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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:Length Overall: 521' 6" Maximum Beam: 88' 4" Maximum Draft: 28' |
ARMAMENT:
4x5" 38 cal (single open mountings) 8x5"/25cal Mk. 11 (single mountings) Various 1.1", 20mm, .50 cal Machine Guns |