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  • Ordnance and Weapons
  • Theater of Operations--Pacific
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Wars & Conflicts
  • World War II 1939-1945
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USS Preble, Report of Pearl Harbor Attack

DM20/A16-3

Serial ( 0297 )

U.S.S. Preble (DM20)

Pearl Harbor, T.H.

December 10, 1941

 

From: Commanding Officer.  
To: The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.  
Via: (1) Commander Mine Division ONE.
(2) Commander Minecraft Battle Force.
(3) Commander Battle Force.
 
   
Subject: Japanese Air Attack, Sunday, December 7, 1941.  
   
Reference: (a) U.S. Navy Regulations, 1920, Art. 712.  
   
Enclosure: (A) Executive Officer's report.  
  1. In compliance with reference (a), enclosure (A) and the report of the subject attack is submitted herewith.
  2. This ship was moored in berth B-15, undergoing scheduled Navy Yard overhaul. All guns and ammunition had been removed from the ship; the engineering plant was dismantled.

    At 0755, Sunday, December 7, 1941, the first flight of Japanese planes were observed to attack our battleships with torpedoes. Called all hands on deck; issued helmets and gas masks; set condition Afirm. At 0800 Cummings, moored to starboard side of this ship, opened fire on enemy planes. At 0820 sent a party of men to Cummings to supplement gun crews and ammunition party. At 0835 first enemy attack was completed. 0905 enemy conducted second air attack with dive bombers, concentrating on combatant ships. During this phase, Cummings' .50 cal. machine gun shot down one enemy plane. One bomb fell in Repair Basin slip on starboard quarter of Cummings; fragments of this bomb evidently pierced port quarter of Rigel in Berth B-13. Observed one bomb fall astern of Honolulu in berth B-21. At 0913 attack completed.

  3. All Preble men were recalled from Cummings; transferred SHED, J.W., 341 62 81, CRM(AA), USN, to Cummings for temporary duty. At 1040 Cummings underway and stood out. LACKEY, E.H., 376 11 16, F2c, USN, was transferred to Case for temporary duty.
  4. Machine guns and 3"/23 cal. A.A. guns were reassembled and mounted, ammunition was obtained from Marine Barracks and N.A.D., Lualuale, Oahu.
  5. This ship suffered no personnel casualties and no material damage during either attack.
  6. The conduct of officers and enlisted personnel was excellent.

[signed]
H.D. JOHNSTON.

 

A16-3

U.S.S. Preble (DM20)

Pearl Harbor, T.H.

December 10, 1941.

From: Executive Officer.  
To: Commanding Officer.  
   
Subject: Japanese Air Attack, Sunday, December 7, 1941.  
   
Reference: (a) Article 948, U.S.N.R., 1920.  
  1. In compliance with reference (a) the following report is submitted.
  2. Preble had engineering plant dismantled, and ammunition removed, undergoing Navy Yard overhaul.
  3. First flight of Japanese planes launched torpedo attack on battleships at Fox berths at 0755. Two torpedoes seen to hit Arizona. Called all hands, issued helmets and gas masks. Set Condition Afirm. At 0800 Cummings, moored to starboard of this ship, opened fire on enemy planes. At 0820 sent working party to Cummings to supplement gun crews and ammunition parties. At 0835 enemy completed first attack. At 0905 enemy launched second attack, with dive bombers, concentrating on BB's, CA's, CL's and DD's. Cummings shot down one enemy plane with .50 cal. machine gun fire. One bomb landed in repair basin slip on starboard quarter of Cummings. Fragments pierced port quarter of Rigel in berth B-13. One bomb fell astern of Honolulu in berth B-21. At 0913 second attack completed.
  4. Recalled all Preble personnel from Cummings; transferred SHED, J.W., 341 62 81, CRM(AA), USN, to Cummings for temporary duty. At 1040 Cummings underway and stood out. Transferred LACKEY, E.H., 376 11 16, F2c, USN, to U.S.S. Case for temporary duty.
  5. Assisted yard in remounting 3"/23 cal. A.A. gun and mounted machine guns. obtained ammunition from Marine Barracks and N.A.D., Lualualei.
  6. No personnel casualties and no material damage was suffered by Preble.
  7. The conduct of officers and crew was excellent.

[signed]
A.L. YOUNG, Jr.

Source: Enclosure (E) to CINCPAC action report Serial 0479 of 15 February 1942, World War II action reports, Modern Military Branch, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740.

 

Published: Wed Feb 21 11:22:48 EST 2018