What happened to the USS Arizona? (Pearl Harbor)

Jared Owen
16 Sept 202314:41
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe script explores the USS Arizona, a significant battleship sunk during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that propelled the United States into World War II. It delves into the ship's history, construction, and features, highlighting its role as a training vessel and its tragic fate on December 7, 1941. The Arizona suffered a devastating explosion and sank, with nearly half of Pearl Harbor's casualties originating from its crew. Today, the ship rests as a memorial in Hawaii, with a structure honoring the fallen and a museum offering insights into the event and the vessel's significance.

Takeaways
  • 🇺🇸 The USS Arizona was a significant battleship sunk during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, marking the U.S. entry into World War II.
  • 🏙️ Pearl Harbor, located in Hawaii near Honolulu, is a major naval base and the site where many U.S. battleships, including the Arizona, were stationed for protection.
  • 💥 The surprise attack by Japan on December 7, 1941, involved over 300 planes and resulted in significant damage to Battleship Row, with the USS Arizona suffering a devastating hit.
  • 🕊️ The USS Arizona was commissioned in 1916 and served as a training ship during World War I without seeing combat, undergoing major modernization in 1929.
  • 🛠️ The ship was equipped with advanced features for its time, including a tripod mast, improved armor, and a sophisticated system of turrets with 12, 14-inch guns.
  • 🛳️ The Arizona was part of the Pennsylvania Class Battleships, built in Brooklyn, New York, and was capable of carrying spotter planes for reconnaissance.
  • 🏗️ The ship had a complex structure with eight decks, including crew living quarters, officer state rooms, and extensive machinery and storage spaces.
  • 🔥 The fatal explosion on the Arizona was caused by a Japanese bomb that likely struck a powder magazine, leading to a massive blast and the ship's rapid sinking.
  • ⚔️ In the aftermath of the attack, while many ships were repaired and returned to service, the USS Arizona was left as a grave for many of its crew and became a memorial.
  • 🕤 The Arizona Memorial, opened in 1962, commemorates the ship and its crew with a design that symbolizes the initial defeat and eventual victory of WWII.
  • 🌳 The memorial features a 'Tree of Life' design element, representing renewal and peace, and a shrine with the names of those killed on the Arizona.
Q & A

  • What was the significance of the USS Arizona in World War II?

    -The USS Arizona was a significant battleship sunk during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which marked the entry of the United States into World War II. The ship's sinking resulted in nearly half of the deaths at Pearl Harbor, making it a poignant symbol of the event.

  • Why is the USS Arizona now a memorial?

    -The USS Arizona is a memorial because it was sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The ship has been left in place as a grave for the sailors who lost their lives, and a memorial was constructed on top of it to honor their sacrifice.

  • What were the Pennsylvania Class Battleships?

    -The Pennsylvania Class Battleships were a class of two battleships built for the United States Navy, of which the USS Arizona was one. They were designed and built during World War I and were among the strongest ships in the U.S. Navy.

  • What major modernization did the USS Arizona undergo in 1929?

    -In 1929, the USS Arizona received a major modernization which included replacing the older style cage masts with stronger tripod masts, improving the ship's armor, weapons, and machinery.

  • How many crew members were on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and what was the casualty rate?

    -There were over 1,500 crew members on the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Most of them were killed, making the casualty rate extremely high.

  • What was the role of the USS Arizona's aircraft?

    -The aircraft on the USS Arizona were not meant for combat. They were called spotter planes and were used to get airborne and radio back positions for the ship's gunners to target.

  • What were the main weapons on the USS Arizona?

    -The main weapons on the USS Arizona were the four triple turrets, totaling 12, 14-inch guns. These guns could swivel in almost any direction and hit targets up to 19 miles away.

  • How many men were required to operate a single turret on the USS Arizona?

    -It took more than 80 men to operate a single turret on the USS Arizona, highlighting the complexity and scale of the ship's weaponry.

  • What was the USS Arizona's role in the years leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor?

    -Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona served as a training ship during World War I and later underwent a major modernization. It traveled to many places around the world and even had the opportunity to carry the President of the United States.

  • What is the significance of the design of the Arizona Memorial?

    -The Arizona Memorial's design, with its drooping middle and high points, symbolizes the initial defeat in the war and the eventual victory. The seven windows on each side and top represent the date of the attack, December 7th, 1941.

  • What can visitors expect to see and do at the Arizona Memorial today?

    -Visitors to the Arizona Memorial can expect to see a museum with exhibits, a World War II submarine to explore, and a ferry boat ride to the memorial itself. They can also view the ship's remains and the names of those who were killed on the marble wall in the shrine.

Outlines
00:00
🛳️ USS Arizona: Pearl Harbor Memorial

The USS Arizona was a renowned battleship that was sunk during the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, marking the United States' entry into World War II. This video explores the ship's history, its construction as a Pennsylvania Class Battleship in Brooklyn, New York, and its role as a training ship during World War I. The Arizona underwent significant modernization in 1929, improving its mast, armor, weapons, and machinery. The ship's structure, from the bow to the stern, and its propulsion system are detailed, including its unique tripod mast and the function of its various rooms and equipment. The video also describes the ship's armament, including its 12, 14-inch guns housed in four triple turrets, and the process of loading and firing these massive weapons. The Arizona's surprise attack and tragic loss of life are recounted, emphasizing the ship's historical significance and the memorial built in its honor, which attracts millions of visitors annually.

05:01
🗺️ Anatomy of the USS Arizona

This section delves into the intricate details of the USS Arizona's design and function. The ship's layout is described, from the conning tower where the commanding officer directed operations to the various rooms and spaces below deck. The video explains the ship's defensive capabilities, including anti-aircraft machine guns and guns designed to target enemy ships and torpedo boats. The main weapons, the four triple turrets with 12, 14-inch guns capable of hitting targets up to 19 miles away, are highlighted, along with the complex process of loading and firing these guns. The ship's interior is explored, detailing the living quarters, officer state rooms, and machinery spaces. The Arizona's propulsion system, featuring six boilers and turbine engines, is compared to that of the Titanic, noting the similarities and differences in technology and design. The storage of oil, a key difference from the coal-powered Titanic, is also discussed.

10:03
💥 The Attack on Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial

The narrative shifts to the fateful day of December 7th, 1941, when the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, targeting Battleship Row and sinking the USS Arizona. The Arizona's tragic end is recounted, with a bomb hitting the ship and causing a massive explosion that claimed the lives of most of the crew. The aftermath of the attack is described, with some ships being repaired and returned to service, while the Arizona was left as a memorial to those who perished. The construction and significance of the Arizona Memorial are detailed, including its design elements that symbolize the initial defeat and eventual victory of World War II. The memorial's structure, with its entry room, assembly room, and shrine, is explored, offering visitors a place to reflect and remember the fallen. The memorial's connection to the USS Arizona, with a view of the ship's remains and the 'black tears' of oil that still leak from the wreck, is a poignant reminder of the ship's history and the lives lost.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡USS Arizona
The USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship that served in the United States Navy. It is most famously known for being sunk during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which led to the United States' entry into World War II. The ship's tragic end and the significant loss of life make it a central theme of the video, symbolizing the event that catapulted the U.S. into global conflict.
💡Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and is best known for the surprise military attack by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. The attack led to the United States' formal entry into World War II. In the video, Pearl Harbor is the location where the USS Arizona was stationed and subsequently sunk, making it a key historical site and a significant part of the video's narrative.
💡World War II
World War II was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, involving many of the world's nations, including the major powers, organized into two opposing military alliances. The video discusses the context of World War II, highlighting that the United States did not enter the war until the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, which is directly tied to the USS Arizona's story.
💡Battleship Row
Battleship Row was the nickname given to the mooring area of Pearl Harbor where the U.S. Pacific Fleet's battleships were stationed. The video mentions Battleship Row as the location where many of the U.S. Navy's strongest ships, including the USS Arizona, were positioned and subsequently targeted during the Japanese attack.
💡Memorial
A memorial is a structure or site dedicated to the memory of a deceased person or group of people, often commemorating their life and sacrifice. The video describes the USS Arizona Memorial, which was constructed on top of the sunken ship in Pearl Harbor and serves as a tribute to the lives lost during the attack, embodying the theme of remembrance and respect for those who served.
💡Modernization
Modernization refers to the process of updating or making something modern, often in terms of technology or systems. In the context of the video, the USS Arizona underwent a major modernization starting in 1929, which included upgrades to its armor, weapons, and machinery, illustrating the ship's evolution and the efforts to keep it at the forefront of naval power.
💡Turrets
Turrets are rotating armored structures that house large-caliber guns on warships. The video describes the four triple turrets on the USS Arizona, each with 14-inch guns capable of swiveling and hitting targets up to 19 miles away. These turrets were a key feature of the ship's armament and a central part of its combat capabilities.
💡Powder Magazines
Powder magazines are storage compartments on a warship for the powder bags that are used to fire the ship's guns. The script explains that the USS Arizona had powder magazines located below each turret, which stored the gunpowder needed for the massive 14-inch guns, highlighting the ship's operational mechanics and the process of firing its main weapons.
💡Conning Tower
A conning tower is a small armored tower on a warship from which the commanding officer can see out while being protected. The video mentions the conning tower of the USS Arizona as a heavily armored control room, emphasizing the importance of command and control during naval engagements.
💡Barbette
A barbette is the armored housing of a warship's turret that does not move, allowing the turret to rotate freely. The script describes the barbette as part of the ship's design that houses the rotating turrets, providing an example of the ship's engineering and the structure that supports its main weapons.
💡Black Tears
The term 'black tears' refers to the oil that still leaks from the wreck of the USS Arizona, creating a visual metaphor for the ongoing grief and remembrance of the ship's tragic end. The video uses this term to evoke a sense of the ship's ongoing presence and the lasting impact of the Pearl Harbor attack.
Highlights

The USS Arizona was a famous battleship sunk at Pearl Harbor at the beginning of World War II and now serves as a memorial in Hawaii.

The attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into World War II, which lasted for six years and started in 1941.

Tensions with Japan led the United States Navy to position more ships at Pearl Harbor, a major naval base, for protection.

On December 7th, 1941, Japan launched over 300 planes for a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, sinking or damaging many battleships.

The USS Arizona had over 1500 crew members during the attack, with nearly half of all Pearl Harbor deaths coming from the ship.

The Arizona was commissioned in 1916 and served as a training ship during World War I without seeing combat.

The ship was one of two Pennsylvania Class Battleships built to the same specifications and was built in Brooklyn, New York.

The Arizona underwent a major modernization starting in 1929, improving its armor, weapons, and machinery.

The ship had a unique design with a tripod mast, searchlight platform, and conning tower for directing guns.

The Arizona carried spotter planes for reconnaissance, which would radio back positions for the ship's gunners.

The ship had four triple turrets with a total of 12, 14-inch guns that could hit targets up to 19 miles away.

The Arizona had a complex system for loading its massive guns, requiring over 80 men to operate a single turret.

The ship had eight decks, with living areas on the higher decks and machinery and equipment on the bottom three decks.

The Arizona used oil instead of coal, storing it in tanks and next to the ship's bulkheads for extra space.

A Japanese bomb hit the Arizona's powder magazine during the attack, causing a massive explosion and sinking the ship within minutes.

The USS Arizona Memorial was constructed on top of the ship and opened to the public in 1962, attracting millions of visitors annually.

The memorial's design, with seven windows on each side and top, represents the date of the attack, December 7th, 1941.

Visitors to the memorial can see the ship's Barbette and main mast, with oil still leaking from the ship, referred to as 'black tears'.

Some Arizona survivors have chosen to have their ashes placed inside the ship upon their death to join their crewmates.

Transcripts

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USS ArizonaPearl HarborWorld War IIMemorialHawaiiBattleshipHistoryWar MemorialMilitary HistoryArizona Memorial