Regan Brown
The USS Arizona was a standard-type battleship built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. On December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers attacked the battleship, igniting a large amount of the 1.2 million gallons of heavy fuel oil stored in its tanks. The ship sank in Pearl Harbor, killing more than 1,100 American soldiers. Today, the wreck of the USS Arizona still leaks oil, staining the water and creating an environmental hazard. The remaining 500,000 gallons of fuel oil trapped in the ship's hull pose a challenge, as removal could disturb the tomb of the soldiers who perished.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel oil remaining in the USS Arizona | 1,100,000-1,500,000 gallons |
| Fuel oil leaked since the attack | 14,000-65,000 gallons |
| Date of the attack | December 7, 1941 |
| Number of casualties | 1,177 |
| Number of boilers | 12 |
| Number of turbines | 4 |
| Horsepower achieved during sea trials | 33,376 shp |
| Speed achieved during sea trials | 21 knots |
| Speed achieved during a full-power trial in September 1924 | 21.5 knots |
| Length | 608 feet |
| Beam | 97 feet |
| Draft | 29 feet 3 inches |
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What You'll Learn
- The USS Arizona was fuelled to its maximum level on 6 December 1941, with 1.5 million gallons of oil
- The ship was attacked the next day, and much of the fuel fed the explosion and subsequent fires
- The USS Arizona continues to leak oil to this day, with around 500,000 gallons remaining
- The oil is trapped in the hull and fuel tanks, making removal difficult and expensive
- The National Park Service estimates the ship could continue to leak for 500 years
The USS Arizona was fuelled to its maximum level on 6 December 1941, with 1.5 million gallons of oil
The USS Arizona was fuelled with 1.5 million gallons of oil on 6 December 1941, reaching its maximum level. The ship was docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and was scheduled to make a Christmas trip to the West Coast the following weekend. However, these plans were shattered when, on 7 December 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The Arizona was hit by several bombs, one of which detonated an ammunition compartment, resulting in a massive explosion. The battleship was broken in two by the blast, and the resulting fire burned for two to three days.
The USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship, significantly larger than its predecessors. It had an overall length of 608 feet and a beam of 97 feet. The ship was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s and was commissioned in 1916. During its early years, the Arizona remained stateside and escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference after World War I. It was later deployed abroad, representing American interests during the Greco-Turkish War in 1919.
The Arizona played a significant role in the training and exercises of the US Navy, including annual Fleet Problems. However, budget cuts in the late 1930s led to the ship being anchored or in port for extended periods as a fuel-saving measure. Despite these setbacks, the Arizona supported relief efforts after a 1933 earthquake near Long Beach, California, and was even featured in the 1934 film "Here Comes the Navy." Unfortunately, the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 irreparably damaged the Arizona, and it was not repaired for service in World War II.
The wreck of the USS Arizona still lies at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, and it has been leaking oil since the attack. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 65,000 gallons of oil have leaked into Pearl Harbor Bay over the past eight decades. The National Park Service estimates that the leakage could continue for up to 500 years. The oil, known as Bunker-C fuel, is particularly toxic, and environmentalists are concerned about its impact on marine life. The Navy and the National Park Service have decided not to attempt to remove the remaining oil from the ship, as it could cause an environmental catastrophe if the tanks are disturbed.
The USS Arizona Memorial has been established at Pearl Harbor to commemorate the crew members who lost their lives during the attack. It is built across the ship's sunken remains, and visitors can observe the ongoing oil leak, which creates a sheen on the water's surface. The National Park Service and the US Navy are considering non-intrusive methods to seal the fuel permanently and prevent further environmental damage.
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The ship was attacked the next day, and much of the fuel fed the explosion and subsequent fires
On December 6, 1941, the USS Arizona was fuelled to its maximum level with 1.2 million gallons of heavy fuel oil, weighing 4,000 tons. The ship was attacked the next day, and much of the fuel fed the explosion and subsequent fires.
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 am Hawaii Standard Time on December 7, 1941, when more than 400 planes from the Japanese air force began a surprise attack on the base. A 1,700-pound bomb plunged through the forward deck of the USS Arizona, piercing an ammunition compartment and setting off 450,000 kilograms (1 million short tons) of explosives. The bomb also ignited a large amount of the heavy fuel oil stored in the ship's more than 200 tanks spread across four deck levels.
The resulting fire burned for two and a half to three days, obliterating a section of the ship's bow and settling the battleship at the bottom of Pearl Harbor, along with the bodies of more than 1,100 sailors and Marines.
Even after the fire was extinguished, the USS Arizona continued to leak fuel oil. Today, the ship still holds approximately 500,000 gallons of residual oil, which leaks into Pearl Harbor at varying rates depending on weather, ship traffic, and other factors. The National Park Service estimates that the leaks could continue for up to 500 years, potentially causing an environmental catastrophe.
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The USS Arizona continues to leak oil to this day, with around 500,000 gallons remaining
The USS Arizona was fuelled to its maximum level on 6 December 1941, with 1.5 million gallons of oil. The next day, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour, and the Arizona was hit by several bombs, sinking the battleship. The attack killed 1,177 of its officers and crewmen, with the bodies of more than 1,100 sailors and Marines settling at the bottom of Pearl Harbour along with the ship.
The ship was broken in two by the explosion, yet many of its fuel tanks survived. It is estimated that around 500,000 gallons of thick, heavy fuel oil remain trapped in the deteriorating hull. This fuel oil continues to leak from the USS Arizona, staining the water at Pearl Harbor. The oil is lighter than water, so the oil slick is very visible from the memorial.
The National Park Service estimates that the USS Arizona could continue to leak for 500 years. The Navy and the National Park Service have decided not to empty the leftover oil from the battleship's fuel tanks, as this could potentially cause an environmental catastrophe if the tanks are disturbed. The National Park Service at Pearl Harbor has licensed scuba divers on their staff who monitor the ship's sunken structure and measure the metal fuel tank deterioration rate.
The ongoing release of oil has the memorial's caretakers, the National Park Service and the U.S. Navy, focused on the rate of oil release and the cumulative impacts of small amounts of Bunker-C fuel oil on the tropical waters of Pearl Harbor.
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The oil is trapped in the hull and fuel tanks, making removal difficult and expensive
The USS Arizona was fuelled to its maximum level on December 6, 1941, with 1.5 million gallons of oil. The ship was irreparably damaged by a Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and sank to the bottom of the harbour. The attack ignited a large amount of the oil, which burned for three days.
The USS Arizona has been leaking oil ever since it was sunk. It is estimated that between 14,000 and 65,000 gallons of oil have leaked into Pearl Harbor since the attack, with around seven to nine quarts of oil leaking from the ship each day. The oil is particularly toxic, and environmentalists are concerned about its impact on marine life in the harbour.
The oil is trapped in the hull and fuel tanks, which are now lodged deep in the muddy bottom of the harbour. This makes fuel removal difficult and expensive. The National Park Service (NPS) and the US Navy have decided not to attempt to remove the oil, as doing so could cause an environmental catastrophe if the tanks are disturbed. There are concerns that removing the oil could also compromise large sections of the vessel and intrude on what is considered an underwater cemetery, as the ship contains the remains of more than 1,100 sailors and Marines.
Instead, the NPS and Navy are considering non-intrusive methods to "seal" the fuel permanently inside. The NPS has licensed scuba divers on their staff who monitor the ship's structure and the deterioration rate of the fuel tanks. Extensive plans are in place in the event of a large leak or structural collapse, although it is believed that any collapse would occur gradually, rather than as a single event.
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The National Park Service estimates the ship could continue to leak for 500 years
The USS Arizona was fuelled to its maximum level on December 6, 1941, with 1.5 million gallons of oil. The next day, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and the Arizona was hit by several bombs, sinking the battleship and killing 1,177 of its officers and crewmen. The ship was broken in two by the explosion, but many of its fuel tanks survived. It is believed that between 14,000 and 64,000 gallons of oil have leaked from the USS Arizona since the attack, and the National Park Service estimates that it could continue to leak for 500 years.
The National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Navy are the caretakers of the USS Arizona Memorial, which rests atop the sunken remains of the warship. The ongoing release of fuel oil has them focused on the rate of oil release and its cumulative impacts on the tropical waters of Pearl Harbor. The NPS has licensed scuba divers on its staff who monitor the battleship's sunken structure and measure the metal fuel tank deterioration rate.
The NPS and the Navy have decided not to take the chance of emptying the leftover oil in the battleship's fuel tanks, as this could potentially cause an environmental catastrophe if the tanks are disturbed. The oil is trapped in the hull or in fuel tanks that are now lodged deep in the muddy bottom of the harbor, making fuel removal difficult and expensive. Furthermore, the oil was stored throughout the ship to withstand battle damage, so it cannot be completely removed without compromising large sections of the vessel and intruding on what is considered an underwater cemetery.
Computer models of the mid-section of the USS Arizona show the predicted thickness loss to the structure due to corrosion over time. Based on these calculations, it is believed that it will be between 100 and 150 years before a total collapse of the Arizona's steel hull occurs. This information will be valuable as the stewards of the Arizona decide how best to manage the fuel oil left onboard.
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Frequently asked questions
The USS Arizona took on 1.2 million gallons of heavy fuel oil, also known as Bunker-C fuel, on December 6, 1941, the day before the attack.
It is estimated that around 500,000 gallons of fuel oil remain trapped in the ship. This fuel has been leaking out of the ship and into Pearl Harbor at a rate of about seven to nine quarts per day.
The oil leaks from the USS Arizona have been described as potentially catastrophic for the environment. The oil is particularly toxic and has been shown to endanger marine life in Pearl Harbor.
