Attack on Pearl Harbor December 7 th, 1941

Pearl Harbor

Japanese Plan Knew they could not win long, drawn-out war 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 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 Hoped to eliminate U.S. Pacific fleet as a threat

Battle Plan

Japanese targets Japanese targets –1 st wave Airfields and Battleships –2 nd wave Other ships and shipyard facilities

U.S. Preparation Events that suggested an attack 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 7:20 U.S. bombers expected in the morning –7:33 Warning message reaches civilian telegraph station –7:40 1 st 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 Japanese diplomats continued peace talks with U.S. while attack being planned Several messages intercepted – attack expected, but expected in the Pacific Several messages intercepted – attack expected, but 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 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 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. 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 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 5 midget submarines attempted to enter Pearl Harbor –None made successful attacks –2 crew per sub/1 Japanese was captured Attacked in Two Waves 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 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 Japanese –All 5 midget subs lost (4 sunk, 1 run aground) –27 aircraft lost –55 airmen, 9 submariners killed, 1 captured

Cont. Missed targets 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 Had the Japanese hit these, they could have effectively removed the entire U.S. Navy from the Pacific

Effects on America December 8 December 8 –U.S. and Britain declare war on Japan December 11 December 11 –Germany and Italy declare war on U.S Enraged many Americans 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.

Japanese take off

U.S.S. Arizona

Other damaged/destroyed ships