Chapter III: Archeological Record
(continued)

USS ARIZONA

Site Description and Analysis (continued)

Beginning at the stem of the USS ARIZONA and heading aft, a swimming observer would be struck first with the very sharp lines of the bow. The stem at the hull bottom (forefoot) extends forward of the deck line, creating a bulbous bow form that is covered by silt and not visible to divers. The lines are reminiscent of the iron-clad rams, the precursor of the modern capital ship. The extension is not for ramming, but for additional bow buoyancy and control of the bow wave for efficiency at high speed.

Until reaching the area of heavy damage, which begins to be visible about 40 feet back from the bow around frame 10, the ship does not give the impression of being very large -- the thwartship's dimensions here are less than half those of midship. Damage is slight in this area, the weather or forecastle deck is still in place and various deck fittings, chain, cable and some fairleads are still present. The bull nose is undamaged and both holes are clear of marine growth, much in contrast to the hawse pipes, which are heavily overgrown with marine organisms. The anchors and cable have been removed. The salvage report indicates the anchors were blown clear in the explosion that sunk the ship (Navy salvage record 16 January 1943).

Figure 3.11. Jerry Livingston, Project Illustrator, working at the muzzles of the 14-inch guns still intact on No. 1 turret. (NPS photo by Larry Murphy)

Materials litter the deck. The silt is not very deep and many objects are visible. There are 6-inch chromed pipes laying about that were apparently used to outline the bow during pre-monument memorialization. Steel plates, concrete blocks and a wash basin lie among many unrecognizable metal pieces.

At about 40 to 55 feet aft and 2 feet above the present silt line on the port hull side are rectangular through-hull fittings. Their apparent function, as ascertained from historical photos, is some form of out board discharge.

Little damage is evident until one runs directly into the flared metal edges of the major blast zone, where jagged metal of the hull sides is twisted forward and out. Here the midship area is a confusion of twisted bulkheads and deck elements. The survey team discovered a number of live 50-caliber antiaircraft rounds inside the ship under the folds of twisted metal. Toward the port side there are badly twisted and deformed hatch coamings, which indicate the main deck level.

The extensive bow damage is the obvious result of a massive explosion that blew outward and upward. Hull plates are splayed out over 20 feet from the ship's sides. The explosion appears to have occurred deep within the ship, with the main force directed upward, which is expected because of the dampening effects of the water surrounding the hull. The forecastle deck and 5-inch thick main deck are gone. The armor belt, which is at the level of the torpedo blister, apparently helped contain the blast and direct it upward. The forward bow spaces, which are not armored, are relatively undamaged.

At 70 feet aft, the torpedo blister begins and becomes the dominant feature on the sides; inspection hatches are visible in the blister top. Much of the hull side from gunnel to torpedo blister has been removed by Navy salvage divers, apparently with torches. The Navy salvage record reports much diver cutting between frames 16-24. Evidently the explosion pushed the hull outward above the armor belt. The salvage records indicate metal overhanging the port hull in this area (Navy salvage record 7 April 1943). Scalloped edges from cutting operations are discernible at many points on the wreck. Where there are discontinuities in the hull, it is usually easy to tell if the cause was the blast or intentional salvage actions.

Extensive salvage operations are recorded in the bow area. The remains of the forecastle deck and main deck were cut away and removed, and mud was pumped out of the area. The salvage log records much cutting on the second and third decks and the forward bulkheads. The magazine explosion clearly damaged the lower deck areas aft as far as the No. 2 turret. Navy salvage divers were unable to enter sections of No. 2 because passageways were blocked with wreckage. The explosion apparently collapsed bulkheads supporting the No. 1 turret, which still remains onsite, and the turret rests 15 feet lower than its original position.

On the port side approximately 80 feet and 112 feet aft of the stem, open cracks visible in the torpedo blister continue below the silt line. These cracks in the sides above the silt probably indicate a major structural failure associated with the magazine explosion. In all probability the inner hull and armor belt are also cracked.

Along the sides of turret No. 1 below the range finders, teak decking -- the forward remains of the forecastle deck -- is visible after light fanning of the silt. A few feet farther aft on the port side is a hatch that has been propped open for access below decks, probably by the salvage teams (Figure 3.12). The tropical awning support is in place.

Figure 3.12. Awning cover for a hatch on aft port side of No. 1 turret. (NPS photo by Larry Murphy)

Although the guns have been removed from the No. 2 barbette, the turret is in place. The armor plate top was cut off and the embrasures opened to remove the gun tubes, breeches, elevators and other machinery. A gun tub for a 5-inch gun aft of No. 2 turret on the starboard side shows some damage from the explosion or collapse of superstructure, which was subsequently removed in the salvage.

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