DMS16/A5-1/P
Serial 0368 U.S.S. Trever
At Sea,
December 12, 1941.


From: The Commanding Officer.
To: The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Subject: Japanese Air Raid on Pearl Harbor, T.H., Sunday, December 7 1941; Report of.

Reference: (a) CincPac Dispatch 102102 of December 1941.


In accordance with reference (a) the following report on the subject raid is submitted.
Mine Division FOUR was moored at buoys D-7 and D-7-S, bows toward Pearl City, in the following order from north, Trever, Wasmuth,, Zane, and Perry. There were four men on liberty when the attack commenced three of whom returned aboard when the Trever made a magnetic sweep of Pearl Harbor in the afternoon.

Offensive Action:
The Trever went to General Quarters at 0757 at the time when the first bombs were dropped by the Japanese on the north side of Ford Island. The .50 caliber machine gun battery of this vessel opened fire on the first available targets at 0802. All machine guns had been in a ready condition with loaded magazines in the ready boxes at each gun.

The first enemy planes fired upon were not proper targets because of range. Control immediately ordered fire on close targets only, this order was carried out throughout the remainder of the raid.

Personnel not engaged at the machine guns took cover in accordance with the air raid attack bill of this vessel. Ammunition parties brought up additional .50 caliber ammunition for belting immediately after General Quarters sounded. In apparent disregard of the consequences these parties belted and distributed ammunition in and from the well deck. Personnel of the Gunnery Department at the same time armed depth charges and supervised the placing of 4" service ammunition in the racks.

As soon as General Quarters sounded preparations were made for getting underway. At 0840 the Engineering Officer reported the engineering plant ready. Although the Trever was on the northern outboard side of the nest she could not clear immediately because of ships astern clearing buoys D-3 and D-4. During the waiting period all planes coming within range were fired upon.

The first enemy plane brought down in the vicinity of Pearl City crashed just off the Yacht Club after having been fired upon by all ships in the nest as it crossed the bows flying low over Pearl City Dock strafing personnel on the dock. The second plane brought down dived on the nest from dead ahead just as it reached a position angle of about 30?, altitude of 600 feet and range of approximately 400 yards all forward guns in the nest fired at once. The guns literally blew the wings off the plane. The fuselage passed overhead crashed and burst into flames as the other targets were fired upon no other damage to enemy planes attributable to the offensive action of the Trever or Mine Division FOUR was observed. During the action the gun discipline was excellent and no friendly planes were fired upon.

The Trever got underway at 0930 with all guns manned and ready, depth charges armed and set and the ship in all respects ready for action. The entrance buoys were cleared at 0955.

Losses and Damage.
The Trever incurred no casualties of any sort to personnel and no material damage to the ship. Later examination revealed one .30 caliber hole in the Gig and several more in sheet metal winch drive chain guards which were stowed in the searchlight tower.

At present one man, BAUGUS, A.E., #341-51-10, WT1c., USN, is still unaccounted for. He was on authorized liberty and had not returned to the ship prior to departure. The Trever has been continuously underway since.

Distinguished Conduct of Personnel.
No specific cases of individual distinguished conduct can be cited. It is with pride and pleasure that I cite the officers and crew of the Trever for conduct under fire which is worthy of the best traditions on the Navy. The remarkable promptness and coolness with which they went to Battle Stations under fire, and their quickness in engaging the enemy was excellent and most gratifying. There was no lost motion, no fear, and no shock exhibited by any personnel on board. Each and everyone performed his assigned task in the manner expected.

Items of Interest.
The gun crew of No. 4 gun of the U.S.S. Perry did an excellent job on the Japanese submarine which was sunk astern of buoy K22-S on the starboard quarter of the Curtiss. Just after word was received that an enemy submarine was in the harbor a periscope broke water between buoy K22-S and the new construction on Beckoning Point. The Perry's after gun fired immediately and apparently hit just alongside the periscope. Within a few second the conning tower broke water and the next shot from the Perry made a direct hit exploding in the conning tower. The Monaghan (354) proceeding out the north channel then made a superb attack and dropped one depth charge which rolled the submarine over.

[signed]
D.M. AGNEW.

Copy to:

Combasefor
Comtrainron 6
Cominron 2
Comindiv 4