USS Pennsylvania's Guns Still Around-- Part 3

THe Pennsylvania was in dry dock at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and received a bomb hit on the boat deck that wiped out an entire anti-aircraft gun crew.  It was among the first American ships to return anti-aircraft fire on the attacking Japanese planes.

In August 1945, right at the end of the fighting, the ship was hit by a Japanese torpedo from a bomber, killing nineteen and almost ending up sinking.By 1944, three of the 1935 14-inch gun barrels were worn out by constant use and replaced with newer ones from other ships.  The old ones were originally housed in storage at a Virginia depot. where two remained until 1999 when they were slated to be scrapped but the officer in charge contacted the museum and now they will be preserved.

--GreGen