The Ship that Became America's Most Brutal Payback Weapon

Sunlight painted a serene picture across the Pacific’s waters as sailors exchanged stories and laughs over morning cigarettes. The tranquil scene was disrupted by a distant, growing hum — the unmistakable drone of approaching aircraft.

Pearl Harbor’s sailors could not have imagined the horror they were about to experience when their calm morning was abruptly torn apart. Metallic shrieks and the roar of exploding bombs thundered all around them.
The imposing USS West Virginia quickly found herself in the crosshairs, assailed by a barrage of bombs and torpedoes that ripped through her sturdy decks.

Ash-covered sailors fought bravely against the flames’ relentless advance. Water roared in through torn steel while desperate hands tried stemming the flood, their fingers raw and bloodied.

The pungent tang of burning salt water, oil, and seared flesh created a dreadful experience that would haunt the battleship’s survivors for the rest of their lives. Gunners fired skyward at the swarm of Japanese warplanes even as the West Virginia groaned and shuddered.

But, in the end, even her valiant resistance wasn’t enough. The once-proud West Virginia succumbed, settling mournfully into the harbor’s shallow embrace. But like the American spirit, the colossal warship would rise again. Before the war was over, it would bring vengeance to those who had sunk her…

[toddfurse]

Thanks for this! This was the ship my Dad served aboard after she was rebuilt. He was a radio operator and served on Rear Admiral Jesse B. Oldendorf's radio crew during the Battle of Surigao Strait, if I have it right. He was always very proud to have served on the ship a fellow Utahn commanded so heroically. I shared this with a lot of family who didn't really know a lot about his service. Thanks again.

[damilla]

I have a small notebook in which my Dad kept a list of each shell fired by the main guns during the Battle of Surigao Strait. He was Fire Control in the Main Battery Plot. John Spofford Millar, 25 March 1920-11 December 1995, my hero.

[painmt]

The re-floating and repairing of all of those ships lost in Pearl Harbor, is one of the most incredible feats of engineering that I have ever heard of. Absolutely incredible!

[RussMills-glqs]

So cool, my grandad served in Pacific in WW ll, he was on Yorktown, sunk at Midway, survived the war..

[skylordsix]

My grandfather served on the Florida in WW1. In WW2, he served as a Seabee on Guadalcanal. Giants walked the earth in those days.

[stevenward]

As a West Virginian, the is a "humble" pride that I have for the crews that sailed on the U.S.S. West Virginia. After WWII, it was scrapped, but parts of it survived and were displayed all over the state. From West Virginia University where a flag pole was displayed to deck guns in other cities. Some of these relics may no longer be displayed outside in the elements.

[murdiesel]

As a Proud West by God Virginian and sailor this fill me with tears of pride! Long live the Wee Vee!

[jasonedwards]

My grandfather was at pearl on Dec 7. When it was my turn in the Navy I was proud to serve on the USS West Virginia SSBN 736. She has parts from her ww2 name sake on board. So she is still at sea.

[PennWolfsSailingAdventures]

My grandfather used to tell me the memories he could of Pearl Harbor. His ship would have been there if it had not had engine trouble. Shortly later while he had pneumonia it was realized he was under age, he was sent back, got better, hit age and reenlisted and came back as his new ship, LST343 was commissioned. They both where there in the Pacific during just about every major naval battle, including Latea. I was fortunate enough to hear about these battles and learned early in life what our freedom costs.

[derekjacobs]

A fitting tribute to my father, who survived, and the others. Thank-you!!

[nicksignore]

My grandfather was on the USS Helena when it was torpedoed at Pearl. He was transferred to the USS California once it was raised and repaired. He served on the Old Prune Barge for the remainder of the war.

[daviddavid]

I read up on raising those ships. The soup that came out of
(Shudder) The salvage crews deserve WAY more recognition.

[jasonmariani]

Thank you for honoring her this way. She was beautiful and TOUGH! Great vid

[Cazenave]

My Grandfather was already in the Navy on December 7th. In a few days, he went from New Jersey to Hawaii and was part of the rescue group on the West Virginia and the mine sweeper Oglala. He said that it was the worst thing he ever saw during the war. When he arrived he weighed about 190 pound and in a month he was a little over 170. The situation between the bodies, the smell due to the burning fuel and the work made it almost impossible to eat and keep anything down.

[Titus-as-the-Roman]

It was very symbolic that the West Virginia was in Tokyo Harbor for the signing, seeing that it was the first defeat for the Americans at the very start.

[kingdiesel]

Thank you to all of the men and women that sacrifice so much for us every day so we can be free and safe! Thank you from a grateful Nation! May the good Lord bless each and every one, and may he bless and protect the United States and her people now and forever!

[twrecks]

West Virginia's profile is one of the most beautiful I've seen on a warship. Gorgeous lines... a wonder of naval architecture. She is one of my favorite ships from that era.. amazing ship with an amazing history

[isopowered]

Timely video. Better than just checking out the news.

[donaldnoonan]

My father was on an LSI ROCKET SHIP as a radio operator. I have his diary that lists the GMT time and date of all the actions he was in. At Okinawa his ship was crashed into by a Japanese Betty bomber. Bomber ordnance did not explode but Aviation fuel flooded the decks. Several ship, ages were killed. They had to use axes and torches to cut the plane out of the superstructure it took several days to do this. Dad stayed in military and retired as a SGT/MAJ IN THE ARMY. HIS SHIPMATES WERE 18 to 22 years old.

[petestorz]

Re the Battle of Surigao Strait, the force met by 7th Fleet battleships, cruisers, and destroyers was what the USN called the "Southern Force". It consisted of two battleships, Fuso and Yamashiro plus a heavy cruiser and a few destroyers. USN PT boats were positioned at the entrance to the strait, to harass and report the Japanese force. USN destroyer squadrons were positioned along the sides of the strait so as to carry out torpedo attacks on the Japanese force. The Fuso and some Japanese destroyers were sunk by the attacks. Yamashiro was damaged by one or more torpedoes, but does seem to have been hit by USN battleships and cruisers. Yamashiro, apparently, was finished off by another torpedo attack. The "Southern Force" was basically wiped out by the far larger USN force. But the "Southern Force" also succeeded in drawing 7th Fleet's surface force away from the fleet's escort carrier "Taffys".