USS Tern (AM-31) - Japanese Attack On Pearl Harbor

Japanese Attack On Pearl Harbor

When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, Tern was alongside Argonne in the first repair slip at the north end of 1010 Dock, upkeep undergoing. All of her machinery was dead, and she was receiving steam and electricity from the dock. She was notified of the attack at 0753 and immediately made preparations to get underway. Twelve minutes later, her gunners opened fire with Lewis machine guns on an incoming enemy plane which was seen to crash near the Officers' Club. At 0943, the minesweeper moved out into the harbor and picked up 47 survivors from various ships. Tern then proceeded to Arizona to assist in fighting fires but was soon ordered to aid West Virginia. The fires on West Virginia were extinguished at 1430 on 8 December, and the minesweeper moved back alongside Arizona until the fires on that battleship were brought under control, shortly after noon on the 9th. Tern was not damaged by the Japanese attack.

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