Naval History and Heritage Command

Related Source: Memorandum to Commander Mine Division TWO, War Diary

DM17/A16-3/(03)

U.S.S. Montgomery

jfs

Pearl Harbor, T.H.

December 12, 1941.

1. Following is a chronological table of offensive measures taken and damage inflicted upon enemy during raid, December 7, 1941. All times are approximate. Ship was nested with Mine Division TWO in berth D-3.

    

   0800	Explosions were heard on Ford Island, enemy planes seen flying overhead. Two .50 caliber and three .30 caliber machine guns were manned immediately. Firing commenced on planes leveling off over Middle Loch.
   0805	3"/23 caliber gun was manned and firing was commenced at long range.
   0820	Second wave of attack began with dive bombing, planes leveling off over Middle Loch. Mine Division TWO set up very effective fire with machine guns. Tracer fire was seen to criss-cross into planes. One plane lost a wing and crashed on west bank of Middle Loch as a result of such fire. At this time the 3"/23 caliber gun was firing at short range. One burst shot away tail of one plane, which crashed into West Bank of Middle Loch.
   0840	Third wave of attack began with dive bombing, planes leveling off over Middle Loch as before. Again machine gun fire and 3"/23 caliber fire appeared to be effective. Three more planes crashed in the vicinity of Middle Loch. Whether fire from Mine Division TWO caused such crashes cannot be claimed, but it added the finishing touches. By this time 4"/50 caliber guns were manned and serviced. Full allowance of depth charges (thirty-two) were in racks ready for dropping.
   0845	Ship was ready for getting underway.
   1017	As ordered by the Division Commander, ship got underway and followed Mine Division TWO out of Pearl Harbor, T.H.
   1115	Established anti-submarine patrol in sector one off entrance to Pearl Harbor, T.H.

2. This vessel sustained no losses nor damages. No single person was distinguished by his conduct, but all hands are to be commended for their coolness during the attack and their speed in making anti-aircraft fire effective.
3. During attack, civilians reported two Japanese swimming around plane capsized in water near Pearl City dock. Ship's motor whale boat investigated and found one, the pilot, still afloat. He was motioned to get into the boat several times, but refused to obey, instead reached inside his jacket. At this action, CALKINS, D.F., Sea. 1c, USN, shot him. He immediately sank.

[signed]
R.A. GUTHRIE.

Copy to:

Combatfor.
Cominbatfor.
Comindiv TWO.

USS (7417) Montgomery

Pearl Harbor, T.H.,

December 13, 1941.

MEMORANDUM TO COMMANDER MINE DIVISION TWO.

Subject: War Diary.

1. The following data is submitted:

    

   (a) Sunday, December 7, 1941 (taken up where CinCPac report left off:
   1514	Dropped 8 depth charges on sound contact 3 miles bearing 250°T from entrance buoys.
   1730	Contacted sampan 'Shinyu Maru' #256-FG75 escorted to entrance buoys and ordered the Captain to proceed to Kewalo Basin.
   2105	Contacted sampan under command of Coast Guardsman proceeding to Kewalo Basin and reported action on above sampan and requested that a check be made on arrival Kewalo Basin.
   (b) Monday, December 8, 1941 (patrolling western sector)
   0200	Dropped 3 depth charges on one run and 1 on opposite direction. Lost contact and could not regain after careful searching operations. Depth charges jammed on second approach and only one could be gotten off. Position approximately 5 miles bearing 100°T from Barber's Point Light.
   (c) Tuesday, December 9, 1941. Continued patrolling Western area. No remarks.
   (d) Wednesday, December 10, 1941. Continued patrolling Western area. No remarks.
   (e) Thursday, December 11, 1941. Continued patrolling Western area. No remarks.
   (f) Friday, December 12, 1941. Continued patrolling Western area. 0749 to 0812 investigated unknown steamer. It was U.S. Coast Guard Ship Kukui.
   1150	Proceeded to rendezvous at point 30 with U.S.S. Regulus.
   1440	At rendezvous, reported to ComindivTWO, information CominronTWO. No contact.
   1850	Ordered to leave rendezvous and resume patrol. No remarks.
   (g) Saturday, December 13, 1941.
   	Enroute patrol station.
   0350	Commenced patrol approximately on station.
   0712	Ordered to port CominronTWO to return to base. Formed anti-submarine screen on port bow of USS Plunger in company with U.S.S. Litchfield and U.S.S. Hopkins and escorted U.S.S. Plunger to entrance buoys.
   0907	Received permission to enter Pearl Harbor and proceed to base.

Respectfully,

[signed]
R.A. GUTHRIE,
Lieut-Comdr., U.S. Navy,
Commanding U.S.S. Montgomery

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.