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805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 86118: USS Shaw explodes during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941.

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- World War II in the Pacific --

Pearl Harbor Raid, 7 December 1941 --
USS Shaw during the Pearl Harbor Attack

Among the drydocked ships in the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard when the Japanese attacked was the destroyer USS Shaw (DD-373). Raised out of the water in the floating drydock YFD-2, along with the old harbor tug Sotoyomo (YT-9), Shaw attracted the unwelcome attention of several dive bombers of the second strike wave. These hit her with three bombs at about the same time as they were attacking the then-nearby battleship Nevada. The bombs all hit the forward portion of the ship. The resulting fires proved uncontrollable, and Shaw was ordered abandoned. As efforts were underway to flood the drydock about a half-hour after she was hit, her forward ammunition magazines detonated in a spectacular blast, completely removing her bow. The blast also punctured YFD-2 and Sotoyomo. Both soon sank, the drydock partially and the tug completely, leaving Shaw's after portion afloat, with an intense fire raging at its front.

This page features, or provides links to, views of the destroyer Shaw during and soon after the 7 December 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

For views of Shaw taken shortly after 7 December 1941, see:

  • Pearl Harbor Attack Damage to USS Shaw.

    For photographs of post-attack temporary repairs to USS Shaw, see:

  • USS Shaw -- Temporary Repair of Pearl Harbor Damage, January-February 1942.

    For other pictures of, or related to, attacks on ships in and near the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, see:

  • Attacks in the Navy Yard Area.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 97417

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Explosion of the forward magazines of USS Shaw (DD-373), in the floating drydock YFD-2, after a bombing attack by Japanese planes on 7 December 1941. USS Nevada (BB-36), also hit by the attackers, is at right.
    Photographed from Ford Island, with USS Avocet (AVP-4) partially visible at left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 97KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 86118

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    The forward magazine of USS Shaw (DD-373) explodes during the second Japanese attack wave. To the left of the explosion, Shaw's stern is visible, at the end of floating drydock YFD-2.
    At right is the bow of USS Nevada (BB-36), with a tug alongside fighting fires.
    Photographed from Ford Island, with a dredging line in the foreground.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19948

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    Sailors stand amid wrecked planes at the Ford Island seaplane base, watching as USS Shaw (DD-373) explodes in the center background, 7 December 1941.
    USS Nevada (BB-36) is also visible in the middle background, with her bow headed toward the left.
    Planes present include PBY, OS2U and SOC types. Wrecked wing in the foreground is from a PBY.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32457

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Nevada (BB-36) afire off the Ford Island seaplane base, with her bow pointed up-channel. USS Shaw (DD-373) is burning in the floating dry dock YFD-2 in the left background.
    Photographed from Ford Island, with a dredging line at left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32434

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Shaw (DD-373) burning in floating drydock YFD-2 after she was set afire by Japanese dive bombing attacks, on 7 December 1941.
    USS Nevada (BB-36) is on the right, with her bow afire.
    Photographed from Ford Island, with dredge line just offshore.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 100KB; 595 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32719

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Shaw (DD-373) burning in floating drydock YFD-2 after she was set afire by Japanese dive bombing attacks, 7 December 1941.
    The burning bow of USS Nevada (BB-36) is on the right.
    At left is a motor launch from USS San Francisco (CA-38).

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-32739

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Shaw (DD-373) burning in floating drydock YFD-2 shortly after the explosion that blew off her bow.
    The drydock has partially sunk, allowing Shaw's after section to float free.
    Note men on the beach, at left, playing fire hoses in the direction of the drydock.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 64481

    USS Shaw (DD-373)


    Burning in floating drydock YFD-2 at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, after she was hit by Japanese bombs and her forward magazines exploded.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command.

    Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-19939

    Pearl Harbor Attack, 7 December 1941


    USS Shaw (DD-373) wrecked in floating drydock YFD-2 on 7 December 1941, with fires were nearly out but structure still smoking. Her bow had been blown off by the explosion of her forward magazines, after she was set afire by Japanese dive bombing attacks.
    In the right distance are the damaged and listing USS California (BB-44) and a dredge.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     


    For views of Shaw taken shortly after 7 December 1941, see:

  • Pearl Harbor Attack Damage to USS Shaw.

    For photographs of post-attack temporary repairs to USS Shaw, see:

  • USS Shaw -- Temporary Repair of Pearl Harbor Damage, January-February 1942.

    For other pictures of, or related to, attacks on ships in and near the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, see:

  • Attacks in the Navy Yard Area.


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 5 November 2000
    Coding updated 22 April 2009