Honda Point Disaster: The Largest Peacetime Loss of U.S. Navy Ships

Gusmanak

On September 8th, 1923, a squadron of U.S. destroyers were steaming South from San Francisco Bay to San Diego Bay when poor visibility and an error in judgement resulted in the loss of seven ships.

The squadron of 14 ships were travelling in a close line, relying on the navigator at the front of the pack. Due to heavy fog, the ships were navigating by dead reckoning. They estimated their course and speed with radio assistance and measuring their propellor revolutions per minute. However, radio navigation aids were new at the time and not completely trusted – in this case the lead ship’s navigator ignored its indicated bearings. There was also no attempt to take soundings of water depths. Ultimately the lead ship turned too early. The crew failed to take into account the rough seas altering their course, and due to the tight formation nine ships struck the rocks. Seven ships were sunk, while two managed to get free. 23 sailors died.