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WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407) Prepared by Puget Sound Navy Yard TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE   I   Introduction  1   II   Structural, Description and Discussion of Damage  2   III   Piping, Description and Discussion of Damage  3   IV   Electronics, Description and Discussion of Damage  4   V   Ordnance, Description and Discussion of Damage  5   VI   Electrical and Machinery, Description and Discussion  6 - 9   VII   Ventilation, Description and Discussion of Damage  10   VIII   Effect of Flooding on Stability  11      Appendix "A" - P.S.N.Y. Photos Nos. 3336-45 to 3346 inclusive    Appendix "B" - P.S.N.Y. Sketch of Damage      Ref :     (a)  C.O. STERETT let. DD407/A16-3/A7-3 of 13 April 1945. Serial 0129

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)   SECTION I - INTRODUCTION l.  While operating off Okinawa on 9 April 1945, the U.S.S. STERETT was attacked by Japanese planes (Vals) and at about 1852 was struck by one of the planes. The plane hit the ship at frame 55 just above the First Platform. It is believed that this plane carried an 8-inch projectile or a 250 lb. A.P. bomb which exploded on contact. The damage control measures taken and the damage sustained are well described in reference (a). After arrival at the Yard the vessel was inspected and the damage discussed with ship's personnel. The additional data found and the Yard's comments are furnished in the following paragraphs:

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)   SECTION II - STRUCTURAL l.  The plane and bomb which struck the ship tore a large hole in the shell plating between the Main Deck and the First Platform and frames 54 to 60. The adjacent deck plating, framing, and bulkheads were damaged as shown on the sketch Appendix "B". Since the ship's report reference (a) gives a complete detailed description of the damage, no details will be given in this report. 2.  Although the longitudinal strength of the vessel was substantially reduced, no evidence of excessive strain in the intact structure was found.                       - 2 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)   SECTION III - PIPING l.  The most significant damage to piping systems consisted of the rupture of the firemain just forward of frame 54, starboard. The ship was able to sectionalize the break without undue difficulty. A jumper hose was run on the Main Deck between fore and aft fire plugs to provide fire protection for the forward part of the ship. 2.  Damage did not reveal any faults in the ship's piping design, and no recommendations for changes are made.                       - 3 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)     SECTION IV - ELECTRONICS l.  There was no damage to Radar and Radio equipment other than loss of power to some units as discussed in Section VI.                       - 4 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)     SECTION V - ORDNANCE l.  There was no damage to ordnance equipment other than severed cable leads as discussed in Section VI.                       - 5 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)     SECTION VI - ELECTRICAL l.  In general the electrical system was damaged between frames 48 and 60 on the First Platform and consisted of the following:    (A)  Equipment in the Diesel Generator Room and starboard crew's messing space was severely damaged by explosion and plane impact.     (B)  A large number of cables on the starboard side of the vessel were severed by the explosion and plane impact and cables on the port side were cut by fragments.     (C)  Equipment in the Diesel Generator Room was corroded due to immersion in salt water and oil over a long period of time.     The fighting efficiency of the vessel was not seriously impaired, however., loss of the emergency plant and in addition one crippled turbo-generator put a severe strain on the ship's remaining power system. 2.  A detailed description of the damage to equipment is given in the following paragraphs:    (A) Power System          (1)   Emergency Diesel Generator Set and Switchboard. The mixture of oil and water which flooded the Diesel Generator Room rendered the switchboard and Diesel Generator inoperable. The lower three feet of the board was completely submerged in oil and water and the upper part covered with oil splashings. Similarly, the generator windings were coated with oil and subjected to the corrosive action of salt water. A complete new installation of diesel generator set and switchboard was required.          (2)   Power Distribution System. Loss of emergency generating plant was aggravated in certain instances by the breaking of feeder cables from the main distribution switchboard due to the explosion on the starboard side. This is shown in photographs Nos. 3338-45 and 3341-45. Bomb fragments which went through the fuel oil tanks cut several cables on the port side of the vessel as shown in Photograph No. 3344-45. The cables cut include the following circuits:     (a)   Steering synchro-ties were mutilated by the explosion on the starboard side and severed by fragments on the port side.     (b)   Feeder to Main Battery Director (FB-43l)     (c)   Normal feed to Radio Central (FB-427)   - 6 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407) SECTION VI - ELECTRICAL (Continued) 2.   (A)  Power System (Continued)   (2)  (Continued)   (d)   Feeder to panel No. 4, serving vital auxiliaries forward (FB-411)   (e)   Feeder to 24" searchlight (FB-127)   The loss of the emergency plant left the following vital auxiliaries without power because of the breaking of the normal feeder:   (a)   Main Battery Director   (b)   Radio power panel   (c)   Underwater sound panel which obtains its normal supply from power panel No. 4 and its emergency supply from the emergency board. Most of the vital auxiliaries were returned to service by temporary cable repair.   In addition, the Galley equipment was without power due to transformer damage as shown in Photograph No. 3339-45.   (B)  Lighting System.   (1)  Emergency Lighting. Loss of the Emergency Diesel Generator and switchboard completely cut off all emergency lighting throughout the vessel. In addition, one of the emergency lighting transformers located in the Diesel Generator compartment was severely damaged by a bomb fragment, as is shown in Photograph No. 3342-45.   (2)  General Lighting. Local lighting in the immediate vicinity of the hit was completely destroyed. Service to other portions of the vessel was not seriously affected. Feeder FB-103, which serves the forward ammunition storage spaces, forward 5" gun mounts, forward ammunition handling rooms, and Radio Central, was severed by bomb fragments on the port side of the vessel; hence, these spaces remained dark until temporary repairs could be accomplished and, service restored from the main switchboard.   (C)  Interior Communication Systems.   (1)  General Indicating and Telegraph Circuits. The damage to these circuits was confined to the local area of the explosion. The breaking of a number of cables on the starboard side of the vessel by the explosion and on the port side by fragments and shock   - 7 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407) SECTION VI - ELECTRICAL (Continued) 2.   (C)  Continued.   (1)  Continued.   caused a number of the audible signal equipment such as bells, buzzers, horns, reproducers, and annunciators to cease operating. Following is a list of the circuits severed on the starboard side of the vessel at the first platform level:   (a)  Auxiliary Engine Order Telegraph (b)  Boiler Feed Signal (c)  Boiler Temperature Alarm (d)  Captain's Command Announcing (e)  Cruising Turbine Exhaust Alarm (f)  Engineer's Announcing (g)  Engine Order Telegraph (h)  Engine Revolution Telegraph (i)  Fire Alarm (j)  General Alarm (k)  Gyro Compass (l)  Lub. Oil Low Pressure Alarm (m)  Salinity Indicator (n)  Shaft Revolution (o)  Smoke Telegraph (p)  Steering Emergency (q)  Steering Rudder Angle Indicator (r)  Steering Telegraph (s)  Telephone and Voice Tube Call Bell (t)  Underwater Log   The circuits severed by fragments on the port side included the following:   (a)  Auxiliary Engine Order Telegraph (b)  Engine Order Telegraph (c)  General Announcing   Some of the more vital circuits were returned to service by temporary repairs to the cables, as shown in Photograph No. 3344-45.   (2)  Telephone Circuits. A number of sound-powered telephone handsets and headsets in the immediate vicinity of the explosion were shattered and several circuits vrere severed on both port and starboard sides of the vessel. The following circuits were affected:     - 8 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407) SECTION VI - ELECTRICAL (Continued) 2.   (C)  Continued.   (2)  Continued.   STARBOARD (a)  JA - Captain's Battle Circuit (b)  X1JV - Captain's Cruising Circuit (c)  1JY - Forward A.A. gun circuit (d)  3JY - After A.A. gun circuit PORT (e)  JA - Captain's Battle Circuit (f)  XJA - Captain's Auxiliary Battle Circuit   (D)  Fire Control.  Circuits affected on the starboard side were as follows:   (1)   GE - Main Battery Control (2)   GEP - Main Battery Remote Control (3)   1VB - Main Battery Salvo (4)   1PA - Main Battery Firing (5)   GM - 40 MM Gun Control (6)   7PA = Depth Charge Firing Circuits severed by fragments-on the port side included the following: (1)   GM - 40 Tv1M Gun Control (2)   5U - 20 NM Cease Firing Thus the forward guns were without automatic control. This situation was alleviated through temporary repairs. Manual control and firing was employed until service had been restored.   (E)  Radio.  Circuits affected on the starboard side were as follows:   (1)   RV - Radio Phones (2)   RR - Radio Receiver (3)   RT - Radio Transmitter Service was restored by making temporary cable repairs. 3.  Comments and Recommendations. The casualty to this vessel was highly localized and did not produce a serious or prolonged disruption of electrical service. However, the lack of suitable casualty power equipment greatly handicapped the ship's personnel in restoring service to the forward portion of the vessel and necessitated additional time and risk in making temporary repairs to existing circuits. The necessary equipment was furnished the vessel during the overhaul.   - 9 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)   SECTION VII - VENTILATION   l.  Damage to ventilation on this vessel was substantially as -,vould be expected in view of the nature and extent of structural damage. The only unusual features were as follows:      (a) Exhaust fan and its drip proof motor in Emergency Diesel Generator Room were inundated by oil and salt water. Prior to arrival at the Yard, the space had been drained and cleaned up to some extent. The fan was operating, although, according to the ship's First Lieutenant, no repairs had been made to the motor.   (a) The Main Deck was displaced at the forward end of the fan foundation of vent set no. 1-60 so this fan was about 5° off horizontal. The fan was connected to the duct work by means of canvas flexible connections (see photo no. 3336-45). This system was also functioning upon arrival. It appears that the flexible connections reduced the extent of derangement of this system. 2.  No design changes are recommended.                   - 10 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)     SECTION VIII - EFFECT OF FLOODING ON STABILITY 1.  Compartments A-205-L and A-206-E were flooded as a result of damage. Flooding in these spaces was a combination of oil from ruptured tanks A-2F, A-3F, A-5F, A-6F, and A-7F, and the inrushing sea through ruptured shell plating frames 54 to 60. The liquids in the spaces is estimated to have reached a depth of 4 ft. maximum, however, maneuvering while under attack varied the amount. 2.  It is estimated that the loss in GM due to free surface was approximately 0.41 ft., and the loss in GM due to added weight was approximately 0.03 feet. Since the ship was in Full Load Condition at the time of damage, the stability of the vessel was not seriously affected. The ship reported a list of 2° port after sustaining damage. It is believed that this was caused by flow of oil through punctured bulkheads and subsequent equalizing of oil from one tank to the other. 3.  It is noted that reference (a) reported a measured period of roll of about 8 seconds. This would correspond to a GM of about 4 feet for still water rolling. A recent inclining experiment performed on the vessel at this Yard indicates that the GM at the time of the hit was about 2 to 2.5 feet. It has been observed that the period of roll taken at sea is generally less than that obtained by forced rolling in still water and therefore the indication of GM obtained is too high. Obviously stability data obtained in this manner should be used with caution.                   - 11 -

Sm WAR DAMAGE REPORT - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407)        The following personnel of the Design Section assembled the data and prepared the damage report:                NAME I. H. Patience J. R. Dawes Desler & L. E. Mabry J. L. Eitel E. Knudsen A. R. Stover S. Littmann I. E. Thorson C. N. Allison      NAME Structural Piping Electronics Ordnance Electrical Machinery Ventilation Flooding & Stability Photographer      Report edited and reviewed by - R. B. Couch and R. R. Stone                   - 12 -

Appendix "A" - U.S.S. STERETT (DD407) Damage Photos -Click to enlarge-   Navy Historical Center Photograph Starboard side shot showing hole in ship's hull following the Kamikaze hit. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD-407-Damage in Action 9 April 1945 Looking Outboard-Stbd. Main Deck Showing Ventilation Equipment at About Fr. 60 (Vent Set 1-60, 4075cfm) Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-Looking FOrward Fr. 64 Man Deck Stbd. Showing Deck Bulged Up. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Stbd. Looking Aft-General View of Damage. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Stbd. Looking Aft & Toward & at Transformers. Port. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Stbd. Looking Stbd. & Aft at Patched Hole in Shell. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Stbd. Looking Inboard and Aft at door to Diesel Gen. Room-Fr. 56. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Stbd. In Diesel Gen. Room Looking Inboard Fr. 55 at Transformer. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Stbd. Looking Forward and Down Thru Hole in 1st Platform Fr. 57. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Port Looking Aft at Damaged Cable Fr. 55. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-1st Platform Port Looking Inboard and Aft at Outboard Bulkhead Diesel Gen. Room-Fr. 59 Showing Patch Plate. Puget Sound Navy Yard 22 May 1945 DD407-Stbd. Side Looking Forward and Down at Dished in Shell Plating Viewed from Barge. Appendix B  Schematic of damage; a more printer friendly version can be found here.

SOURCE:
National Archives & Records Administration, Seattle Branch
Record Group 181, Entry 514936-54 "Central Subject Files (Entry PSNS-3)

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

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