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Attack on Pearl Harbor. December 7 th , 1941. Pearl Harbor. Japanese Plan. Knew they could not win long, drawn-out war Thought of the U.S. as weak, hoped to hit them hard and force a quick surrender Hoped to eliminate U.S. Pacific fleet as a threat. Battle Plan. Battle Plan.
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Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7th, 1941
Japanese Plan • Knew they could not win long, drawn-out war • Thought of the U.S. as weak, hoped to hit them hard and force a quick surrender • Hoped to eliminate U.S. Pacific fleet as a threat
Battle Plan • Japanese targets • 1st wave • Airfields and Battleships • 2nd wave • Other ships and shipyard facilities
U.S. Preparation • Events that suggested an attack • 3:42 Submarine periscope spotted • 6:45 USS Ward attacks midget submarine • 7:02 Radar station spots unidentified aircraft • 7:20 U.S. bombers expected in the morning • 7:33 Warning message reaches civilian telegraph station • 7:40 1st wave of Japanese planes reaches Oahu • 7:49 Japanese Aerial Commander gives attack order
U.S. Preparations • Japanese diplomats continued peace talks with U.S. while attack being planned • Several messages intercepted – attack expected, but expected in the Pacific • Attack was on Sunday, U.S. still “in peacetime” • Most sailors, pilots, etc. at church • Ammunition was locked in storage per peacetime regulations • Aircraft parked wingtip to wingtip • No torpedo nets protecting harbor – believed harbor was to shallow for submarines • Most initially thought it was a drill, until the bullets and bombs started falling
Pearl Harbor Conspiracy • FDR – Mother of all Conspiracies • Many historians and conspiracy theorists believe Pres. Roosevelt knew of the attack on Pearl Harbor and allowed it to happen to bring the U.S. into war. • Claims • Roosevelt had promised that he would not go to war unless attacked. • Knew that Germany would not attack first because Hitler recognized the affect it would have. • If Japan attacked, Germany would declare war, allowing FDR to do so. • Roosevelt labeled as a traitor.
Japanese Attack • 5 midget submarines attempted to enter Pearl Harbor • None made successful attacks • 2 crew per sub/1 Japanese was captured • Attacked in Two Waves • First Wave – 183 planes • Second Wave – 171 planes • Third Wave – was planned but not carried out because the risk was considered too great
Aftermath • American • 5 battleships sunk, 3 damaged • 2 destroyers sunk, 1 damaged • 1 other ship sunk, 3 damaged • 3 cruisers damaged • 188 aircraft destroyed, 155 damaged • 2,345 military, 57 civilians killed • 1,247 military, 35 civilian wounded • Japanese • All 5 midget subs lost (4 sunk, 1 run aground) • 27 aircraft lost • 55 airmen, 9 submariners killed, 1 captured
Cont. • Missed targets • Oil tanks in Hawaii • U.S. Aircraft carriers • Had the Japanese hit these, they could have effectively removed the entire U.S. Navy from the Pacific
Effects on America • December 8 • U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan • December 11 • Germany and Italy declare war on U.S • Enraged many Americans • Ended Isolationist feelings • Led thousands of young men to enlist in the armed forces, many who lied about their age to be able to enlist.
