West Loch
No, this isn't a reference to an underwater monster.
There is a narrow channel to the west of Pearl Harbor that was a storage depot for ammo called West Loch. If the Japanese bombed it, the outcome of World War II may have been different. It becomes a staging depot for LST's. In May, 1944, there are many LST's overloaded with ammo, fuel, and supplies. It's obvious that is in preparation for a major event.
Lots of large storage ships docked one next to another overflowing with fuel, ammo, and chain smoking Marines - what can possibly go wrong? The afternoon of May 21, 1944 something happened.
Most widely accepted theory was a dropped motar shell on LST-353 ignited fuel and exploded, killing about 50 sailors immediately. Then the ships tied next to LST-353 caught fire and their ammo and fuel exploded.
Over 150 men died in the subsquent explosions and fires.
In the interest of national security and morale, the "West Loch disaster" was quietly buried. Admiral Nimitz was able to postpone the scheduled departure of the LST's by 1 day and 1 ship short. The fleet made up the day over the sea, and the invasion of Saipan on June 15th (orginially scheduled date).
In 1960, records related to the "West Loch disaster" were declassified. But since the disaster was not widely known, it was quietly buried in archives.
Most people think of there only being one disaster in Pearl Harbor. But on this day of remembering the dead who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, remember the other Pearl Harbor.
The History Channel has a show about the West Loch as part of their "Histories Mysteries" (the other Pearl Harbor).
There's not a lot out there, but here's a good site.
There is a narrow channel to the west of Pearl Harbor that was a storage depot for ammo called West Loch. If the Japanese bombed it, the outcome of World War II may have been different. It becomes a staging depot for LST's. In May, 1944, there are many LST's overloaded with ammo, fuel, and supplies. It's obvious that is in preparation for a major event.
Lots of large storage ships docked one next to another overflowing with fuel, ammo, and chain smoking Marines - what can possibly go wrong? The afternoon of May 21, 1944 something happened.
Most widely accepted theory was a dropped motar shell on LST-353 ignited fuel and exploded, killing about 50 sailors immediately. Then the ships tied next to LST-353 caught fire and their ammo and fuel exploded.
Over 150 men died in the subsquent explosions and fires.
In the interest of national security and morale, the "West Loch disaster" was quietly buried. Admiral Nimitz was able to postpone the scheduled departure of the LST's by 1 day and 1 ship short. The fleet made up the day over the sea, and the invasion of Saipan on June 15th (orginially scheduled date).
In 1960, records related to the "West Loch disaster" were declassified. But since the disaster was not widely known, it was quietly buried in archives.
Most people think of there only being one disaster in Pearl Harbor. But on this day of remembering the dead who were in the wrong place at the wrong time, remember the other Pearl Harbor.
The History Channel has a show about the West Loch as part of their "Histories Mysteries" (the other Pearl Harbor).
There's not a lot out there, but here's a good site.
posted by Jenn @ 20:15
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