UNITED STATES SHIP: ST. LOUIS SUNDAY 7 DECEMBER, 1941
ZONE DESCRIPTION: PLUS 1Ø 1/2. REMARKS
Ø TO 4.
MOORED PORT SIDE TO HONOLULU IN BERTH B-17, NAVY YARD, PEARL HARBOR, T.H., WITH MANILA LINES AND 1 WIRE TO
HONOLULU AND 1 WIRE LINE TO DOCK; RECEIVING THE FOLLOWING SERVICES FROM THE DOCK: FRESH AND FLUSHING WATER AND TELEPHONE SERVICE. BOILER NO. 8 STEAMING FOR AUXILIARY PURPOSES. SHIPS PRESENT: SOP (CINCPAC) IN SUBMARINE BASE, PENNSYLVANIA, SHAW, CASSIN, SCHLEY, MAC DONOOUGH, CUMMINGS, HELENA, ARGONNE, OGALA, UTAH, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW ORLEANS, PREBLE, SACRAMENTO, TRACY, KEOSANQUA, SUNNADIN, PRUITT, SICARD, ONTARIO, RIGEL, TENNESSEE, WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA, VESTAL, NEVADA, OKLAHOMA, PELIAS, PYRO, HONOLULU, CURTISS, SUMNER, MUGFORD, HULBERT, AYLWIN, RAMSAY, BREESE, TREVOR, PERRY, TURKEY, BOBOLINK, COCKATOO, CROSSBILL, CONDOR, REEDBIRD, CACHALOT, DOLPHIN, GUDGEON, TAUTOG, NARWHAL, TANGIER, RALEIGH, DOBBIN, DETROIT, SOLACE, CONYNGHAM, MEDUSA, WHITNET, DOWNES, HULL, WORDEN, DEWEY, PHOENIX, REID, CASE, TUCKER, SWAN, DALE, PHELPS, DRAYTON, ALLEN, BARRY, HELM, HENLEY, PATTERSON, RALPH TALBOT, WARD, GAMBLE, MONTGOMERY, WASMUTH AND VARIOUS YARD AND DISTRICT CRAFT. Ø145 THE FOLLOWING MEN RETURNED ON BOARD, HAVING COMPLETED TEMPORARY DUTY AS SHORE PATROL IN THE CITY OF HONOLULU, T.H.: BUCCINI, A., BM1C, SPISAK, A. J. JR. EM1C, DAUPHINAIS, E.W., FC(R)2C, AND THERIEN, R.B., KK2C.
H. GRYMES JR., ENSIGN, USNR.
4 TO 8.
MOORED AS BEFORE. Ø7ØØ ENSIGN H.B. MELOCHE, D-V(G), USNR. AND THE FOLLOWING MEN RETURNED ABOARD FROM HARBOR PATROL DUTY: BOUCHER, R.E., COX.; MILLIGAN, D.W., SEA2C; BARNETT, F.C., SEA1C; PETERSON, P.I., F2C; BARE, G.V., PFC; VISBECK, C.R., SM3C. Ø756 J.OO.O.W. GUNNER W.G. WALLACE, USN. OBSERVED A LARGE NUMBER OF DARK COLORED PLANES HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF FORD ISLAND FROM AIEA. AS THEY PASSED OVER FORD ISLAND THEY DROPPED MISSILES WHICH CAUSED FLAME AND SMOKE BUT NO SOUND. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS A DARK GREE PLANE WITH A RED CIRCLE ON TAIL, RECOGNIZED AS JAPANESE PLAN, PASSED ASTERN FROM PORT TO STARBOARD. Ø757 WENT TO GENERAL QUARTERS TO REPEL AIR ATTACK BY JAPANESE PLANES.
L. B. GRANTHAM JR., LIEUT., USN.
8 TO 12.
MOORED AS BEFORE UNDER ATTACK OF JAPANESE AIRCRAFT. Ø8ØØ ARIZONA TORPEDOED, SMOKE RISING FROM WEST VIRGINIA. Ø8Ø3 SET CONDITION "A". Ø8Ø6 COMMENCED ALL PREPARATIONS FOR GETTING UNDERWAY, LIGHTED FIRES UNDER BOILERS NOS. 1,2,5,6,7. Ø81Ø COMMENCED FIRING WITH 1.1 AND .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS ON ENEMY AIRCRAFT. Ø82Ø SINGLE JAPANESE TORPEDO PLANE APPROACHED TWO POINTS ON PORT BOW FLYING AT LOW ALTITUDE, HEADED FOR SLIP, ST. LOUIS OPENED FIRE WITH 1.1 A.A. GUNS AND HIT PLANE CAUSING PLANE IN FLAMES TO TURN LEFT AND GO BEHIND BUILDING ON STARBOARD BOW. Ø823 VESTAL TOWED CLEAR OF BURNING ARIZONA. Ø83Ø COMMENCED FIRING WITH 5 INCH BATTERY WITH TRAINING POWER. Ø842 ENEMY SUBMARINE REPORTED TO BE IN PEARL HARBOR CHANNEL. Ø846 SINGLED ALL LINES. Ø855 CUT IN BOILERS NOS. 1,2,5,6,7,8 ON MAIN STEAM LINE. Ø858 NEVADA GOT UNDERWAY. Ø9Ø9 SINGLE JAPANESE DIVE BOMBER APPROACHED FROM BROAD ON PORT BOW AND DROPPED BOMB BETWEEN DOCK AND BOW OF HONOLULU, THE EXPLOSION OF WHICH CAUSED BOW OF ST. LOUIS TO RISE ON SWELL OF WATER. THIS PLANE THOUGHT TO BE HIT, AFTER PULLING AWAY, BY OUR 1.1 A.A. GUNS. Ø931 GOT UNDERWAY FROM STARBOARD SIDE OF HONOLULU IN OBEDIENCE TO CINPAC DISPATCH DATED DECEMBER 7, 1941, CAPTAIN GEORGE A. ROOD AT CONN; THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMANDER CARL K. FINK, AND THE NAVIGATOR, LIEUT. COMDR. GRAHAM C. GILL ON THE BRIDGE, STANDARD SPEED 15 KNOTS, 155 R.P.M., MANEUVERING ON VARIOUS COURSES CONFORMING TO CHANNEL, AND AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. Ø947 FIVE INCH BATTERY SUPPLIED WITH TRAINING POWER. 1ØØ4 CLEARED CHANNEL BUOYS AND ENTERED INTERNATIONAL WATERS. CHANGED COURSE TO LEFT AND RIGHT AND SETTLED ON 25 KNOTS TO AVOID TWO TORPEDOES APPROACHING STARBOARD BEAM WHICH STRUCK A REEF NEAR BUOY NUMBER ONE AND EXPLODED. 1ØØ4 SIGHTED AN ENEMY SUBMARINE CONNING TOWER ON STARBOARD QUARTER, DISTANCE ABOUT 1ØØØ YARDS AND COMMENTED FIRING WITH FIVE INCH BATTERY. THE FIRST TWO SALVOS WERE BELIEVED TO HAVE HIT CONNING TOWER OF SUBMARINE. 1ØØ7 CEASED FIRING AT SUBMARINE. SET COURSE
TO SOUTH ACCORDING TO MODIFIED ZIGZAG PLAN AT 25 KNOTS, 262 R.P.M. 1Ø1Ø ORDERED BLUE, PHELPS AND LAMSON TO ACT AS ANTI-SUBMARINE SCREEN. 1Ø16 SIGHTED FOUR ENEMY AIRCRAFT HIGH OVERHEAD ON PARALLEL COURSE AND COMMENCED FIRING. 1Ø18 CEASED FIRING. 1115 SIGHTED FIVE ENEMY AIRCRAFT ON PORT BEAM POSITION ANGLE ABOUT 7Ø DEGREES AND COMMENCED FIRING. 1117 CEASED FIRING. 1134 CEASED ZIGZAGGING, CHANGED COURSE TO 27Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC. 1145 SIGHTED THREE ENEMY AIRCRAFT BEARING Ø1Ø DEGREES T. AND COMMENCED FIRING. 1146 COMMENCED ZIGZAGGING ACCORDING TO ZIGZAG PLAN NO. 6. BASE COURSE 275 DEGREES T. AND PGC. 1146 CEASED FIRING. AVERAGE STEAM PRESSURE; AVERAGE R.P.M. 249.2.
G. H. STONE, JR., ENSIGN, USNR.
12 TO 16.
STEAMING AS BEFORE ON BASE COURSE 275 DEGREES T. AND PG6, STANDARD SPEED 15 KNOTS, 155 R.P.M., STEAMING AT 25 KNOTS, 262 R.P.M., ZIGZAGGING IN ACCORDANCE WITH ZIGZAG PLAN NO. 6, SCREENED BY THE DESTROYERS BLUE, PHELPS AND LAMSON. 121Ø CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 357 DEGREES T. AND PGC. 1213 COMMENCED FIRING AT ENEMY AIRCRAFT ON STARBOARD BEAM, POSITION ANGLE ABOUT 6Ø DEGREES. 1215 CEASED FIRING AT FOUR ENEMY AIRCRAFT ON STARBOARD BEAM. 1218 COMMENCED FIRING ON ENEMY AIRCRAFT. 122Ø CEASED FIRING. 1233 COMMENCED FIRING AT FOUR ENEMY AIRCRAFT ON STARBOARD BEAM. 1234 CEASED FIRING. 1235 EXCHANGED CALLS WITH SHIP HULL DOWN BEARING 3ØØ DEGREES T. WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED AS MINNEAPOLIS AND TWO UNKNOWN DESTROYERS. 1238 SIGHTED THREE SHIPS BEARING 345 DEGREES T. DISTANCE 12 MILES. 1252 CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 34Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC AND HEADED TOWARDS DETROIT. 13Ø8 SET CONDITION OF READINESS II. 1321 CHANGED SPEED TO 2Ø KNOTS, 2Ø8 R.P.M. CEASED ZIGZAGGING, MANEUVERING TO TAKE STATION ASTERN OF PHOENIX. 1327 CHANGED SPEED TO 25 KNOTS, 262 R.P.M. 134Ø IN STATION ASTERN OF PHOENIX. 1345 CHANGED SPEED TO 18 KNOTS, 187 R.P.M. 1346 COMMENCED STEERING VARIOUS COURSES AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FOLLOWING THE MOVEMENTS OF DETROIT. 15Ø3 COMMENCED ZIGZAGGING IN ACCORDANCE WITH ZIGZAG PLAN NO. 2 ON BASE COURSE 27Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC AT FULL SPEED, 2Ø KNOTS, 2Ø8 R.P.M. 15A2 COMMENCED STEAMING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS FOLLOWING THE MOVEMENTS OF THE DETROIT. 153Ø MUSTERED CREW ON STATIONS: THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS WERE NOT ABOARD AS THEY WERE ON AUTHORIZED LEAVE: LT. COMDR. J . E. FLORENCE, USN., LT. COMDR. P. JACKSON, DE-C(G), USNR., LIEUT. R.N.S. CLARK, USN ., LIEUT. (JG) R.G. JACK, USN., LIEUT. (JG) V.H. WILDT, USN., LIEUT. (JG) R. SEMMES, USN., ENSIGN R.E. MOORE, A-V(N), USNR, ENSIGN J.H. WRENN,DV(G), USNR., ENSIGN M.J. THORNTON, A-V(H), USNR., ENSIGN E.A. PARKER, USN., ENSIGN H.A. GARRISH, DV(G), USNR., ENSIGN F.V. MCKEON EV(G), USNR., ENSIGN J.J. PHILLIPS, DV(G), USNR., ENSIGN J.D. MACMILLAN, A-V(N), USNR., MACHINIST B.B. BERTON, USN. THE FOLLOWING MEN OF THE CREW WERE NOT ABOARD FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS: AT CAMP ANDREWS: ABRAMS, D.B. FC(M)3C, ALLEN, D. (N), SEA1C, ARMAND, M.J., GM2C, ARTHUR, K. (N), WT1C, BRADBURY, C.K., SEA1C, BRAND, R.M., QM2C, BRANUM, J.B., SEA2C, BROWN, E.N., SEA2C, CANAVAN, W.M., PHM2C, CLARK H. (N), F1C, COX, D.C. JR., GM2C, EIFFERT, R.E., CM3C, HAMILTON, C.A., F1C, MERTZ, D.R., SEA2C, HILL, C.F. JR., GM3C, KEPHART, R.L., GM3C, MCKEE, A.L., SEA2C, MONSON, T.B., SEA2C, REISTROFFER, L.M., SEA2C, SCHILLING, W.C., SEA2C, SRAMEK, J.P., EM2C, STEVENS, K.C., SK2C, THOMPSON, I.B., SEA2C, WATSON, A.R., CM3C, WISNEWSKI, J.F., SEA1C, YANTZ, B.R., Y3C, KEATING, R. JR., PVT, USMC.: ON LEAVE: BRAZET, F.K., CEM(AA), DOWDEN, G.A., MM1C, KING, E.J. JR., MM2C, LYNCH, A.L., CWT(PA), MATTHEWS, W.G., CGM(PA): CAMERA PARTY ON BOARC ARGONNE: MEADOWS, E.N., SEA2C, SEGERSON, D.H., SEA1C: SPECIAL LIBERTY: COCKERHAM, O.E., GM1C, EDWARDS, H.M., CTC(PA), HOYT, G.C., Y3C, MCELHANEY, C. (N), CMM(PA): ON DUTY AS BEACH GUARD: BAILEY, E.B., CMM(PA); LEFT ON DOCK: MILLER, D.M., SEA1C, MURPHY, H.D., F3C: TEMPORARY DUTY ATHLETIC FIELD, COM14: MCDANIEL, T.J., JR., SEA1C: BOAT CREW: MCCUE, T. (N), SEA1C: TEMPORARY DUTY AT AIR STATION, FORD ISLAND, T.H.: BURDEN, W.W., SEA2C, FORD, F.H. JR., SEA1C, FULLER, J.W., AMM2C, HUSSONG, G.K., AMM3C, LEPP, G.R., MAROTTO, J.M., RM3C, MIKLUS, C.V., ACM2C, NORMAN, H.C., RM2C, PARENT, J.F., AMM2C, PEPIN, G.H., ACMM(AA) SIMPSON, D.E., AOM3C, SMITH, A (N), AM1C, SMITH, L.B., AMM1C, WHALEN, R.H., RM3C. 154Ø SIGHTED FRIENDLY TANKER BEARING 168 DEGREES T., DISTANCE 12 MILES. AVERAGE STEAM PRESSURE 565; AVERAGE R.P.M. 257.
G. H. STONE, JR., ENSIGN, USNR.
16 TO 2Ø
STEAMING AS BEFORE ON BASE COURSE 27Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, ZIGZAGGING ACCORDING TO ZIGZAG PLAN NO. 2 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, STANDARD SPEEDS 15 KNOTS, 155 R.P.M. 1635 CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 18Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, 165 DEGREE PSTSC. 164Ø COMMENCED FIRING AT ENEMY AIRCRAFT ON PORT QUARTER. 1642 CEASED FIRING. THE FOLLOWING AMMUNITION WAS EXPENDED DURING THE DAY: FIVE INCH AA, 2Ø7 ROUNDS, .50 CALIBER 12,75Ø ROUNDS. 1642 SIGHTED PLANE ON STARBOARD QUARTER ACTING SUSPICIOUSLY. CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 25Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, 231 DEGREES PSTGC. 1646 SIGHTED AIRCRAFT CARRIER BEARING 22Ø DEGREES T., IDENTIFIED AS ENTERPRISE. 1648 ENTERPRISE LAUNCHING AIRCRAFT. 1655 CHANGED BASE COURSE TO Ø8Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC. 172Ø CEASED ZIGZAGGING AND COMMENCED STEERING ON VARIOUS COARSES TO TAKE STATION 1ØØØ YARDS ASTERN PHOENIX. PHOENIX GUIDE, FLEET AXIS 27Ø DEGREES, FLEET SPEED 12 KNOTS. 1725 COMMENCED STEAMING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN FOLLOWING THE MOTION OF THE PHOENIX. 1731 ON STATION 1ØØØ YARDS ASTERN OF PHOENIX. FORMATION GUIDE PHOENIX, AXIS AND COURSE 27Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, 255 DEGREES PSTGC, SPEED 15 KNOTS, 155 R.P.M. 19Ø2 CHANGED BASE COURSE TP 24Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, 223 DEGREES PSTGC. 1933 CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 21Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, 191 DEGREES PSTGC. 1947 CHANGED BASE COURSE TO 18Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, 173 DEGREES PSTGC. AVERAGE STEAM PRESSURE 565; AVERAGE R.P.M. 223.
E. B. GRANTHAM, JR. LIEUT. USN
2Ø TO 24.
STEAMING AS BEFORE ON BASE COURSE 18Ø DEGREES TR. AND PGC, 173 DEGREES PSTGC AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. STANDARD SPEED 15 KNOTS, 155 R.P.M. 215Ø CHANGED COURSE BY COLUMN MOVEMENT TO 21Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC, 196 DEGREES PSTGC. 2218 LIGHTED FIRES UNDER BOILERS 3 AND 4 AND CUT THEM IN ON MAIN STEAM LINE. 23Ø4 CHANGED COURSE BY COLUMN MOVEMENT TO 12Ø DEGREES T. AND PGC. 23Ø6 CHANGED SPEED TO 20 KNOTS. 2311 CHANGED SPEED TO 15 KNOTS. 2314 CHANGED COURSE BY COLUMN MOVEMENT TO Ø55 DEGREES T. AND PGC. 2324 FORMED ON A LINE BEARING 15Ø DEGREES T. TO THE LEFT OF THE GUIDE. 2342 COMMENCED ZIGZAGGING IN ACCORDANCE WITH PLAN NO. 12. BASE COURSE Ø55 DEGREES T. AVERAGE STEAM PRESSURE 565; AVERAGE R.P.M. 237.4.
C. M. MACDONALD, LIEUT. (JG), USN.
APPROVED: G. A. ROOD, CAPTAIN, USN. EXAMINED: G. C. GILL, LTCDR., USN.
To read what the St. Louis endured following Dec. 7, 1941 go to: