The Survivor Of Pearl Harbor
December 7, 1941. Explosions tore through Pearl Harbor and had battleships burning and sailors scrambling. Yet one ship, the USS Nevada, did the unthinkable. She became the only battleship to get underway that fiery morning.
Birth Of The USS Nevada
In 1914, a giant slid into the water—the USS Nevada. Bigger, stronger, tougher than the ships before her. She was America’s leap into modern naval power, a steel beast built to fight and to last. And last, she did.
Nevada In WWI
During WWI, Nevada served with the Atlantic Fleet as a convoy escort. She guarded merchant ships against German U-boats and ensured supplies and troops reached Europe. Though she never fought in a major battle during this time, her looming presence kept vital shipping lanes secure.
Post-War Service And Diplomacy
After WWI, Nevada didn’t see combat but stayed busy. In 1919, she escorted President Wilson to Europe for the peace talks. During the 1920s, she visited foreign ports to represent America and trained sailors through constant drills and fleet exercises.
Frank Graham Cootes, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada’s Modernization
Between 1927 and 1930, Nevada underwent a major rebuild. She was the first US battleship fueled entirely by oil, giving a longer range and faster refueling than coal-burners. Her older cage masts were also replaced with sturdy tripods. Together, these upgrades made her more efficient than her original 1910s design.
United States. Navy. Naval District, 1st, Wikimedia Commons
Armor And Survivability
Nevada’s armor followed a radical idea — “all-or-nothing.” Vital areas like engines and magazines were wrapped in thick steel, while less important spaces had little protection. This strategy reduced overall weight but gave her a better chance to survive hits to her critical systems.
Official U.S. Navy photograph, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada Before The War
Throughout the 1930s, Nevada operated with the US Battle Fleet. She participated in joint naval exercises, gunnery drills, and long-range patrols across the Pacific. By 1940, she was stationed at Pearl Harbor, assigned to Battleship Division One as part of the Pacific Fleet.
Storm Clouds Over The Pacific
The 1930s were uneasy years. Japan expanded its empire, conquering neighbors and grabbing resources. To push back, the US tried to slow them down with sanctions. Each move tightened the tension. Everyone knew war was coming—no one knew exactly when, or where, the first blow would fall.
Unknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Pre-Pearl Harbor Upgrades
By 1941, USS Nevada carried twenty-one 5-inch/51 caliber guns for surface defense and two 3-inch/50 caliber anti-aircraft mounts. She also had early radar installed, giving her a detection advantage. However, her armor remained outdated compared to newer battleships.
National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Wikimedia Commons
Pearl Harbor’s Layout
Pearl Harbor’s heart was “Battleship Row,” where eight US battleships sat moored side by side. Nevada was tied alone at the end of the line, slightly separated from the others. That unusual position would later give her the chance no other battleship had.
Why Japan Targeted Nevada And Her Sisters
Japan needed to neutralize America’s Pacific Fleet in one strike. Battleships were the prime targets because they symbolized US naval power. By destroying them, Japan hoped to control the Pacific unopposed for months, buying time to secure territory before America could recover.
Unknown IJN photographer, Wikimedia Commons
The Japanese Attack Plan
The Japanese launched two attack waves, over 350 aircraft. Torpedo bombers aimed for battleships along Battleship Row, while dive-bombers targeted decks and airfields. The goal was simple: overwhelm defenses and cripple the Pacific Fleet before it could mount any response.
Imperial Japanese Navy, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada’s Vulnerability
Unlike most ships that were boxed in, Nevada’s position left her exposed to attack from both air and sea. Torpedo bombers had an open shot at her port side. Dive bombers had clear visibility. Her isolated mooring made her an easy (and obvious) target.
Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada’s Crew On The Morning of December 7
Nevada carried about 1,400 officers and sailors when fully manned. On December 7, fewer were aboard because it was a Sunday morning—nearly 1,500 men. They were preparing for the daily flag-raising. When planes appeared overhead, confusion turned to action, and the men scrambled to their posts.
The First Wave Hits Battleship Row
Just before 8:00 a.m., torpedoes slammed into the ships Oklahoma and West Virginia. Arizona exploded in a massive fireball, killing over a thousand men. While those ships were devastated within minutes, Nevada was hit but remained afloat and still in the fight.
Unknown authorUnknown author, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada Under Fire
After the torpedo hit, Nevada became a high-priority target. Dive bombers from the second wave swarmed her. Multiple bombs struck her deck, one exploding near the forward magazines. Fires erupted, power was lost, and casualties mounted. However, the crew stayed at their posts.
Editor at Large, Wikimedia Commons
The Crew Fights Back
Despite the chaos, Nevada’s anti-aircraft gunners responded fast. They downed several attacking planes while damage control teams fought fires and flooding. Their training paid off. With only a partial crew aboard, they held the line—keeping the ship afloat and in the fight.
National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada Moves Under Fire
Amid the second wave, Nevada’s captain made a daring call: get the ship underway. She began moving slowly down the channel, the only battleship to do so. Almost immediately, Japanese bombers singled her out as their next main target.
Nevada Becomes The Prime Target
As Nevada moved alone through the harbor, Japanese bombers zeroed in. They saw a rare opportunity: sink her in the narrow channel and block the harbor. Bombers swarmed her with that exact goal. With the risk of sinking rising, a new decision had to be made.
National Museum of the U.S. Navy, Wikimedia Commons
Beaching At Hospital Point
Badly damaged and taking on water, Nevada was in danger of sinking in the harbor’s entrance, which could block it for weeks. This is why the crew ended up steering her toward shallow water and beaching her at Hospital Point.
Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Wikimedia Commons
Aftermath Of The Attack
Nevada was heavily damaged: one torpedo, six bomb hits, 60 killed. But compared to ships like Arizona and Oklahoma, she survived. Despite her damage, the harbor entrance remained open—a critical factor that helped in recovery operations later.
JustSomePics, Wikimedia Commons
Salvage And Repair
Engineers refloated Nevada by February 1942. She was towed to Puget Sound for extensive repairs and upgrades. Her systems were modernized, including radar and anti-aircraft defenses. By 1943, she returned to active service, fully restored for frontline duty.
Wartime Comeback And Atomic Trials
Once back in action, she supported Allied invasions across Europe and the Pacific. After the war, the Navy even selected her for atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. She survived those blasts, too. Badly damaged but still floating, she only proved again how hard she was to sink.
Unites States Department of Energy, United States Navy, Wikimedia Commons
Legacy And Memory
Nevada outlived two world wars and an atomic bomb test. She was eventually sunk in 1948 during naval gunnery trials. Today, she stands as a powerful reminder of courage, survival, and the fighting spirit of everyone who served aboard her.
Naval History and Heritage Command 80-G-498282, Wikimedia Commons
Nevada Today
The USS Nevada now rests deep in the Pacific. No full ship remains, but parts of her were recovered. Artifacts can be seen at museums in Nevada and Hawaii. In 2020, her wreck was discovered 15,400 feet underwater, perfectly silent—but not forgotten.
USS Nevada Discovery (BB-36) Discovery by War History Online
