USS Oklahoma-- Part 5: Pearl Harbor

On Sunday, December 7, 1941, the USS Oklahoma, along with about half of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, consisting of some 150 vessels, was at anchor in Pearl Harbor on the Hawaiian island of Oahu when the Japanese came a-calling with a surprise attack.

Moored on Battleship Row alongside the USS Maryland, the Oklahoma was one of the first vessels hit.

Sadly, the Oklahoma was actually supposed to be out at sea patrolling, but the crew had been told there was to be an admiral's inspection on Monday.  So there they were in harbor.

When the attack began at around 8 a.m., Sunday morning, most of the crew were sleeping in their racks below decks and never made it up to the main deck.

At approximately 7:55 a.m., the first wave of Japanese attack planes struck the Oklahoma with three torpedoes.

The Oklahoma began capsizing as enemy planes strafed the decks.  The stricken ship was then struck by six more torpedoes and the port side was torn open.  Within fifteen minutes of the first torpedo, the Oklahoma rolled completely over, trapping hundreds below decks.

--GreGen