---
title: Sinking of USS California, Pearl Harbor
author: US Navy
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/21912/sinking-of-uss-california-pearl-harbor/
format: machine-readable-alternate
updated: 2026-07-20
---
# Sinking of USS California, Pearl Harbor
_Authored by US Navy_
## Image File
[](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/21912.jpg)
## Image Caption
The USS California sinking down onto the floor of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, photograph by the US Navy, December 1941.
The destruction from the Japanese attack on the US Navy at Pearl Harbor. Aerial bombs and torpedoes were dropped, leaving the USS California damaged and pouring black oily smoke.
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Navy, U. (2026, July 20). Sinking of USS California, Pearl Harbor. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Navy, US. "Sinking of USS California, Pearl Harbor." *World History Encyclopedia*, July 20, 2026. .
### MLA
Navy, US. "Sinking of USS California, Pearl Harbor." *World History Encyclopedia*, 20 Jul 2026, .
## License & Copyright
The public domain content above is from the [Library of Congress](http://www.loc.gov/). You can copy it freely. [Original image](https://www.loc.gov/item/2017874755/) by [**US Navy**](https://www.loc.gov/item/2017874755/). Submitted by [Alex Ram](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/alexram/ "User Page: Alex Ram"), published on 20 July 2026. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Public Domain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain). This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.