My dad was also on the USS Phoenix at Pearl Harbor as a young Ensign gunnery officer. His recollection was a little different in that he said it took 30 minutes to build up enough steam to pull away from the dock. Regardless, the USS Phoenix was a great ship and performed well through out the war.
I said that they were making steam, not that they had enough to sail.
Clearly they fought on while they made enough steam, long enough to shoot down three planes.
My compliments to your Dad.