The tiny tugboat that saved Pearl Harbor is rusting in Arkansas

USS Hoga’s 72-Hour Battle at Pearl Harbor

When Pearl Harbor came under attack on December 7, 1941, a tiny tugboat became an unlikely hero. USS Hoga, just 100 feet long with a crew of ten men, sprang into action within minutes.

The tug first pulled two sailors from oil-slick waters, then yanked USS Vestal away from the exploding Arizona.

Next, Hoga helped ground the battleship Nevada at Hospital Point, stopping Japanese plans to block the harbor entrance. For 72 straight hours, the crew fought fires on major warships while bombs fell around them.

Admiral Nimitz later praised their “disregard for personal safety.”

Today, this small but mighty vessel rests at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum, where visitors can walk the decks that once saved Pearl Harbor.

The Mighty Little Tugboat That Answered Pearl Harbor’s Call

The USS Hoga wasn’t much to look at. This 100-foot, 218-ton tugboat had twin 650-horsepower diesel engines but looked tiny next to the big battleships at Pearl Harbor.

Tugmaster Joseph B. McManus led just ten men on this small boat. On December 7, 1941, Hoga sat at Dock 1010, ready for normal harbor work.

No one knew this little vessel, built for fighting fires and helping other ships, would soon play a key role in American history.

From Peaceful Morning to Combat Station in Minutes

Japanese planes flew over Pearl Harbor at 7:55 AM, dropping bombs on American ships. McManus and his crew jumped into action right away.

Within ten minutes after the first blasts, Hoga cut through the water toward the chaos. The harbor control tower told them to “help wherever we could.”

They quickly saved two sailors struggling in burning, oil-covered water. Meanwhile, other crew members got firefighting gear ready as they moved through the burning harbor.

A Repair Ship Gets a Second Chance

By 8:30 AM, Hoga reached the repair ship USS Vestal, which sat too close to the battleship Arizona. The Arizona took direct hits and big explosions put both ships in danger.

Hoga’s crew tied lines to Vestal and pulled her away from Arizona’s burning hull. This quick action saved Vestal from sinking.

Vestal later went back to service and fixed hundreds of damaged American ships during the Pacific war.

Quick Work Helps the Listing Oglala

Twenty minutes after saving Vestal, Hoga rushed to help another ship in trouble. The minelayer USS Oglala leaned badly after taking damage in the attack.

At 8:50 AM, Hoga pulled up beside the hurt vessel and tried to keep her stable. The crew worked hard to help Oglala stay afloat as long as they could.

Though Oglala turned over despite their work, Hoga’s help gave crews time to leave the ship safely. The Navy later saved Oglala.

Japanese Pilots Target the Escaping Nevada

A dangerous situation grew when battleship USS Nevada tried to leave the harbor under her own power. Japanese pilots spotted the moving battleship and focused their attacks on her.

They wanted to sink Nevada in the narrow channel entrance and trap the Pacific Fleet inside Pearl Harbor. Such a blockage would have stopped American naval work in the Pacific for months.

Harbor command saw the danger and sent orders to Hoga: stop Nevada from reaching the channel.

Two Tugs Make a Critical Decision

Hoga joined with another tugboat, YT-130, for what might have been the most important action of the day.

The two small boats stopped the burning Nevada and helped push her onto the ground at Hospital Point, away from the key channel.

McManus and his crew did this hard job while under enemy fire and surrounded by burning oil and wreckage. By keeping the channel open, Hoga’s crew made sure Pearl Harbor could still work as a naval base.

Battling Flames on a Mighty Battleship

After grounding Nevada, Hoga’s crew used their firefighting skills. For over an hour, they sprayed water on Nevada’s burning decks and rooms.

The crew ran their pumps at full power, fighting to save both the ship and sailors still stuck inside. The strong heat and smoke made this work very risky, but they kept going.

Nevada lived through the attack and, after repairs, went back to combat. She later helped during the D-Day landings and other Pacific battles.

Three Days Without Rest Fighting Fires

Most stories about Pearl Harbor talk about the two-hour attack, but Hoga kept working long after the Japanese planes left.

From 4:00 PM on December 7 through 1:00 PM on December 9, Hoga’s crew fought fires for 72 hours without stopping. They worked without breaks or proper rest, moving from ship to ship as needed.

The tired men put out flames on USS Maryland, USS Tennessee, and kept working on the ruined Arizona.

Desperate Attempts to Save Arizona’s Crew

Arizona took the worst damage of any ship at Pearl Harbor, with over 1,100 sailors trapped inside when she sank. Hoga stayed near the burning wreck and sprayed water on Arizona’s upper parts for hours.

The crew hoped to cool parts of the ship enough to let possible survivors escape. They also worked to stop fires from spreading to other areas of the harbor.

Between fighting fires, they pulled hurt sailors from the oily waters around the battleship.

A Personal Thank You From the Pacific Commander

The bravery of Hoga and her crew got noticed by top naval leaders. In February 1942, Admiral Chester Nimitz himself praised McManus and his men for their actions.

The admiral’s note pointed out their “fine service and disregard of personal safety” during the attack. This honor made Hoga one of the few vessels to get a special mention after Pearl Harbor.

The small tugboat and her crew showed the courage of many Americans who fought back during those crazy hours.

A Long Career After Her Finest Hours

Hoga stayed at Pearl Harbor throughout World War II, continuing to provide tug services for the busy naval base. In 1948, the Navy transferred her to Oakland, California, where she began a new career as a fireboat.

Renamed City of Oakland, she protected the busy port for over 40 years before retiring in 1994. The Navy recognized her historical significance by designating Hoga as a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

After years of preservation efforts, she found her final home at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum in 2015, where visitors can see this small but mighty hero of Pearl Harbor today.

Visiting Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum

The Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum at 120 Riverfront Park Drive in North Little Rock houses USS Hoga, the heroic Pearl Harbor tugboat that saved lives and ships during the attack.

You can explore Hoga’s main deck yourself and take guided tours of USS Razorback submarine. Adult admission is $6, kids under 12 pay $4.

The museum opens Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm, with final tours at 4:30pm.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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