Talk:USS Utah (BB-31)

Images
Can anyone add images for the ship just prior to Pearl and of the 'rusting hulk' as it is today?  the_ed 17  00:15, 1 September 2008 (UTC)

Explanation of the sinking
The Utah served several functions as AG-16. It was a target for dummy bombs from aircraft. Its large guns had been removed but was armed with 5" guns used for training sailors. It was also operated for up to four hours at a time by radio control and was an early naval version of a Predator drone. This happened in 1940 and q94q. Perhaps before then but that is what I have from former sailors. Technology was advancing rapidly then. The Navy saw potential benefits in having robot-ships and the idea still has merit.

Many of the gunners who later served on other ships trained aboard USS Utah. That was a worthy purpose. Another final purpose came on December 7, 1941. The Utah was moored in a position Japanese Intelligence considered a mooring area for aircraft carriers. The loss of the Utah and many of its men perhaps saved a carrier from a similar fate.

Identifying a ship from the air is difficult visually. The Japanese airmen saw an odd-looking ship moored where a carrier was supposed to be. They did an effective job in sinking the Utah but it was not the target for which they had hoped and planned. The Utah suffered attacks from pilots who were mistaken.

This mistake sank the Utah but perhaps saved other ships. By the way, the rusting hulk of the Utah, complete with sailors interred inside it is still visible at Pearl Harbor. Though its losses don't compare with those of the Arizona and some other ships present at the time. Any review of the details will indicate that the Utah died. The Navy lost one of its research ships and the loss set back naval technology for the US Navy to a degree.

It continues to surprise me that a third wave of Japanese attacks was not ordered. The dry docks and oil storage facilities there by themselves would have made a great change in the US response to the attacks would have been slowed far more. That was the greatest foul-up the Japanese forces made in WWII. US naval bases would have had to be returned to San Diego. Petitjean1 (talk) 19:43, 16 April 2009 (UTC) petitjean1.

Official state ship
This line "She is the official state ship of the State of Utah" was removed from the article as unsourced. Unable to locate anything on the http://www.utah.gov/about/symbols.html wesbite. &mdash; MrDolomite &bull; Talk 11:14, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

pocket size "New Testament" found with a Radio opperator's name in it dated 1919.
Can anyone help me find out who's name it is, and to the wareabouts of this person is or his family.

Please respond thru email......brookensbob@gmail.com