ENCLOSURE (C) - NOTES ON DAMAGE CONTROL
1. The situations requiring immediate attention after firing ceased were: (a.) fire in the bridge structure; (b.) fire in turret 5; (c.) fire in wardroom linen locker, located next to the upper handling room for turret 1; (d.) flooding; (e.) miscellaneous small fires about the ship.
2. The following equipment was available for fighting fires: two gasoline handy-billy pumps. The hose for one pump has been damaged and only a partial stream could be obtained. A bucket line was formed and proved effective against the bridge fire, fire in turret 5, and other small fires throughout the ship.
3. Five submersible pumps were available for pumping after the electrical grounds in the emergency diesel board were corrected and a line run forward for distributing power. The two gasoline handy-billy pumps were also used for pumping after the fires had been extinguished.
4. The fire in the bridge structure was brought under control by the use of the two gasoline handy-billy pumps and by forming a bucket brigade on the starboard side. The fires were extinguished at considerable risk to the personnel involved as the cartridges in the #1 and #2 - 1.1 inch and 20mm clipping rooms were still exploding. It required several hours to bring this fire under control. The following compartments in the bridge structure were found to be gutted and destroyed by shell damage and the resultant fire: Director 1, lookout stations, control forward, bridge, pilot house, flotilla plot, chart house, senior staff officer's cabin, Captain's emergency cabin, radio room, code room, communication office, navigator's stateroom, navigator's stores, pyrotechnic locker, officer's W.C., staterooms B-0104L, B-0102L, B-0101L, Captain's stateroom and pantry, flotilla commander's stateroom and pantry, 1.1 inch ammunition clipping rooms B-0104M, B-0105M, and 20mm clipping room. The wardroom, wardroom pantry, and Supply Officer's stateroom, A-106L, were also damaged and gutted by fire.
5. The fire in the linen locker adjacent to turret 1 was extinguished about 0900 by use of the handy-billy pump.
6. The fire in the gun chamber of turret 5 was extinguished by a bucket brigade. Miscellaneous fires throughout the ship were extinguished by bucket brigades.
7. The electricians had been trying to get power to the submersible pump outlets. The diesel generator was operating. Due to grounds on the board it was about an hour before the proper connection could be effected. The first pump was used to pump down compartment C-201-2L. When this was accomplished it was moved to the after engine room and it was found that the water in that compartment could be controlled.
8. The additional pumps were put into operation and used to remove seepage within hatch combing of the No. 2 fireroom and to prevent a free surface of water from accumulating in the adjacent compartment. About 10,000 gallons of water was pumped out of compartment A-409L which had been placed in there to cool magazines directly below.
9. Later the available pumps were placed in No. 2 engine room and the forward mess hall. The pumps controlled the water in these compartments but flooding of the ship continued as evidenced by gradual increase of draft.
10. The water in crew's compartment A-304L was removed by a handy-billy pump after holes were plugged to prevent additional flooding.
11. As pumps were not available, no attempts were made to control flooding in compartment A-305-1L. Compartment was closed off to prevent spread of water.
12. Following items were jettisoned to reduce topside weight and improve stability:
(a.) Slipped port anchor and chain
(b.) Cut away port whaleboat and davits
(c.) Jettisoned 5 inch ammunition in turrets 4 and 5 upper handling rooms.
(d.) Fired four torpedoes on port side (No. 2 tube)
(e.) Jettisoned all depth charges except three 300 lb.
(f.) Jettisoned smoke screen generators
(g.) Jettisoned all miscellaneous gear on port side
(h.) Jettisoned paravane gear, gangways, and loose gear
13. Following items could not be jettisoned:
(a.) Foremast (had fallen over port side)
(b.) Port torpedo tube
(c.) #2 motor launch
14. Damage Control Recommendations
(a.) Provide emergency diesel power both forward and aft
(b.) There should be a secondary pumping system located both and aft, power being supplied by diesel.
(c.) These pumps, mentioned in paragraph (b.) above, should be arranged so that they could supply water to the fire main for fire fighting.
(d.) There should be a number of gasoline handy-billy pumps provided
(e.) A supply of gasoline for handy-billy pumps should be stowed forward and aft.
(f.) There should be more rugged construction used in the design of RBA equipment; many were damaged during the engagement and became unserviceable.
(g.) Casualty power systems should be installed to get vital equipment in operation.
(h.) Magazines should be capable of being flooded from the sea
(i.) There should be more means of access to elevated stations such as bridge and other elevated structures.
15. All linoleum had been removed from the ship and a considerable amount of paint had been removed from the lower deck spaces in accordance with CinCPac instructions. It is believed that these measures prevented fires of a more serious nature than those which occurred.
Back to "Action Report"