Thread: Day of Infamy : The Attack on Pearl Harbor

On Sunday 7th December 1941, Over 350 Aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy, launched from 6 Aircraft Carriers about 200 miles North of the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, attacked the US Pacific Fleet in a surprise raid at it's main base of Pearl Harbor. Several ships were destroyed or damaged some beyond repair. About 180 aircraft were also destroyed and around 4500 casualties suffered by the Americans. In what Franklin Delano Roosevelt later described as a "Day of Infamy" the US was finally dragged in to WW2 proper after months of posturing to stay out of the conflict. Now it truly was a global war ...




Left - Chart showing the route taken by the Japanese Combined Fleet to a Point north of Hawaii. Right - Specified Targets for the attack : -

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 Naval Air Station

10. Hickam Field


Ignored in the attack (Red)

A. Oil Storage Tanks

B. CINCPAC HQ Building

C. Submarine Base

D. Navy Repair Yard & Dry Docks





Nakajima B5N "Kate" Level/Torpedo Bomber.




Aichi D3A "Val" Dive Bomber. D3A's getting ready to join the attack on Pearl Harbor from their Carrier.




Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" Fighter. A6M2 "Zero" taking off from the Carrier "Akagi" to take part in the attack.

An aerial view taken from a Japanese Aircraft at the start of the attack.

Although the Pearl Harbor attack was a tactical success for the Japanese, the long term strategic effects were a failure. Instead of demoralising the Americans as the Japanese had hoped, it galvanized the US in to taking the plunge in to war and barely 6 months afterwards Japan had suffered her first major reversal at the Battle of Midway, with 4 of the 6 Carriers used in the Pearl Harbor attack sunk by US Navy Dive Bombers.







Left to Right - USS West Virginia on fire & sinking after being beached, Aircraft burning at Ford Island NAS, USS California slowly sinking, A smashed B-17 at Hickam Field

Did the Japanese believe that the USA would sit back and accept this attack? Was Hitler fully aware of what the Japanese intension's were, as a selfish side of me is pleased that they did this as it brought the much needed Americans into the War early than expected.. I believe that the USA would have entered the War at some time, this gave them the opening they much wanted.. Some nice pictures BTW Spitfire XIV-E ..

There is a train of thought that Roosevelt deliberately set events in motion to provoke Japan in to making an "error" of judgement. Whether there is any truth in this is pure speculation but it does make you think. Especially as the Japanese' main targets - The US Navy Aircraft Carriers, just happened to be out on manoevers at the time of the attack ...

I've heard or read somewhere that The USA 'KNEW' something was going to happen....Sounds sort of familiar

What I find interesting about the attack is that although Yamamoto planned it, he later believed that it was a major blunder. Furthermore, he believed that Japan could not win a protracted war against the United States. According to the book, The Reluctant Admiral, the Japanese Foreign Ministry was to blame for not notifying the United States of Japan's aggressive intentions and as a result, the attack on Pearl Harbor ended up being an unprovoked sneak attack on a country that Japan was at peace with.

...And I'm still scratching my head about that conversation between Niven and Churchill:

‘ “…Do you think sir….that the Americans will ever come into the war?” He fixed me with that rather intimidating gaze and unloosed the famous jaw-jutting bulldog growl.
“Mark my words – something cataclysmic will occur !”
Four weeks later the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour.
Months later, when we were once again enjoying the delights of a short leave at Ditchley, I asked in the walled garden if the Prime Minister remembered what he had said so long ago. His reply gave me goose pimples.
‘Certainly I remember.’
What made you say it sir?’
‘Because, young man, I study history.’”’

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Originally Posted by Dave

...And I'm still scratching my head about that conversation between Niven and Churchill:



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It may have us scatching our heads Dave, but what a great reply he gave ...