USS Shaw During the Pearl Harbor Attack
Among the drydocked ships in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard when the Japanese attacked was the destroyer USS Shaw (DD-373). Raised out of the water in the floating drydock YFD-2, along with the old harbor tug Sotoyomo (YT-9), Shaw attracted the unwelcome attention of several dive bombers of the second strike wave. These hit her with three bombs at about the same time as they were attacking the then-nearby battleship Nevada. These bombs all hit the forward portion of the ship. The resulting fires proved uncontrollable, and Shaw was ordered abandoned. As efforts were underway to flood the drydock about a half-hour after she was hit, her forward ammunition magazines detonated in a spectacular blast, completely removing her bow. The blast also punctured YFD-2 and Sotoyomo. Both soon sank, the drydock partially and the tug completely, leaving Shaw's after portion afloat, with an intense fire raging at its front.
Though USS Shaw was originally thought to be a total loss after the 7 December 1941 Pearl Harbor raid had destroyed her bow area, it was soon realized that damage in her machinery spaces and further aft was minor. In mid-December, she was hauled out of the water on Pearl Harbor's marine railway and measured for a temporary bow, which was attached in late January 1942, when Shaw was docked in the newly repaired floating drydock YFD-2. The ship also received other urgent repairs and temporary fittings at that time. Though most armament was removed, she retained one five-inch gun for self-defense.
Following sea trials, which showed that this rather short destroyer could still be driven at 25 knots, Shaw left Pearl Harbor on 9 February 1942 to steam to the west coast. There, the Mare Island Navy Yard constructed and installed a new bow section, bringing her back up to the same appearance and combat effectiveness as the other ships of her class.
