In December 1942, after a year of a raging Pacific war, endless Allied warships arrived for repairs off Sydney Harbor. Some came under steam, others under sail, tow, or even underwater, in the case of submarines.

But only one ship arrived backwards.

She was USS New Orleans, a 10,000-ton heavy cruiser and a key piece of the Pacific arsenal.

Following an intense naval battle, the crew was forced to make do with some rather unorthodox repairs to get the ship back to a safe harbor. This included a jury-rigged bow made of coconut logs, which helped her stay afloat.

Due to the damage and the temporary tropical bow, the only way to navigate was to sail roughly 1,800 miles in reverse to port.

Arriving in Sydney near Christmas time, the battered USS New Orleans prepared for the extensive repairs that would ready her to fight again.

After all, her crew knew all too well what it was to fight in the worst of circumstances.