Attack on Pearl Harbor Part of the Pacific Theater of World War II Photograph from a Japanese aircraft of Pearl Harbor including Battleship Row at the beginning of the attack. The Pacific War was the part of World War II —and preceding conflicts—that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands and in East Asia, between World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Battleship Row was the grouping of nine Battleships in port at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese launched the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The explosion in the center is a torpedo strike on the USS West Virginia Date December 7, 1941 Location Primarily Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, USA Result Clear Japanese tactical victory, strategic and grand strategic failure; Empire of Japan declares war on the United States and the British Empire; United States declares war on the Empire of Japan; Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy declare war on the United States, which enters World War II on the side of Allies. 1923 – 1941 In the months that followed West Virginia ran her trials and shakedown and underwent post-commissioning alterations Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A Strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal, most often "winning Grand strategy is military Strategy at the level of movement and use of an entire Nation state or Empire 's resources The declaration of war by the Empire of Japan on the United States and the British Empire document was released on December 8, 1941 The Infamy Speech was delivered on December 8, 1941, by United States President Franklin D The Axis powers also known as the Axis alliance Axis nations Axis countries or sometimes just the Axis were those Countries World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis powers during the Second World War. Belligerents  United States  Empire of Japan Commanders Navy: Husband Kimmel Army: Walter Short Navy: Chuichi Nagumo Strength 8 battleships, 8 cruisers, 30 destroyers, 4 submarines, 49 other ships,[1] ~390 aircraft Mobile Unit: 6 aircraft carriers, 2 battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 9 destroyers, 8 tankers, 23 fleet submarines, 5 midget submarines, 414 aircraft Casualties and losses 5 battleships sunk, 2 destroyers sunk, 1 damaged 1 other ship sunk, 3 damaged 3 battleships damaged, 3 cruisers damaged [2] 188 aircraft destroyed, 155 aircraft damaged, 2,345 military and 57 civilians killed, 1,247 military and 35 civilians wounded[3][4] 4 midget submarines sunk, 1 midget submarine run aground, 29 aircraft destroyed, 55 airmen, 9 submariners killed and 1 captured

The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack against the United States' naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by the Japanese navy, on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, resulting in the United States becoming involved in World War II. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku Husband Edward Kimmel ( February 26, 1882 &ndash May 14, 1968) was a four-star admiral in the United States Navy. Walter Campbell Short ( March 30, 1880 &ndash March 9, 1949) was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army and the U The Imperial Japanese Navy (日本海軍 Nihon Kaigun at the beginning of World War II contained the world's largest carrier fleet The United States Pacific Fleet ( USPACFLT) is a Pacific Ocean Navy theater-level component command of the United States Navy, under the operational control A naval dockyard is a Dockyard that primarily serves a Navy. See also Military base Royal Navy Dockyards Pearl Harbor is a Harbor on the Island of O{{okina}}ahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the The Empire of Japan ( {{unicode|Kyūjitai}}: ja 大日本帝國 Shinjitai: ja 大日本帝国 pronounced Dai Nippon Teikoku For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including It was intended as a preventive action to remove the U. A Preventive war or Preventative war is a War initiated under the belief that future conflict is inevitable though not imminent S. Pacific Fleet as a factor in the war Japan was about to wage against Britain, the Netherlands, and the United States. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Two aerial attack waves, totaling 353^[5] aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with

The attack wrecked two U.S. Navy battleships, one minelayer, and two destroyers beyond repair, and destroyed 188 aircraft; personnel losses were 2,388 killed and 1,178 wounded. A battleship is a large heavily armored Warship with a main battery consisting of the largest Calibre of Guns Battleships were Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines Historically this has been carried out by ships submarines and aircraft In naval terminology a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance Warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, Convoy Damaged warships included three cruisers, a destroyer, and six battleships (one deliberately grounded, later refloated and repaired; two sunk at their berths, later raised, repaired, and eventually restored to Fleet service). Vital fuel storage, shipyard, maintenance, and headquarters facilities were not hit. Japanese losses were minimal, at 29 aircraft and five midget submarines, with 65 servicemen killed or wounded. A midget submarine is any Submarine under 150 tons typically operated by one or two but up to 6 or 8 crew with no on-board living accommodation

The aim of the strike was to protect Imperial Japan's advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies — for their natural resources such as oil and rubber — by neutralizing the U. British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula that were colonized by the British from the 18th and the 19th until the 20th century See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit S. Pacific Fleet. Both the U. S. and Japan had long-standing contingency plans for war in the Pacific, continuously updated as tension between the two countries steadily increased during the 1930s. Japan's expansion into Manchuria and French Indochina were greeted with steadily increasing levels of embargoes and sanctions by the United States and others. In 1940, under the Export Control Act, the U. S. halted shipments of airplanes, parts, machine tools, and aviation gasoline, which Japan saw as an unfriendly act. ^[6] Nevertheless, the U. S. continued to export oil to Japan, in part because it was understood in Washington cutting off oil exports would be an extreme step, given Japanese dependence on U. S. oil exports,^[7][8] likely to be taken as a provocation by Japan. In the summer of 1941, after Japanese expansion into French Indochina, the U. S. ceased oil exports to Japan, in part because of new American restrictions on domestic oil consumption. ^[9] President Franklin D. Roosevelt had earlier moved the Pacific Fleet to Hawaii and ordered a buildup in the Philippines, hoping to deter Japanese aggression in the Far East. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by The State of Hawaii ( or həˈwaɪʔiː Hawaiian: Mokuāina o Hawaii) is a state in the United States located on an Archipelago in the The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP The Japanese high command was certain, though mistakenly so,^[10] an attack on the United Kingdom's colonies would bring the U. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located S. into the war,^[10] so a preventive strike appeared to be the only way^[10] Japan could avoid U. S. interference in the Pacific. ^[11] While the attack accomplished its intended objective, it was completely unnecessary--unbeknownst to Isoroku Yamamoto, who conceived the original plan, the U. Fleet Admiral ( 4 April 1884 – 18 April 1943) was the Commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II a S. Navy had decided to abandon any intention of 'charging' across the Pacific towards the Philippines at the outset of war back in 1935 (in keeping with the evolution of War Plan Orange). War Plan Orange (commonly known as Plan Orange or just Orange) refers to a series of United States Joint Army and Navy Board war plans for dealing They instead adopted "Plan Dog" in 1940, which emphasized keeping the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) out of the eastern Pacific and the shipping lanes to Australia, while the U. For Combined Fleet, please see that article For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. S. concentrated on defeating Nazi Germany. ^[12]

The attack was one of the most important engagements of World War II. Occurring as it did before a formal declaration of war, it pushed U. A declaration of war is a formal performative Speech act or signing of a document by an authorised party of a government in order to initate a state of War S. public opinion from isolationism to an acceptance war was unavoidable, as Roosevelt called December 7, 1941 "... a date which will live in infamy."

Background to conflict

Main article: Events leading to the attack on Pearl Harbor

War between Japan and the United States had been a possibility each nation had been aware of (and developed contingency plans for) since the 1920s, though tension did not begin to grow serious until Japan's 1931 invasion of Manchuria. Isolationism is a Foreign policy which combines a non-interventionist military policy and a political policy of Economic nationalism ( Protectionism Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 1941 ( MCMXLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (the link will display 1941 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Infamy Speech was delivered on December 8, 1941, by United States President Franklin D More than a decade's worth of events leading to the Attack on Pearl Harbor occurred prior to the actual attack Over the next decade, Japan continued to expand into China leading to all out war between the two in 1937. In 1940, Japan invaded French Indochina, partly in an effort to control supplies reaching China, and partly as a first step to improve her access to resources in Southeast Asia. The, also known as the Vietnam Expedition, was an attempt by the Empire of Japan, during the Second Sino-Japanese War to blockade China and prevent This move prompted an American embargo on oil exports to Japan, which in turn caused the Japanese to decide to commence the planned takeover of oil supplies in the Dutch East Indies. See http//enwikipediaorg/wiki/WikipediaFootnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the tags and the template below ^[13]

Pearl Harbor on 30 October 1941.

Preliminary planning for an attack at Pearl Harbor, to protect this move into the "Southern Resource Area" (the Japanese term for the East Indies and Southeast Asia generally), had begun in very early 1941, under the auspices of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, then commanding Japan's Combined Fleet. Fleet Admiral ( 4 April 1884 – 18 April 1943) was the Commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet during World War II a For Carrier Striking Task Force, please see that article For Imperial Japanese Navy, please see that article ^[14] He won assent to formal planning and training for an attack from the Imperial Japanese Navy General Staff only after much contention with Naval Headquarters, including a threat to resign his command. The was the highest organ within the Imperial Japanese Navy.　In charge of planning and operations it was headed by an Admiral headquartered in Tokyo. ^[15] Full-scale planning was underway by early spring 1941, primarily by Captain Minoru Genda. Minoru Genda (源田実 Genda Minoru, 16 August 1904 – 15 August 1989) was a well-known Japanese military aviator and politician Over the next several months, pilots trained, equipment was adapted, and intelligence gathered. Despite these preparations, the actual approval of the attack plan was not issued by Emperor Shōwa until 5 November, after the third of four Imperial Conferences which considered the matter. also known as, (April 29 1901 – January 7 1989 was the 124th Emperor of Japan according to the traditional order reigning from December 25 1926 until his death ^[16] Final authorization to attack was not given by him until December 1, after a majority of Japanese leaders had advised him that the "Hull Note" would "destroy the fruits of the China incident, endangered Manchukuo and undermined control of Korea. Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican The Hull note, delivered on November 26, 1941, was the final proposal delivered to Japan by the United States before the start of war between The Second Sino-Japanese War ( July 7, 1937 to September 9, 1945) was a major war fought between the Republic of China and the Manchukuo (ja [[wikt満州国 満州国]] Manshūkoku lit "State of Manchuria " was a Puppet state in Manchuria and eastern "^[17] Hostilities between the U. S. and Japan were expected by many observers, including President Roosevelt, who read a decrypted Japanese message and told his assistant Harry Hopkins, "This means war. This article is about the politician for the British tank named for him see Light Tank Mk VIII Harry Lloyd Hopkins ( August 17 1890 "^[18]

Approach and attack

See also: Attack on Pearl Harbor order of battle

Route followed by the Japanese fleet to Pearl Harbor and back

At 03:42^[19] Hawaiian Time, hours before commanding Admiral Chuichi Nagumo began launching strike aircraft, the minesweeper USS Condor spotted a midget submarine outside the harbor entrance and alerted destroyer USS Ward. This is the Empire of Japan 's Attack on Pearl Harbor Order of battle. The Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone observes Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HST by subtracting ten hours from Coordinated Universal Time ( UTC-10) A minesweeper is a Naval Warship designed to counter the threat posed by Naval mines The dedicated purpose-built minesweeper first appeared during World War II Hawaii Area Operations Condor was in Pearl Harbor when the attack happened History Ward was named in honor of Commander James H Ward, USN (1806&ndash1861 the first U Ward was initially unsuccessful in locating the target. Hours later, Ward fired America's first shots in the Pacific theater of WWII when she attacked and sank a midget submarine, perhaps the same one, at 06:37. While debate over the First American shots fired in World War II existed for some time specifically concerning the Attack on Pearl Harbor, it is now generally accepted that

Five midget submarines had been assigned to torpedo U. The modern torpedo (historically called an automotive automobile locomotive or fish torpedo is a self-propelled explosive Projectile weapon launched above or below S. ships after the bombing started. None of these returned, and only four have since been found. Of the ten sailors aboard, nine died; the only survivor, Kazuo Sakamaki, was captured, becoming the first Japanese prisoner of war. Ensign Kazuo Sakamaki (酒巻和男 Sakamaki Kazuo, November 8, 1918 - November 29, 1999) was a Japanese ^[20] United States Naval Institute analysis of photographs from the attack, conducted in 1999, indicates one of these mini-subs entered the harbor and successfully fired a torpedo into the USS West Virginia, what may have been the first shot by the attacking Japanese. The U S Naval Institute (USNI, based at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis Maryland, is a non-profit professional military association that seeks to offer independent 1923 – 1941 In the months that followed West Virginia ran her trials and shakedown and underwent post-commissioning alterations Her final disposition is unknown. ^[21]

First wave

The attackers came in two waves. The first wave was detected by U. S. Army radar at 136 nautical miles (252 km), but was misidentified as USAAF bombers from the mainland.
Top:
A. Ford Island NAS B. Hickam Field C. Bellows Field D. Wheeler Field
E. Kaneohe NAS F. Ewa MCAS R-1. Opana Radar Station R-2. Kawailoa RS R-3. Kaaawa RS
G. Haleiwa H. Kahuku I. Wahiawa J. Kaneohe K. Honolulu
0. B-17s from mainland 1. First strike group 1-1. Level bombers 1-2. Torpedo bombers 1-3. Dive bombers 2. Second strike group 2-1. Level bombers 2-1F. Fighters 2-2. Dive bombers
Bottom:
A. Wake Island B. Midway Islands C. Johnston Island D. Hawaii
D-1. Oʻahu1. USS Lexington 2. USS Enterprise 3. First Air Fleet

Targets:
1: USS California
2: USS Maryland
3: USS Oklahoma
4: USS Tennessee
5: USS West Virginia
6: USS Arizona
7: USS Nevada
8: USS Pennsylvania
9: Ford Island NAS
10: Hickam field
Ignored:
A: Oil storage tanks
B:CINCPAC headquarters building
C: Submarine base
D: Navy Yard

The first attack wave launched north of Oʻahu, commanded by Captain Mitsuo Fuchida. For information specifically on the Royal Navy rank of captain see Captain (Royal Navy. Mitsuo Fuchida ( 淵田美津雄( 3 December 1902 - 30 May 1976) was a Captain in the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service It included:^[22]

• 1st Group (targets: battleships and aircraft carriers)^[23]
  • 50 Nakajima B5Ns armed with 800 kg (1760 lb) armor piercing bombs, in four sections. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass An armor-piercing shell is a type of Ammunition designed to penetrate Armor.
  • 40 B5Ns armed with Type 91 torpedoes, also in four sections. The Type 91 was a 450 mm (177 inch diameter Torpedo of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
• 2nd Group — (targets: Ford Island and Wheeler Field)
  • 54 Aichi D3As armed with 550 lb (249 kg) general purpose bombs
• 3rd Group — (targets: aircraft at Ford Island, Hickam Field, Wheeler Field, Barber’s Point, Kaneohe)
  • 45 A6Ms for air control and strafing^[22] Each of the aerial waves started with the bombers and ended with the fighters to deter pursuit. Ford Island is located in the middle of Pearl Harbor Hawaii. It is connected to the main island by the Ford Island Bridge. Wheeler Army Airfield, also known as Wheeler Field and formerly as Wheeler Air Force Base, is a United States Army post located in the City & WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A general-purpose bomb is an air-dropped Bomb intended as a compromise between blast damage penetration and fragmentation in explosive effect WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft A bomber is a Military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets primarily by dropping Bombs on them

As the first wave approached Oʻahu, an Army SCR-270 radar at Opana Point, near the island's northern tip (a post not yet operational, having been in training mode for months), detected them and called in a warning. SCR-270 ( Signal Corps Radio model 270 was one of the first operational Early warning radars It was the U Radar is a system that uses electromagnetic waves to identify the range altitude direction or speed of both moving and fixed objects such as Aircraft, ships The Opana Radar Site is a National Historic Landmark that commemorates the first operational use of Radar by the United States in wartime during the Attack Although the operators reported a target echo larger than anything they had ever seen, an untrained officer at the new and only partially activated Intercept Center, Lieutenant Kermit A. Tyler, presumed the scheduled arrival of six B-17 bombers was the source because the direction from which the aircraft were coming was close (only a few degrees separated the two inbound courses);^[24] the operators had never seen a formation as large as the U. S. bombers' on radar;^[25] and possibly because the operators had only seen the lead element of incoming attack.

Several U. S. aircraft were shot down as the first wave approached land; one at least radioed a somewhat incoherent warning. Other warnings from ships off the harbor entrance were still being processed, or awaiting confirmation, when the planes began bombing and strafing. Nevertheless, it is not clear any warnings would have had much effect even if they had been interpreted correctly and much more promptly. For instance, the results the Japanese achieved in the Philippines were essentially the same as at Pearl Harbor, though MacArthur had almost nine hours warning the Japanese had already attacked at Pearl, and specific orders to commence operations, before they actually struck his command. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP General MacArthur redirects here for other meanings see General MacArthur (disambiguation.

The air portion of the attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:48 a. m. Hawaiian Time (3:18 a. m. December 8 Japanese Standard Time, as kept by ships of the Kido Butai), with the attack on Kaneohe. Events 1609 - Biblioteca Ambrosiana opens its reading room the second public library of Europe. Japan Standard Time or JST (日本標準時 or 中央標準時 is the standard Timezone of Japan, and is 9 hours ahead of UTC ^[26] A total of 353^[5] Japanese planes in two waves reached Oʻahu. Slow, vulnerable torpedo bombers led the first wave, exploiting the first moments of surprise to attack the most important ships present (the battleships), while dive bombers attacked U. S. air bases across Oʻahu, starting with Hickam Field, the largest, and Wheeler Field, the main U. S. Army Air Corps fighter base. The 171 planes in the second wave attacked the Air Corps' Bellows Field near Kaneohe on the windward side of the island, and Ford Island. Bellows Air Force Station ( Bellows Field) is a United States Military reservation located in Waimanalo Hawaii. Ford Island is located in the middle of Pearl Harbor Hawaii. It is connected to the main island by the Ford Island Bridge. The only air opposition came from a handful of P-36 Hawks and P-40 Warhawks. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout ^[27]

Men aboard U. S. ships awoke to the sounds of alarms, bombs exploding, and gunfire prompting bleary eyed men into dressing as they ran to General Quarters stations. (The famous message, "Air raid Pearl Harbor. This is not drill. ",^[28] was sent from the headquarters of Patrol Wing Two, the first senior Hawaiian command to respond. ) The defenders were very unprepared. Ammunition lockers were locked, aircraft parked wingtip to wingtip in the open to deter sabotage,^[29] guns unmanned (none of the Navy's 5"/38 AA and only a quarter of its machine guns, and only four of 31 Army batteries got in action). The Mark 12 5"/38 caliber gun is a US naval gun The gun is installed into Single Purpose and Dual Purpose mounts used primarily by the U ^[29] Despite this and low alert status, many American military personnel responded effectively during the battle. ^[30] Ensign Joe Taussig got his ship, USS Nevada, underway from dead cold during the attack. Design The Nevada class marked "another graduated step in the rapidly evolving American battleship" One of the destroyers, USS Aylwin, got underway with only four officers aboard, all Ensigns, none with more than a year's sea duty; she operated at sea for four days before her commanding officer managed to get aboard. 1935–1941 1935 Following builders' trials late in March and fitting out the destroyer shifted to the Naval Torpedo Station Newport Rhode Island, Captain Mervyn Bennion, commanding USS West Virginia (Kimmel's flagship), led his men until he was cut down by fragments from a bomb hit to USS Tennessee, moored alongside. Mervyn Sharp Bennion ( 5 May 1887 &ndash 7 December 1941) was a captain in the United States Navy who died during the Japanese 1923 – 1941 In the months that followed West Virginia ran her trials and shakedown and underwent post-commissioning alterations 1920–1941 Tennessee and her sister ship ''California'' (BB-44 were the first American battleships built to a "post- Jutland " hull

Gallantry was widespread. In all, 14 officers and sailors were awarded the Medal of Honor. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. A special military award, the Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal, was later authorized for all military veterans of the attack. Awards and decorations of the United States military are Military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed The Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal, also known as the Pearl Harbor Survivor’s Medal, is a decoration of the United States military which was established

Second wave composition

The second wave consisted of 54 B5Ns, 81 D3As, and 36 A6Ms, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Shigekazu Shimazaki. Lieutenant Commander ( Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy) is a Commissioned officer rank in many navies Superior Shigekazu Shimazaki (嶋崎重和 9 September 1908 - 9 January 1945) was a Rear Admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy ^[22] This wave and its targets comprised:^[22]

• 1st Group — 54 B5Ns armed with 550 lb (249 kg) and 120 lb (54 kg) general purpose bombs^[23]
  • 27 B5Ns — aircraft and hangars on Kaneohe, Ford Island, and Barbers Point
  • 27 B5N — hangars and aircraft on Hickam Field
• 2nd Group (targets: aircraft carriers and cruisers)
  • 81 D3As armed with 550 lb (249 kg) general purpose bombs, in four sections
• 3rd Group — (targets: aircraft at Ford Island, Hickham Field, Wheeler Field, Barber’s Point, Kaneohe)
  • 36 A6Ms for defense and strafing

The second wave was divided into three groups. One was tasked to attack Kāneʻohe, the rest Pearl Harbor proper. The separate sections arrived at the attack point almost simultaneously, from several directions.

Ninety minutes after it began, the attack was over. 2,386 Americans died (55 were civilians, most killed by unexploded American anti-aircraft shells landing in civilian areas), a further 1,139 wounded. Eighteen ships were sunk, including five battleships. ^[3][4]

Of the American fatalities, nearly half of the total were due to the explosion of USS Arizona's forward magazine after it was hit by a modified 40 cm (16in) shell. Construction On 4 March 1913 Congress authorized the construction of Arizona, the second and last of the ''Pennsylvania'' class of "super-dreadnought" A gunpowder magazine is a magazine (building designed to store the explosive Gunpowder in wooden Barrels for safety ^[31]

Already damaged by a torpedo and on fire forward, Nevada attempted to exit the harbor. She was targeted by many Japanese bombers as she got under way, sustaining more hits from 250 lb (113 kg) bombs as she was deliberately beached to avoid blocking the harbor entrance.

USS California was hit by two bombs and two torpedoes. History Her keel was laid down on 25 October 1916 by the Mare Island Navy Yard. The crew might have kept her afloat, but were ordered to abandon ship just as they were raising power for the pumps. Burning oil from Arizona and West Virginia drifted down on her, and probably made the situation look worse than it was. The disarmed target ship USS Utah was holed twice by torpedoes. Construction Her keel was laid down on 9 March 1909 at Camden New Jersey, by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation. USS West Virginia was hit by seven torpedoes, the seventh tearing away her rudder. 1923 – 1941 In the months that followed West Virginia ran her trials and shakedown and underwent post-commissioning alterations USS Oklahoma was hit by four torpedoes, the last two above her belt armor, which caused her to capsize. Construction Oklahoma was the last ship of the US Navy to be installed with Vertical triple expansion reciprocating machinery instead of Steam turbines The common definition for capsized refers to when a Boat or Ship is tipped over until disabled USS Maryland was hit by two of the converted 40 cm shells, but neither caused serious damage. World War II Seaman Leslie Short addressing Christmas cards near his machine-gun brought the first of his ship's guns into play shooting down one of two torpedo planes

Although the Japanese concentrated on battleships (the largest vessels present), they did not ignore other targets. The light cruiser USS Helena was torpedoed, and the concussion from the blast capsized the neighboring minelayer USS Oglala. Commissioning Helena, the second Navy ship named after the city of Helena Montana, was launched 27 August 1939 by the New York Navy 7 December 1941 On the morning of 7 December 1941 USS Oglala, Flagship of the Pacific Fleet Mine Force, was tied up Outboard Two destroyers in dry dock were destroyed when bombs penetrated their fuel bunkers. A military bunker is a hardened shelter often buried partly or fully underground designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks The leaking fuel caught fire; flooding the dry dock in an effort to fight fire made the burning oil rise, and so the ships were burned out. The light cruiser USS Raleigh was holed by a torpedo. See also See USS ''Raleigh'' for ships of the same name The light cruiser USS Honolulu was damaged but remained in service. The destroyer USS Cassin capsized, and destroyer USS Downes was heavily damaged. History Cassin was launched 28 October 1935 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs Pre-war service Downes was launched 22 April 1936 by Norfolk Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss S The repair vessel USS Vestal, moored alongside Arizona, was heavily damaged and beached. Commissioning The history of USS Vestal (AR-4 began when Erie (Fleet Collier No The seaplane tender USS Curtiss was also damaged. USS Shaw was badly damaged when two bombs penetrated her forward magazine. History Shaw was laid down on 1 October 1934 at the United States Navy Yard, Philadelphia Pennsylvania; launched on 28 October 1935 sponsored ^[32]

Of the 402^[5] American aircraft in Hawaii, 188 were destroyed and 159 damaged,^[5] 155 of them on the ground. Almost none were actually ready to take off to defend the base. Of 33 PBYs in Hawaii, 24 were destroyed, and six others damaged beyond repair. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout (The three on patrol returned undamaged. ) Friendly fire brought down several U. S. planes on top of that, including some from an inbound flight from USS Enterprise. Initial operations Enterprise was launched on 3 October 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding, sponsored by Lulie Swanson wife of Secretary of the Japanese attacks on barracks killed additional personnel.

Fifty-five Japanese airmen and nine submariners were killed in the action. Of Japan's 414^[22] available planes, 29 were lost during the battle (nine in the first attack wave, 20 in the second),^[33] with another 74 damaged by antiaircraft fire from the ground.

Possible third wave

Several Japanese junior officers, including Fuchida and the chief architect of the attack, Captain Minoru Genda, urged Nagumo to carry out a third strike in order to destroy as much of Pearl Harbor's fuel storage, maintenance, and dry dock facilities as possible. For information specifically on the Royal Navy rank of captain see Captain (Royal Navy. Minoru Genda (源田実 Genda Minoru, 16 August 1904 – 15 August 1989) was a well-known Japanese military aviator and politician ^[34] Some military historians have suggested the destruction of these oil tanks and repair facilities would have crippled the U. S. Pacific Fleet far more seriously than loss of its battleships. If they had been wiped out, "serious [American] operations in the Pacific would have been postponed for more than a year. "^[35] Nagumo, however, decided to forgo a third attack in favor of withdrawal for several reasons:

• American anti-aircraft performance had improved considerably during the second strike, and two-thirds of Japan's losses were incurred during the second wave. ^[36] Nagumo felt if he launched a third strike, he would be risking three-quarters of the Combined Fleet's strength to wipe out the remaining targets (which included the facilities) while suffering higher aircraft losses. ^[36]
• The location of the American carriers remained unknown. In addition, the Admiral was concerned his force was now within range of American land-based bombers. ^[36] Nagumo was uncertain whether the U. S. had enough surviving planes remaining on Hawaii to launch an attack against Japan's carriers. ^[37]
• A third wave attack would have required substantial preparation and turn-around time, and would have meant returning planes would have faced night landings. At the time, no Navy had developed night carrier techniques, so this was a substantial risk.
• The task force's fuel situation did not permit him to remain in waters north of Pearl Harbor much longer since he was at the very limits of logistical support. To do so risked running unacceptably low on fuel, perhaps even having to abandon destroyers en route home. ^[38]
• He believed the second strike had essentially satisfied the main objective of his mission — the neutralization of the Pacific Fleet — and did not wish to risk further losses. ^[39]

At a conference aboard Yamato the following morning, Yamamoto initially supported Nagumo's decision to withdraw. ^[39] In retrospect, however, Nagumo's decision to spare the vital dockyards, maintenance shops, and oil depots meant the U. S. could respond relatively quickly to Japanese activities in the Pacific. Yamamoto later regretted Nagumo's decision and categorically stated it had been a great mistake not to order a third strike. ^[40]

Gallery

Zeroes preparing to take off from Shokaku for Pearl Harbor	Bombers preparing to take off	USS California sinking	Destroyer USS Shaw exploding after her forward magazine was detonated
USS West Virginia took two aerial bombs (one dud) and seven torpedo hits; of the seven at least five were from aircraft and one from a midget submarine	B-17 after the attack on Hickam Field. Design Shōkaku was laid down at Yokosuka Dockyard on December 12, 1937, launched on June 1, 1939, and commissioned History Her keel was laid down on 25 October 1916 by the Mare Island Navy Yard. History Shaw was laid down on 1 October 1934 at the United States Navy Yard, Philadelphia Pennsylvania; launched on 28 October 1935 sponsored 1923 – 1941 In the months that followed West Virginia ran her trials and shakedown and underwent post-commissioning alterations WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout	Hangar in Ford Island burns

Aftermath

USS Pennsylvania, behind the wreckage of the USS Downes and USS Cassin.

Main article: Results of the attack on Pearl Harbor

Though the attack was notable for its large-scale destruction, the damage was not significant in terms of American fuel storage, maintenance and intelligence capabilities. Ford Island is located in the middle of Pearl Harbor Hawaii. It is connected to the main island by the Ford Island Bridge. In the Atlantic Fleet Upon commissioning Pennsylvania was attached to the U Pre-war service Downes was launched 22 April 1936 by Norfolk Navy Yard; sponsored by Miss S History Cassin was launched 28 October 1935 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; sponsored by Mrs See also Attack on Pearl Harbor The results of the attack on Pearl Harbor are many and significant Had Japan destroyed the American carriers, the U. S. would have sustained significant damage to the Pacific Fleet's ability to conduct offensive operations for a year or so (given no diversions from the Atlantic Fleet). As it was, the elimination of the battleships left the U. S. Navy with no choice but to place its faith in aircraft carriers and submarines — the very weapons with which the U. S. Navy halted and eventually reversed the Japanese advance. A major flaw of Japanese strategic thinking was a belief the ultimate Pacific battle would be between battleships of both sides, in keeping with the doctrine of Captain Alfred Mahan. Alfred Thayer Mahan (September 27 1840–December 1 1914 was a United States Navy Flag officer, geostrategist, and educator As a result, Yamamoto (and his successors) hoarded battleships for a "decisive battle" that never happened.

Ultimately, targets not on Genda's list, such as the Submarine Base and the old Headquarters Building, proved more important than any battleship. It was submarines that immobilized the Imperial Japanese Navy's heavy ships and brought Japan's economy to a standstill by crippling transportation of oil and raw materials. And in the basement of the old Administration Building was the cryptanalytic unit, HYPO, which contributed significantly to the Midway ambush and the Submarine Force's success. Station HYPO, also known as Fleet Radio Unit Pacific (FRUPAC was the United States Navy signals monitoring and cryptographic

Salvage

Captain Homer N. Wallin (center) supervises salvage operations aboard USS California, early 1942

After a systematic search for survivors, formal salvage operations began. Vice Admiral Homer Norman Wallin ( December 6, 1893 – March 6, 1984) was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy History Her keel was laid down on 25 October 1916 by the Mare Island Navy Yard. Captain Homer N. Wallin, Material Officer for Commander, Battle Force, U. Vice Admiral Homer Norman Wallin ( December 6, 1893 – March 6, 1984) was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy S. Pacific Fleet, had recently been given orders to Massawa and was awaiting transportation when the Japanese attack came. Massawa, formerly known as Mitsiwa ( Ge'ez ምጽዋ miṣṣiwa, Arabic مصوع maṣṣawaʿ In Massawa, he was to have assisted the British in clearing scuttled Italian and German ships from that harbor. Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull. Instead, Wallin was immediately retained for salvage leadership in Pearl Harbor; Commander Edward Ellsberg was ordered to Massawa as his replacement, a switch that delayed by several months British hopes for a useful port in the Red Sea. Rear Admiral Edward Ellsberg, OBE ( November 21, 1891 - January 24, 1983) was an officer in the United States Navy ^[41]

Around Pearl Harbor, divers from the Navy (shore and tenders), the Naval Shipyard, and civilian contractors (Pacific Bridge, and others) began work on the ships which could be refloated. They patched holes, cleared debris, and pumped water out of ships. Navy divers worked inside the damaged ships. Within six months, five battleships and two cruisers were patched or refloated so they could be sent to shipyards in Pearl and on the mainland for extensive repair.

Intensive salvage operations continued for another year. The Utah and Arizona were too heavily damaged for salvage, though much of their armament and equipment was removed and restored for use aboard other vessels. Today, the two hulls remain where they were sunk. ^[42]

Divers logged in 20,000 hours under water with zero visibility. They worked in water with heavy oil, dangerous debris, decomposing bodies, and unexploded ordnance. ^[43][44]

Subsequent attack on Pearl Harbor

On March 4, 1942, two Kawanishi H8K "Emily" flying boats bombed Pearl Harbor after fueling at French Frigate Shoals. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout A flying boat is a specialised form of Aircraft that is designed to take off from and land on water using its Fuselage as a floating hull. The French Frigate Shoals ( Hawaiian: Kānemilohai) is the largest Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Due to poor visibility, the bombs were off target and did not accomplish any significant damage. The resulting power outage delayed salvage operations temporarily. ^[45]

Media

See also

• Remember Pearl Harbor
• Niihau Incident
• Attacks on North America during World War II
• List of United States Navy losses in World War II
• List of United States Navy ships present at Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941
• Pearl Harbor
• Pearl Harbor advance-knowledge debate
• Pearl Harbor Survivors Association
• USS Arizona Memorial
• Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor
• Tora! Tora! Tora!
• In Defense of Internment
• Pearl Harbor advance-knowledge debate

References

Notes

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

• "Remembering Pearl Harbor:The USS Arizona Memorial", a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan

Accounts

• Guarding The United States And Its Outposts Official U. S. Army history of Pearl Harbor
• War comes to Hawaii Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Monday, September 13, 1999

Media

• Video of first Newsreel from December 23, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor

Historic documents

• WW2DB: US Navy Report of Japanese Raid on Pearl Harbor
• Second World War — USA Declaration of War on Japan.
• Collection of extensive Japanese preparation military documents

Coordinates: 21°22′N 157°57′W / 21.367, -157.95