H.

     3.       The subject report is herewith tabulated and lettered in conformity with that of basic letter, reference (a):

    A.  GENERAL
  1.  Name of ship; U.S.S. RALEIGH.
  2.  Time and date:   0756, 7 December, 1941 (Z-10½) - torpedo. Original document used an archaic Zulu time notation not possible in HTML
0908, 7 December, 1941 (Z-10½ - bomb.
  3. Geographic position: Berth F12, Pearl Harbor, T.H.
Depth of water: 45 feet.
  4. Course and speed: Moored starboard side to, to interrupted quays; 2 springs and 1 breast forward, 2 springs and 1 breast aft.
Ships head:  053°(T).
  5. Draft, before: 20'0" fwd., l6'6" aft, 18'3" mean.

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1941. (SIC)

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Draft, after: Variable.
Draft. Maximum: 29'11" fwd., 19'9" aft, (different times) 24'0" mean.
  6. State of sea: Calm.
  7. Weather and visibility: Clear and unlimited.
    B.  DIRECT HITS BY PROJECTILES OR BOMBS

Note: Bomb hit was DIRECT, but since it passed through hull and detonated under water alongside ship, it is treated under both this and following headings:
  1.  Projectile or bomb:   Estimated type; AP bomb.
Weight; 500 lbs.
Diameter; 15 inch.
  2. 
For bomb:  Whether horizontal or dive realease; Dive release.
Altitude of release; 800 feet.
Angle of dive; 65° dive.
  3.  Location of impact on ship: Upper deck, Fr. 112.25, 6' to port of centerline.
  4.  Path of bomb through ship: Path would be intersection of longitudinal plane inclined 28° from vertical, with transverse plane inclined 4° from vertical, path passing to port and slightly forward from upper deck out through hull below waterline. Bomb penetrated following: Upper deck, Carpenter shop bulkhead, main deck, first platform deck, hull.
  5.  Thickness of plating penetrated:
     Upper deck: 10 lb. mild steel.
     Carpenter shop bulkhead: 15 lb. mild steel.
     Main deck: 25 lb. HTS.
     First Platform: 10 lb. mild steel.
     Hull: Double thickness (butt) 38 lb. HTS.
  6.  Distance from point of first impact to point of detonation: approximately 152' (46' thru structure, 106' thru water).
  7.  Wheather (SIC) detonation was "high order" or "low order":
Believed to be "high order".
Size of fragments: No fragments found.
  8.  Brief description of damage to structure, instruments, machinery, etc., under following headings:
(a)  Effect of impact: Pierced decks and bulkheads as noted above leaving a jagged torn opening from 1½' to 2½' in diametric dimension, all edges curled downward and outward; Also passed thru three type B sheet metal crews' lockers, and three aluminum crews' bunks demolishing them.
(Other headings not applicable since explosion occurred without ship's hull)
  9.  Any noxious or other gases or fumes: None.

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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 10.  Action taken to localize effects, etc.: (Taken up under following, heading.)
    C.  UNDERWATER EXPLOSIONS

Note: Throughout this section torpedo and bomb effects are treated separately, titled appropriately.
 1.  Type of weapon with estimated weight, or size, and type of firing device (direct or influence):
  (a)  Torpedo: Aircraft, contact firing device.
  (b)  Bomb: 15" diameter, AP, TNT explosive charges, time fused.
 2.  Position of center of explosion:
  (a)  Torpedo:  Struck at Fr. 54.5 about 13.5' below WL.
  (b)  Bomb:  Exploded port quarter about 100' abreast Fr. 112, 35' to 40' below surface and in close proximity to bottom of harbor.
 3.  Any outstanding circumstances or peculiarities of the explosion:
  (a)  Torpedo:  None.
  (b)  Bomb:  None.
 4.  Single or multiple explosion, with estimated time intervals:
  (a)  Torpedo:  Single.
  (b)  Bomb:  Single.
 5.  Noise (dull, sharp, loud, muffled, etc):
  (a)  Torpedo:  Muffled.
  (b)  Bomb:  Muffled.
 6.  Was flash or flame noticed:
  (a)  Torpedo:  No.
  (b)  Bomb:  No.
 7.  Smoke, color, and amount:
  (a)  Torpedo:  Profuse, dark, acrid smoke was reported in Engineroom.
  (b)  Bomb:  None.
 8.  Was shock effect serious: Give summary of machinery and equipment damaged by shock:
  (a)  Yes. Plating and bulkheads penetrated to permit rapid flooding of two forward firerooms and forward engineroom. Equipment of #2 fireroom badly damaged and entire forward half of engineering plant completely immobilized. Detailed list of damage is given herewith:
 1. Boiler #6 demolished. (Handwritten "removed" note)
 2. Boilers #4 and #5 badly damaged.
 3. Fuel oil heaters #4, #5, #6 demolished.

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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   4.  Fuel oil heaters #1, #2, #3 damaged.
 5. Blower #6 demolished.
 6. Blower #5 damaged.
 7. Fuel oil service pumps #1 and #2 damaged.
 8. Fuel oil service pumps #3 and #4 wrecked.
 9. Fuel oil booster pumps #1 and #2 wrecked.
10. Fuel oil booster and service manifolds #1 and #2 wrecked.
11. H.P. and L.P. fuel oil strainers #2 wrecked.
12. Auxiliary circulating pump #1 damaged.
13. Auxiliary condenser #1 damaged.
14. #1 and #2 turbo-generators damaged.
15. #4 main engine out of line; #1 Engine probably out of line.
16. Port branches of the main steam line, auxiliary steam lines, auxiliary exhaust lines, fire mains, fuel oil suctions, and fuel oil recirculating lines, H.P. air lines, and fresh water filling lines all ruptured or flanges opened in #2 fireroom.
17. All machinery in flooded spaces submerged in oil and salt water.
18. The following electric circuits were either ruptured or shorted due to submersion:
(a) P-37 Steering gear supply from forward board to transfer panel in hand steering room.
(b) P-21 Main radio supply from forward board to transfer panel in main radio.
(c) P-23 Forward twin 6" gun mount from forward board.
(d) P-25 Panel No. 3 ammunition hoist forward from forward board.
(e) P-27 Panel No. 6 Vent fans and feed water pumps from forward board.
(f) P-29 Panel No. 7 Vent fans, sounding machine and ship's service equipment.
(g) P-31 Panel No. 8 Galley motors, from forward board.
(h) P-33 Vent motor No. 1-62-2 from forward board.
(i) P-35 Vent motor No. 1-62-1 from forward board.
(j) P-39 Panel No. 1 Turbine turning and oil pumps from forward board.
(k) P-41 Battery charging panel from forward board to I.C. room.

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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I have no idea why some lines were indented and others not below, but I stayed true to the formatting.

   (l) P-43 Galley, air compressor from forward board.
 (m)      Power bus feeders (positive and negative) from forward board to after board.
 (n)      Lighting bus feeder (positive and negative) from forward board to after board.
 (o)      Shore line connection from forward to upper deck frame 64 port.
 (p)      100 Kilowatt generator forward switchboard.
 (q) P-46 I.C. Switchboard from after board.
 (r) B-l Auxiliary distributing panel (central) to forward board.
 (d)
(SIC,
"s")		 B-21 Forward magazine and forward twin lighting.
 (t)      Auxiliary lighting 101 from battery charging panel (I.C. room) to double feeder junction in after engine room.
 (u) B-3 Lighting forward engine room and No. 1 and #2 fireroom. Feeder from forward board to double feeder junction box in forward engine room
 (v) B-4 Lighting forward engine room and No. 1 and No. 2 fireroom.
 (w) B-17 12" signal light, starboard from forward board to light.
 (x) B-19 12" signal light port from forward board to light.
 (y) B-15 24" search light.
 (z) B-ll 36" search light} #1 forward board.
(aa) B-13 36" search light, #2 forward board.
(bb) B-5 Battle light forward from forward to Auxiliary distributing panel #1.
(cc) L-9 General light forward (magazine and twins) from after board.
(dd) B-16 Battle light after, magazine and twin from after board.
(ee)      Steering control cable port and starboard from central to steering engine room.
(ff) P-47 Degaussing motor generator aft, from forward board.
(gg) P-49 Degaussing motor generator forward, from forward board.
(hh) P-51 1.1 guns aft, from forward board.
(ii) P-53 1.1 forward from forward board.
(jj) P-63 Fire control motor generator set from forward board to I.C. room.

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Start here

CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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  (kk)  F. Cir. Fire alarm.
  (ll) JA-JZ Battle telephones.
  (mm) 3U Cease firing signal for 3", 50 cal. AA guns.
  (nn) 1PA Main battery firing system.
  (oo) 3PA AA gun firing.
  (pp) 2VB AA salvo signal system.
  (qq) GE gun control system.
  (rr) RD gun battery order system.
  (ss) SA smoke telegraph.
  (tt) SB salinity indicator system.
  (uu) J Ship's service telephone.
  (vv) TL Dead reckoning tracing system.
  (ww) X2JV & X2JZ telephone auxiliary sound powered.
  (xx) W Whistle operating circuit.
  (yy) 1VB 6" gun salvo signal.
  (zz) 1U 6" cease firing.
 (aaa) GA torpedo control system.
 (bbb) LC gyro compass system.
 (ccc) EB fire room feed signal.
 (ddd) LB steering emergency signal.
 (eee) L steering telegraph
 (fff) MB engine order telegraph.
 (ggg) M Engine revolution telegraph.
 (hhh) Throttle alarm.
 (iii) ME oil burner telegraph,
 (jjj) IN rudder indicator system.
 (kkk) 2N auxiliary rudder indicator system.
19.  Both main battery directors put out of commission.
20.  Bridge repeaters tumbled from poloruses and immobilized.
  (b)  Bomb:  Yes. Plating carried away from stiffeners, shearing rivets to open up after compartments and spaces permitting extensive flooding which, coming in addition to forward casualty, definitely jeopardized survival of vessel. Rivets sheared from face of after twin mount indicates extensive transmission of shock. #3 shaft out of line end #4 tail shaft seemed out of line from inspection but this latter fact has as yet not been verified. So far as is now known steering engine suffered no ill effects, nor did after DG- motor-generator located in D-203.
         9.  Was any general flexural vibration of the ship noted:
  (a)  Torpedo: No. Personnel give varied reports of being thrown up, down and athwartships.
  (b)  Bomb:  No.

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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          10.  Give distribution of and amount of liquids in tanks and compartments near explosion:
    (a)  Torpedo: Spaces immediately forward of #1 fireroom in following sequence:
A-124   Cofferdam
A-123-P F.O. tank
A-123-S F.O. tank
A-122-P F.O. tank
A-122-S F.O. tank
A-121-P F.O. tank
A-121-S F.O. tank
 Empty  
Full
Full
Full
Full
Full
Full
  
48608 gal.
49348 gal.
52748 gal.
53026 gal.
60329 gal.
61102 gal.
Spaces immediately aft are engineering spaces.
    (b)  Bomb:  Passed thru D-109, F.O. tank, full, 55876 gallons. Spaces immediately forward are shaft alleys, storerooms, refrigerator and magazines. Spaces immediately aft are D-110, F.O. tank, full, 39520 gallons; magazines; D-113, F.O. tank, 95%full, 22430 gallons; Main issuing room; stearing engine spaces.
        11.  Dimension of hole in ship's hull with general description:
    (a)  Torpedo:  Hole at point of impact about 15" in diameter. Rivets gone around plates and seams in vicinity over area 30' long by 25' high. Although no plating gone, openings so extensive as to cause almost free flooding.
    (b)  Bomb:  Hole at point of egress, torn and jagged edges, flaring outboard, minimum diameter 15", maximum diameter 2».
        12.  Dimensions of area of serious indentation of ship's hulls:
    (a)  Torpedo: Area of indentation approximately 50' long by 30' high, maximum indentation about 8' from normal contour.
    (b)  Bomb:  Area of indentation approximately 10' long by 10' high, maximum indentation about 1½' from normal contour.
        13.  Description of damage inboard of shell plating - destruction or distortion of decks and bulkheads:
    (a)  Torpedo: Bulkhead 70, after bulkhead of forward engineroom dished aft about 5".
Bulkhead 59, after bulkhead of #2 fireroom badly buckled end penetrated by numerous missiles.
Bulkhead 53, forward bulkhead of #2 fireroom badly buckled and penetrated by numerous missiles.
    (b)  Bomb:  No.

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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  After port corner first platform deck at Fr. 47, top of cofferdam, small upward bulge. Vent trunks of #6, #5, #4 forced draft blowers damaged with extent diminishing in that order. Shock of explosion vented through those trunks and it is presumed that this venting prevented damage to main deck in this vicinity.
    (b)  Bomb:  Swash plates and swash decks in vicinity of hole in D-109 badly buckled.
First platform deck over area about 10' X 1O' in D-302 in vicinity of penetration dished upward about 5", shearing off rivets to transverse stiffeners.
Fore and aft bulkhead boundary between D-109 and D-108, shaft alley, sprung from stiffener shearing off rivets.
Athwartships bulkhead boundary between D-109 and D-202 sprung from stiffeners, Fr. 109 port, shearing off rivets.
Athwartships bulkhead boundary between D-109 and D-110 sprung from stiffeners, Fr. 113 port, shearing off rivets. Rivets sheared off at bottom of port bulkhead and forward bulkhead of D-111-M, boundaries with D-110 and D-109 respectively.
Areas in vicinity of WT doors in bulkhead 109 between living spaces D-301 and D-302 showed radial stresses from corners of door. Bulkhead 109 was slightly crumpled near outboard port hull in compartment D-302.
          14.  Penetration of structure by fragments, if any?
    (a)  Torpedo:  None so far as known.
    (b)  Bomb:  None so far as known.
        15.  Condition of W/T doors, hatches etc. in vicinity:
    (a)  Torpedo:  Torpedo: All were set in condition Z. Fire-rooms were unoccupied. En£ineroo.:i was evacuated immediately with condition Z set behind personnel. Six flush-deck type hatches in flooded spaces leaked when sinking and listing of ship put them under a head of water although all had been given routine chalk and air tests during past year's operating period. Shoring rendered them watertight.
    (b)  Bomb:  Three flush-deck type hatches in D-301 set in condition Z, and one in D-303 similarly set, failed under pressure of flooding fuel oil although they had also been properly set up and have D.C. history of having met routine requirements. Failure of these hatches permitted extensive flooding of two living compartments and machine shop, and partial

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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flooding of a third living space. As soon as possible they were also shored and made watertight thereby. All other W.T. closures in after part of ship were found to be satisfactory.
          16.  Extent of immediate flooding:
    (a)  Torpedo:  #2 fireroom, #1 fireroom, forward engineroom.
    (b)  Bomb:  D-109 F.O., D-110 F.O., D-111-M, D-112-M, D-103, D-202, D-302.
        17.  Extent of slow flooding, uncontrolled by ship's pumps:
    (a)  Torpedo:  None.
    (b)  Bomb:  None.
        18.  Extent of slow flooding, controlled by pumps and estimated rate of pumping:
    (a)  Torpedo:  Main deck passageways, both sides, 120 GPM. Very slow leakage through wiring trunk into I.C. room and central station controlled by periodic pumping with submersible pump.
    (b)  Bomb:  D-301-L including machine shop almost completely flooded. D-303-L partially flooded. Rate of pumping was most variable as number of pumps in service varied from zero to eleven. Actually entire flooded area can be considered in this category with shoring and plugging progressing as holes were cleared for repair, even final patching of hole in hull with concrete, after which entire flooded area was cleared of liquid and buoyancy and stability were restored.
        19.  Fires started by direct incendiary effect or subsequently as a result of dispersal of fuel oil, gasoline, etc.:
    (a)  Torpedo:  None.
    (b)  Bomb:  None.
        20.  Damage control measures taken to localize damage, correct list or trim, shore bulkheads, etc:
    (a)  Torpedo:  Counterflooded forward starboard magazines A-107-M, A-108-M, A-115-M. Shored bulkhead 70. Shored main deck flush-deck type hatches.
    (b)  Bomb:  Counterflooded forward starboard and amidships magazines A-115-M, A-117-M, A-118-M, A-119-M nnd finally forward starboard shaft alley D-103. Shored three flueh-deck type hatches in D-301. Shored flush-deck type hatch in D-303.

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CL7/S88/L11-1/A9
(1202-C)		 U.S.S. RALEIGH
CONFIDENTIAL January 14, 1942.

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  The problem of maintaining buoyancy and stability cannot be considered separately from time of bomb hit, as free flooding, extensive free surfaces, and great loss of buoyancy made solution a progressive one using every expedient to meet constantly changing situation throughout period of recovery.
Counterflooding and pumping out of forward starboard magazines and forward port shaft alley were only voluntary shifting of liquids. Topside gear such as catapults, airplanes, torpedo tubes and mounts, torpedoes, boat-skids, anchors and chains, gangways, booms, loading machines, gear lockers and chests, life-rafts, etc., were jettisoned to prevent capsizing, first from port side and later when ship suddenly reversed list, to starboard side, Estimated weight of this gear totals about 60 tons, and all was accomplished by manpower. Another step taken to prevent capsizing was strapping a barge bearing four 80-ton salvage pontoons to port quarter. As equipment and power for locating pontoons were not available, entire barge was attached as a veritable outrigger by passing four 2" wire hawsers completely about hull of RALEIGH and barge, and then passing wire straps about top and bottom parts where they crossed between ship and barge. By coming up taut on those latter straps entire barge was securely fixed in place against hull. As soon as it was possible, oil soaked gear and bedding was removed from ship and compartments wiped down to reduce the constant menace of fire. Also 3500 gallons of aviation gasoline which bomb had fortunately missed by a matter of feet was transferred to a gasoline barge. Spoiled meat from flooded refrigerator was removed and non-perishable commissary stores wero recovered and restowed clear of damaged area.


R.B. SIMONS.

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Photos
  Enclosure A:
Sketch of Torpedo Damage
Torpedo struck at juncture armor and side plating. Did not penetrate. Seams opened and hull crushed. 45' x 30'

- Click to enlarge
 
  Enclosure B:
Sketch of Bomb Damage
Includes concrete patch.

- Click to enlarge
 
  Enclosure E:
Sketch of jettisoned gear

- Click to enlarge

For Further Reading:
USS Raleigh CL-7 Action Report, December 7th, 1941

SOURCE:
National Archives & Records Administration, San Francisco Branch
Record Group 181, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard General Correspondence, 1941-45

Transcribed by RESEARCHER @ LARGE. Formatting & Comments Copyright R@L.

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