“SWIMMING DOWN EITHER SIDE, PORT OR STARBOARD, YOU COME UPON MAJOR DAMAGE PRETTY QUICKLY. WHEN THE FORWARD MAGAZINE EXPLODED, IT EXPLODED WITH THE FORCE OF ONE MILLION POUNDS OF DYNAMITE, OR HALF A KILOTON. EVERYTHING WAS BLOWN OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE NUMBER-ONE TURRET AND TWO OF THE DECKS COLLAPSED. THE SHIP’S FORWARD HULL WAS ALSO BLOWN OUT FOUR OR FIVE FEET ON EITHER SIDE IN THE EXPLOSION.”

—DANIEL J. LENIHAN ON THE EXPLORATION OF USS ARIZONA