• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Recalls Contributions to Fleet During WWII

Navy Newsstand

12/14/2002 8:17:00 PM

By Deborah Franz-Anderson, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Public Affairs

PUGET SOUND, Wash. (NNS) -- It was a quiet Sunday morning in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. But at 7:55 a.m., the skies seemed to explode as Japanese planes dropped bombs and torpedoes on the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Waves of planes made attack after attack on military installations in Oahu. It was quick and it was unexpected.

Monday, Dec. 8, the U.S. Congress declared war on Japan. For Puget Sound Navy Yard workers, that Monday brought the first of many changes in their accustomed working and commuting routines. According to "Nipsic to Nimitz, a Centennial History of Puget Sound Naval Shipyard," "To prevent any unauthorized surface or submerged boat traffic in local waters, an open mesh weave of steel cable was stretched across Rich Passage from Bainbridge Island to Orchard Point.

"Two barges provided a double gateway to all passage of authorized vessels. The ferry would approach, give the signal, be recognized and the first gate opened by slacking off the line supporting it between the two barges. The ferry entered the space between the barges, and the gate was closed behind it. Then the second gate opened, and the ferry proceeded on to Bremerton."

Lt. William F. Petrovic was assistant hull superintendent for the overhaul then in progress on USS Colorado (BB 45). Years later, when he returned as a rear admiral in command of the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Petrovic told Bremerton Sun reporter Jerry Grosso:

"We didn't know the extent of damage done at Pearl Harbor, but as the only battleship repair yard on the West Coast, we knew we would have work to do as soon as the damaged ships could get underway. This was the first time that aircraft had been used in anger against battleships. It sure stimulated the installation of additional antiaircraft guns on Colorado and other ships.

"The first ship to arrive here from Pearl Harbor was USS Tennessee (BB 43). Her after section, burned and blasted by bomb hits, was scarred by fiery debris from USS Arizona (BB 39). The next day, USS Maryland (BB 46) arrived.

"We were importing people from all over the country to help meet our workload. I had left by then, but I understand the employment hit 32,643."

New construction taking place on the Navy Yard was put on hold. The battleships were needed at sea. Workers toiled day and night to send the ships to sea. Tennessee received 14-inch guns, and 20- and 40-mm batteries were installed. Below decks, 130 watertight compartments were constructed.

Maryland's after section was rebuilt, additional steel for splinter protection, blisters, and 745 tons of armor plate were added. She also received 18 quad 40-mm gun mounts for antiaircraft protection. The two ships left to rejoin the fleet 53 days after their arrival.

The third battleship to arrive was USS Nevada (BB 36) May 1, 1942. She had been the only battleship to get underway during the attack, even though she was down by the bow from a torpedo hit. Enemy planes pounded Nevada, forcing her to run aground.

The Puget Sound Navy Yard spent more than 700,000 man-hours during the next seven months preparing Nevada to fight again. The time was well invested, for Nevada waged war from Massacre Bay in Alaska to the shores of France and back to the Pacific.

Limping in at the end were USS California (BB 44) and USS West Virginia (BB 48). Even though both ships made the trip under their own power, their condition was startling. Sunk in Pearl Harbor's silt and sticky mud, and completely flooded, both battleships were the most heavily damaged battleships that came to Puget Sound Navy Yard. Both were stripped to their second decks and rebuilt. These battleships created a heavy workload. An average of 2,971 people per day worked 30 months to return them to action.

Now, 61 years later the battleships have been decommissioned, but Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is still the choice destination for the Pacific Fleet. Today, more than 8,000 highly skilled workers are entrusted by the fleet to execute highly technical work packages such as a first time ever conversion of a trident submarine to a multi-purpose platform. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard employees maintain this reputation by always doing their best to serve the needs of our nation's Navy and our Sailors.