Attack on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor

December 7December 7thth, 1941, 1941

Pearl HarborPearl Harbor

Japanese PlanJapanese Plan

• Knew they could not win long, drawn-Knew they could not win long, drawn-out warout war

• Thought of the U.S. as weak, hoped Thought of the U.S. as weak, hoped to hit them hard and force a quick to hit them hard and force a quick surrendersurrender

• Hoped to eliminate U.S. Pacific fleet Hoped to eliminate U.S. Pacific fleet as a threatas a threat

Battle PlanBattle Plan

Battle PlanBattle Plan

• Japanese targetsJapanese targets– 11stst wave wave

• Airfields and Airfields and BattleshipsBattleships

– 22ndnd wave wave• Other ships and Other ships and

shipyard facilitiesshipyard facilities

U.S. PreparationU.S. Preparation

• Events that suggested an attackEvents that suggested an attack– 3:42 Submarine periscope spotted3:42 Submarine periscope spotted– 6:45 USS Ward attacks midget submarine6:45 USS Ward attacks midget submarine– 7:02 Radar station spots unidentified aircraft7:02 Radar station spots unidentified aircraft

• 7:20 U.S. bombers expected in the morning7:20 U.S. bombers expected in the morning

– 7:33 Warning message reaches civilian 7:33 Warning message reaches civilian telegraph stationtelegraph station

– 7:40 17:40 1stst wave of Japanese planes reaches Oahu wave of Japanese planes reaches Oahu– 7:49 Japanese Aerial Commander gives attack 7:49 Japanese Aerial Commander gives attack

orderorder

U.S. PreparationsU.S. Preparations

• Japanese diplomats continued peace talks with U.S. Japanese diplomats continued peace talks with U.S. while attack being plannedwhile attack being planned

• Several messages intercepted – attack expected, Several messages intercepted – attack expected, but expected in the Pacificbut expected in the Pacific

• Attack was on Sunday, U.S. still “in peacetime”Attack was on Sunday, U.S. still “in peacetime”– Most sailors, pilots, etc. at churchMost sailors, pilots, etc. at church– Ammunition was locked in storage per peacetime Ammunition was locked in storage per peacetime

regulationsregulations– Aircraft parked wingtip to wingtipAircraft parked wingtip to wingtip– No torpedo nets protecting harbor – believed harbor was to No torpedo nets protecting harbor – believed harbor was to

shallow for submarinesshallow for submarines– Most initially thought it was a drill, until the bullets and Most initially thought it was a drill, until the bullets and

bombs started fallingbombs started falling

Pearl Harbor ConspiracyPearl Harbor Conspiracy

• FDR – Mother of all ConspiraciesFDR – Mother of all Conspiracies• Many historians and conspiracy theorists believe Many historians and conspiracy theorists believe

Pres. Roosevelt knew of the attack on Pearl Harbor Pres. Roosevelt knew of the attack on Pearl Harbor and allowed it to happen to bring the U.S. into war.and allowed it to happen to bring the U.S. into war.

• ClaimsClaims– Roosevelt had promised that he would not go to war Roosevelt had promised that he would not go to war

unless attacked.unless attacked.– Knew that Germany would not attack first because Knew that Germany would not attack first because

Hitler recognized the affect it would have.Hitler recognized the affect it would have.– If Japan attacked, Germany would declare war, allowing If Japan attacked, Germany would declare war, allowing

FDR to do so.FDR to do so.– Roosevelt labeled as a traitor.Roosevelt labeled as a traitor.

Japanese AttackJapanese Attack

• 5 midget submarines attempted to enter 5 midget submarines attempted to enter Pearl HarborPearl Harbor– None made successful attacksNone made successful attacks– 2 crew per sub/1 Japanese was captured2 crew per sub/1 Japanese was captured

• Attacked in Two Waves Attacked in Two Waves – First Wave – 183 planesFirst Wave – 183 planes– Second Wave – 171 planesSecond Wave – 171 planes– Third Wave – was planned but not carried out Third Wave – was planned but not carried out

because the risk was considered too greatbecause the risk was considered too great

AftermathAftermath

• AmericanAmerican– 5 battleships sunk, 3 damaged5 battleships sunk, 3 damaged– 2 destroyers sunk, 1 damaged2 destroyers sunk, 1 damaged– 1 other ship sunk, 3 damaged1 other ship sunk, 3 damaged– 3 cruisers damaged3 cruisers damaged– 188 aircraft destroyed, 155 damaged188 aircraft destroyed, 155 damaged– 2,345 military, 57 civilians killed2,345 military, 57 civilians killed– 1,247 military, 35 civilian wounded1,247 military, 35 civilian wounded

• JapaneseJapanese– All 5 midget subs lost (4 sunk, 1 run aground)All 5 midget subs lost (4 sunk, 1 run aground)– 27 aircraft lost27 aircraft lost– 55 airmen, 9 submariners killed, 1 captured55 airmen, 9 submariners killed, 1 captured

Cont.Cont.

• Missed targetsMissed targets– Oil tanks in HawaiiOil tanks in Hawaii– U.S. Aircraft carriersU.S. Aircraft carriers

• Had the Japanese hit these, they Had the Japanese hit these, they could have effectively removed the could have effectively removed the entire U.S. Navy from the Pacificentire U.S. Navy from the Pacific

Effects on AmericaEffects on America

• December 8December 8– U.S. and Britain declare war on JapanU.S. and Britain declare war on Japan

• December 11December 11– Germany and Italy declare war on U.SGermany and Italy declare war on U.S

• Enraged many AmericansEnraged many Americans– Ended Isolationist feelingsEnded Isolationist feelings– Led thousands of young men to enlist in the Led thousands of young men to enlist in the

armed forces, many who lied about their age to armed forces, many who lied about their age to be able to enlist.be able to enlist.

Japanese take offJapanese take off

U.S.S. ArizonaU.S.S. Arizona

Other damaged/destroyed Other damaged/destroyed shipsships