As We Were Then: World War 2 era
The Battleship
U.S.S. North Carolina, BB-55, was commissioned on October 27, 1937, only
four days after Hitler's army invaded Paris. The ship cost the American
taxpayers $76,885,750. The first time the battleship saw combat was
in the capture and defense of the Guadalcanal, from 16 August 1942 to about
8 February 1943. During this time, under the command of Captain George
H. Fort, it was involved in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, and
later was attacked and damaged in a I-19 Submarine strike, on the 15th
of September, which is when this story takes place.
August 24, 1942:
The Battle of the Eastern Solomons is over, and the Enterprise has returned
to port for repairs. The Saratoga and Wasp remain near Guadalcanal,
along with our ship, the North Carolina and our escort ships. Marine
supply ships are coming through the canal regularly, and are easily supporting
the men ashore. We have not had any enemy radar or sonar contacts
since the latest battle, which is hopefully a good sign.
September 1st, 1942:
The Hornet arrived earlier, adding some extra protection for the supply
vessels. A few hours later the Japanese torpedoed the Saratoga and
put her out of action for the next few months. Soon after, we experienced
more and more periscope sightings and sonar contacts, heightening our anxiety
and putting the crew on edge. 
September 15, 1942:
The Wasp and Hornet are busy escorting six transport ships carrying Marines
to reinforce Guadalcanal, with the transports to the south, our ship, the
North Carolina, and Hornet to the northeast, and the Wasp to the southwest.
With whitecaps on the surface, the time is perfect for submarines to hunt,
for they can see us but we can't see them.
At about 1445, the Wasp
completed an aircraft launch and recovery, at which time our task force
was temporarily turned to the southeast into the wind. After the
operations were over, we resumed our western coarse at 280 degrees.
Our deck officer is calling, "Fire on the Wasp! Aircraft down to
the stern." The Wasp is six nautical miles away, burning fiercely.
No contact was made to the other ships, so I assumed that a very common
aircraft accident had caused a fire.
A few minutes pass, and
there is still no explanation coming from the Wasp. More smoke continues
to pour from the ship, but it appears to be slowing. The crew and
I begin to think that something else might of happened, something a whole
lot more dangerous. Violent explosions begin to erupt from her hangers
and flight decks, showing that the fires reached armed aircraft. 
Unfortunately,
neither we nor the Hornet knew at that time the Wasp had been struck by
three torpedoes on her starboard side, for she had been struck out of view
of the task force. As the fire continued, it raged as it reached
the gas lines, and by that time the Wasp was already doomed.
A message came from the
Lansdowne, in the Wasp's force, through the tactical radio with a burst
of static saying, "..... torpedo headed for formation, course zero eight
zero!" Judging by the Lansdowne's position, we knew the torpedo could
only be heading for the Hornet's force, but the news hadn't reached some
of the ships in the Hornet's force, and many of those had heard didn't
understand the message.
As the Hornet reached its
280 base course, another incomplete warning came through the radio, "..
torpedo just passed astern of me, headed for you!"
As the message came
through, all eyes searched the white capped sea. Soon after, the
Hornet was seen making a sharp right turn. I shouted, "Right full
rudder! Emergency flank speed!" As our ship began to lean into its
turn, an explosion was heard off the port quarter. A spray of water was
seen coming from the destroyer O'Brien, which had just been hit in the
bow with a torpedo.
At
about 1452, as we were passing course 295 and beginning to pick up more
speed, a torpedo smashed into our hull and detonated at our port bow, just
abreast of our forward turret. The blast caused a massive shudder
throughout the ship, and tons of water begin to pour into the superstructure,
washing one of our crewmen in the lower decks to death.
The remaining ships of the
Hornet's task force began to increase speed to turn and clear the area,
while we remain at station and take maneuvers in stride. Our ship
began to tilt before when she turned, but leveled out as she took on water.
The Wasp began to initiate its ASW, or antisubmarine warfare, and unsuccessfully
tried to disable the submarine.
September 17, 1942:
A short while later we were forced to retreat and limp back to base, with
the Wasp lagging behind. The Japanese subs that fired the torpedoes
left the scene after the damage was done. The crew and I are upset
about the loss, but the shore leave is a welcome and well needed side effect
after the months at sea. We will be in dry dock for a few months
now, so my job as captain will be temporarily put aside and my logs will
end for now.
At 1520 the
Wasp's crew was ordered to abandon, after 193 men were killed and 367 wounded.
Later at 2100 she was sunk to keep her out of enemy hands, torpedoed by
the Lansdowne for the coupe de grace. The O'Brien already had been
sunk by the Japanese subs, but the North Carolina survived the damage she
took.
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Ken Winters and Robert Navarro
