The Arizona's superstructure was removed because it was a hazard. The deck
guns were removed because it was thought that they could be used as shore
defense weapons. This was never done. The divers inside the Arizona were
there to recover bodies and important parts of the ship. Several were killed
when cutting torches ignited accumulated gasses trapped in compartments.
I obtained this information from a book called Descent Into Darkness by
Commander Edward C. Raymer USN (Ret.).
The General Belgrano is the former USS Phoenix.
Gary Pavone
gpavone@thegrid.net
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