12/7/41 0809 hours – over the American Battleships

As the battle over the American Carriers was being fought the Japanese torpedo planes were approaching the battleships. Because the distance to the battleships was so short these planes had plenty of fuel and hence could make a well planned attack. They skirted well to the north of the fleet, out of sight and anti-aircraft range and approached from the east, out of the sun. Forty eight of the eighty eight torpedo planes were assigned to the battleships, six to each. Each lumbering torpedo plane carried one torpedo weighing over 2000 pounds, each capable of ripping a hole several feet in diameter in the hull of even the best armored ship. The remaining forty planes were targeted, three for each cruiser and one for each destroyer. Several destroyers weren’t targeted, they would escape damage unless they were unlucky enough to be hit by a stray torpedo.

The California was on the eastern side of the fleet and was thus first to come under attack. By now word of the air battle had been passed to the surface ships. The fleet was free to open fire on any Japanese forces. As the Japanese planes began their deadly torpedo runs the large guns of the battleships started to fire long range AA. As the came closer, first the eight inch guns of the cruisers and then the five inch guns of the destroyers also opened fire along with the 40 MM Borfors. The anti-aircraft fire put up by the fleet was intense and all of the six torpedo planes targeted for the California were destroyed before they could launch their torpedoes. One was destroyed when it flew into a water spout caused by the splash of one of the 3000 pound – 16 inch shells from the California’s main armament. The destruction of these six planes was a significant victory for the Americans because the other torpedo planes would have to pass the California to get to their targets. In addition to her main armament, the California had ten fast firing twin 40 MM Borfors mounts, the most effective medium range ship mounted anti-aircraft weapon and her gunners were among the best in the fleet. Dick Ness and his crew on the aft starboard mount were among the best, they took the AA trophy the last two years. With an undamaged California the anti-aircraft fire the eastern side of the fleet was able to amass was awesome and she would be likely to keep up heavy fire because she wasn’t targeted by any additional aircraft. Shooting down those six torpedo planes was a boon for the American Fleet.