The repair ship Vestal (AR-4), moored outboard of the battleship Arizona on the morning of 7 December 1941, was hit by two Japanese bombs and received additional damage from the force and heat of Arizona's explosion. Casting loose from the sunk and burning battleship at about 8:30 AM, Vestal moved up the harbor a short distance and anchored. However, one of the bomb hits caused her to flood aft, and the water could not be controlled in the ship's old hull. Accordingly, she hoisted her anchor and was beached on Aiea Shoal, in Pearl Harbor's northeastern corner. Vestal was repaired by mid-February 1942.

This page features views of USS Vestal on and shortly after 7 December 1941.

For pictures and information on a USS Vestal officer who was cited for heroism during the Pearl Harbor attack,

• Commander Cassin Young, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Vestal

For further images of the "Battleship Row" area during and shortly after the Japanese raid,

• "Battleship Row" during the Pearl Harbor Attack

Click photograph for larger image.

Photo #: 80-G-19933 Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 USS Vestal (AR-4) beached on Aiea shoal, Pearl Harbor, after the Japanese raid. She is listing from damage caused by two bombs that hit her during the attack. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives collection. Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 600 Reproductions may also be available at National Archives.
Photo #: NH 64480 Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941 USS Vestal (AR-4) after she was beached in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. She had been damaged by Japanese bomb hits during the raid. An Officers' Motor Boat is alongside her starboard quarter. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, NHHC Collection. Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 610

For higher resolution images Obtaining Photographic Reproductions