USS UTAH (AG-16)



Moored astern of Raleigh, Utah was attacked by Soryu Kates--despite orders that specifically instructed that the Utah be ignored. One torpedo impacted her portside at 0755, just as her crew was raising the prep flag. Within a minute, a second torpedo hit the same area. Rapidly flooding with water, Utah listed sharply to port. With Abandon Ship ordered, the crew scambled for safety over Utah's starboard side. When her list increased to 40 degrees, timbers that had been used to cushion her deck from the impact of practice bombs broke loose and slid into the water off the port side, crushing men in their wake. Capsizing at 0812, rescue operations began after loud banging was heard coming from within Utah's hull; Stan Semanski led the rescue party to free Jack Vaessen after her hull was opened with a cutting torch. Never fully salvaged (but partially uprighted), Utah remains where she sank to this day.


SHIPS DATA

NAME: Utah

HULL NUMBER: AG-16

DIMENSIONS:

Displacement: 21,825 tons
Length Overall: 521' 6"
Maximum Beam: 88' 4"
Maximum Draft: 28'

ARMAMENT:

2x5" 38 cal (single turreted mountings)
4x5" 38 cal (single open mountings)
8x5"/25cal Mk. 11 (single mountings)
Various 1.1", 20mm, .50 cal Machine Guns


PHOTO GALLERY

PERSONAL ACCOUNT FROM SURVIVOR
AS BB-31, 1911
AERIAL VIEW, STARBOARD
STARBOARD VIEW, AFT
STARBOARD VIEW, AFT, UNDERWAY
CLOSE UP, PORT SUPERSTRUCTURE
STARBOARD VIEW, UNDERWAY
VIEW OF SUPERSTRUCTURE AND TURRET, AS BB-31
DURING BLISTER INSTALLATION AT BREMERTON
STARBOARD VIEW, AT ANCHOR
AERIAL VIEW, FROM PORT-FORWARD
MEMORIAL PLAQUE
STERN VIEW OF CAPSIZING
VIEW FROM FORD ISLAND OF RESCUE WORKERS ON CAPSIZED HULL
VIEW FROM HARBOR OF CAPSIZED HULL
BOW-ON VIEW OF CAPSIZED HULL
BEING RIGHTED DURING SALVAGE ATTEMPTS
VIEW OF REMAINS
SKETCH OF REMAINS
UNDERWATER VIEW OF STAIRS

PERSONAL PHOTOS, 10-24-00

VIEW OF MEMORIAL
RAINBOW OVER VESSEL
VIEW OF AMIDSHIPS



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