The Burned-Out Hulks of USS Downes and USS Cassin: From Pearl Harbor Ruins to Rebuilt Warriors

On the morning of December 7, 1941, as Japanese planes descended on Pearl Harbor in a surprise attack that would plunge the United States into World War II, two destroyers—USS Downes (DD-375) and USS Cassin (DD-372)—were caught in the chaos. Moored in Drydock One alongside the battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), both ships were heavily bombed, burned, and seemingly destroyed.

The iconic photographs taken later that day showed their burned-out hulks, twisted by explosions and gutted by flames. At first glance, they appeared unsalvageable, destined for the scrap heap. Yet their story did not end in the smoking ruins of Pearl Harbor. Through ingenuity, determination, and America’s wartime shipbuilding prowess, both Cassin and Downes were rebuilt from the ground up and returned to active service—living symbols of the Navy’s resilience after its darkest hour.

The Mahan-Class Destroyers

Cassin and Downes belonged to the Mahan-class, a group of destroyers commissioned in the mid-1930s as part of America’s naval expansion. These ships represented a significant leap forward in destroyer design:

Displacement: About 1,500 tons.

Speed: Over 37 knots, driven by advanced high-pressure steam turbines.

Armament: Five 5-inch/38 caliber dual-purpose guns, multiple torpedo tubes, and depth charges for anti-submarine warfare.

Role: Fast, versatile warships designed to screen larger vessels, launch torpedo attacks, and defend against aircraft.

Both ships entered service in 1936 and spent the prewar years conducting fleet exercises and training operations across the Pacific. By December 1941, they were integral parts of the Pacific Fleet’s destroyer squadrons.

December 7, 1941: The Attack on Pearl Harbor

At the time of the Japanese attack, Cassin and Downes were positioned in Drydock One alongside the battleship Pennsylvania. While Pennsylvania was a prime target, the destroyers became collateral victims of the devastating strike.

The Bombing and Fires

Multiple bombs struck near the drydock, igniting fuel tanks on the destroyers.

Fire quickly spread across both ships, exacerbated by ruptured fuel lines and exploding ammunition.

Cassin slipped from her keel blocks due to the concussive blasts and rolled against Downes, the two destroyers crushing together amid the inferno.

Secondary explosions tore through their hulls as depth charges and torpedoes cooked off in the flames.

By the time the attack ended, both Cassin and Downes were burned-out wrecks, their superstructures gutted and machinery spaces destroyed.

Declared “Total Losses”—But Not the End

In the immediate aftermath, naval officials declared Cassin and Downes “constructive total losses.” The wrecks were beyond repair in Hawaii. Yet U.S. Navy engineers refused to write them off completely.

The plan was radical:

Strip and Salvage: The remains of both ships were carefully dismantled in Pearl Harbor. Usable equipment—guns, fittings, and machinery—was removed.

Transport to the Mainland: The salvaged parts, along with the official identities of Cassin and Downes, were shipped to U.S. shipyards.

Reconstruction: Using the salvaged components and new hulls, both destroyers were essentially rebuilt as new ships, but legally retained the names and hull numbers of the originals.

This process blurred the line between “repair” and “replacement.” In practice, Cassin and Downes were almost entirely new ships, but tradition and naval regulations considered them the same vessels reborn.

Return to Service

USS Cassin (DD-372)

Rebuilt at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Cassin was recommissioned on February 6, 1944. She rejoined the Pacific Fleet, participating in major operations including:

Marianas Campaign (1944): Screening carriers and bombarding Saipan and Tinian.

Philippines Campaign (1944–45): Escorting convoys and fighting off Japanese aircraft.

Okinawa (1945): Providing anti-aircraft defense during one of the war’s bloodiest campaigns.

Cassin proved her worth as a veteran destroyer, demonstrating that even ships nearly destroyed at Pearl Harbor could rise from the ashes to fight again.

USS Downes (DD-375)

Downes was rebuilt at Mare Island as well, recommissioned slightly earlier on November 15, 1943. Like her sister, she plunged back into combat across the Pacific:

Gilbert and Marshall Islands Campaigns: Supporting amphibious landings with bombardments and screening duties.

Philippines Operations: Escort missions and anti-aircraft patrols.

Okinawa (1945): Braving kamikaze-infested waters to shield larger fleet units.

By the end of the war, Downes had earned four battle stars for her service.

Symbol of Resilience

The saga of Cassin and Downes became a symbol of American resilience after Pearl Harbor. Their survival and resurrection demonstrated the Navy’s determination to turn disaster into opportunity. While many ships were lost outright that day, the Navy salvaged what it could—not just from battleships like West Virginia and California, but even from the burned-out hulks of destroyers in drydock.

The message was clear: no ship, no matter how badly damaged, would be abandoned without a fight.

Postwar Fate

With the end of World War II in 1945, the U.S. Navy rapidly downsized its massive wartime fleet. Despite their heroic return, Cassin and Downes were both decommissioned in 1945.

USS Cassin (DD-372): Decommissioned September 17, 1945, and sold for scrap in 1947.

USS Downes (DD-375): Decommissioned December 17, 1945, and sold for scrap in 1947.

Their careers, though cut short by peacetime drawdowns, remain remarkable for the second chance they were given.

The Legacy of Drydock One

The image of Cassin and Downes lying burned-out beside Pennsylvania in Drydock One remains one of the most haunting photographs of Pearl Harbor. Blackened hulls, twisted metal, and clouds of smoke captured the devastation of the attack. But in hindsight, that same image represents not just destruction but rebirth.

Where others saw ruins, U.S. engineers saw potential. Where the Japanese hoped to cripple the Pacific Fleet permanently, the Americans salvaged, rebuilt, and returned ships to service.

Cassin and Downes embodied that spirit.

Conclusion

The story of USS Cassin (DD-372) and USS Downes (DD-375) is one of devastation and renewal. Destroyed in one of America’s darkest days, they rose again to fight in the climactic battles of the Pacific. Though scrapped after the war, their legacy endures as proof of the resilience, ingenuity, and determination of the U.S. Navy.

From the charred hulks in Drydock One to the rolling swells of the Pacific War, Cassin and Downes carried the scars of Pearl Harbor into battle—and emerged victorious.