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:
For photographs of post-attack temporary repairs to USS Shaw,
see:
For other pictures of, or related to, attacks on ships in
and near the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, see:
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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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For views of Shaw taken shortly after 7 December
1941, see:
For photographs of post-attack temporary repairs to USS Shaw,
see:
For other pictures of, or related to, attacks on ships in
and near the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, see:
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 5 November 2000
Coding updated 22 April 2009