In her heyday, the battleship USS Utah was a Florida-class dreadnought. By 1941, she had been converted to a gunnery-training platform and redesignated AG-16 from BB-31.
In her heyday, the battleship USS Utah was a Florida-class dreadnought. By 1941, she had been converted to a gunnery-training platform and redesignated AG-16 from BB-31.
U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive

The Mystery of the Attack on the Utah

Why did Japanese torpedo bombers waste so much ordnance on an obsolete target at Pearl Harbor?
By Alan D. Zimm
December 2020
Naval History Magazine
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On 7 December 1941, a massive strike of 183 aircraft roared off six Japanese carriers to strike Pearl Harbor. Sixteen torpedo bombers were to attack U.S. aircraft carriers moored on the northwest side of Ford Island. If there were no carriers in port (as would be the case), they were to look for alternate targets.

One order was stressed: Do not waste a torpedo on the USS Utah (formerly BB-31, then AG-16).

The Utah was a demilitarized battleship converted into an antiaircraft gunnery training platform. She often rested at the carrier moorings, and the Japanese knew it. The torpedo bomber air crews were drilled intensively to recognize her silhouette. 

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Alan D. Zimm

Dr. Zimm is the author of Attack on Pearl Harbor: Strategy, Combat, Myths, Deceptions (Casemate, 2011) and contributed a chapter to The Sea and the Second World War: Maritime Aspects of a Global Conflict (Andarta Books, 2019). He was named 2016 Naval History Author of the Year for his article in the December issue, “Commander Fuchida’s Decision.” 

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