Sunday marked the 84th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor bombing — a shocking attack that killed 2,400 Americans, including more than 11,000 aboard the USS Arizona.
The U.S. Navy has collaborated with the Pearl Harbor Memorial to remove massive portions of the concrete mooring platforms that were put in place eight decades ago to help salvage guns and ammunition from the ship.
Meant to be temporary, the platforms were left in place and eventually became partially embedded in the battleship. The two structures totaled more than 150 tons, and the weight was threatening to collapse through the decks. So the monthlong removal project was launched after a two-year planning process.
Navy Commander Matthew Englehart said the “priority was to protect the USS Arizona for the future” while preventing harm to the surrounding environment.
