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Japan also attacked Guam, The East Indies, Malay & The Phillipines as well as Pearl Harbor On the day of November 7, 1941,exactly one month prior to the Pearl Harbor Attack that still "...live(s) in infamy!", according to FDR, Japan issued The Combined Fleet Order No. 1 to its military forces. That order laid out the plans for the Japanese Empire's boldly extensive South Pacific operation. As far back as March 1, 1941, they planned to send the 1st Air Fleet to attack Pearl Harbor,the 2nd Fleet to attack the islands in the East Indies, Malay, & The Philippines and the 4th Fleet to attack the Island of Guam. Japan's plan was for its Southern Force to invade Malaya while its Philippine Force invaded and occupied The Philippines. A Northern Force would lay back to guard the eastern home waters of Japan while the main naval body was positioned in Japan's Inland Sea home waters.
Many Reasons
- Japan chose Pearl Harbor for many reasons. *First off, Pearl Harbor was located right in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It was "in the way",so to speak, of the Japanese expansion policy.
- Second, Pearl Harbor was where America's Pacific Fleet was located. If Japan was to wage war with America, it needed to completely wipe out all of America's power in the Pacific with one surprise attack.
- However, the attack on Pearl Harbor did not wipe out America's presense in the Pacific because the aircraft carriers, the heart of the fleet, were out at sea on training manuevers.
Japan saw the US as the only country with enough naval strength in the Pacific to be a significant threat to their expansionist plans to occupy the Pacific islands. They had discovered that the US usually kept the majority of its Pacific Naval forces (both ships and aircraft) at Pearl Harbor when not in active service. The Japanese decided to take a gamble and try to completely cripple the US Navy by attacking Pearl Harbor, if the majority of the Navy's equipment could be destroyed then the US might give up easily and permit Japan to take whatever it wanted with no resistance.
However what the Japanese could not know and was lucky for the US was that all of the aircraft carriers were out that day on a training mission. So although the attack did destroy or disable nearly everything at Pearl Harbor, those aircraft carriers were THE THING that enabled the US to fight back in the Pacific for about the first two years of the war until more ships could be built. This forced dependence on aircraft carriers also made significant changes in US Naval tactics that eventually led to the modern Navy's usage of nuclear aircraft carriers and the abandonment of the battleship and other "gunboat" type ships.
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∙ 7y ago
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∙ 16y agoOther bases were attacked such as Wheeler Field, Hickam Field, and Kaneohe Marine air station. One of their first objectives was to try to destroy American aircraft on the ground so their would be no fighters to take on their bombers and torpedo planes.
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∙ 8y agoPearl Harbor was the base for the American Pacific fleet and most of the fleet (maybe all ) were in Pearl Harbor at the time of the attack. By destroying the US Navy fleet, it would cripple the ability to respond to Japanese aggression. Imperial Japan had assurances from Germany and Italy that these Axis powers would support Japan.
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∙ 12y agoIn 1941, it was the main home base for the US Pacific Fleet. The Japanese wanted to sink as many battleships, aircraft carriers, and cruisers as possible. So they selected the location where they were based when not at sea.
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∙ 11y agofirst answer:
Pearl Harbour is a LOT closer to Japan than mainland America. They attacked Pearl Harbour specifically because it is the U.S. naval base in the area and a significant threat to Japanese naval dominance in the area.
second answer:
Also the Japanese did attack other US locations in the Pacific & Asia that it could reach: the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island & Midway Island. Japanese submarines did attack ships off the US West Coast (such as on Dec 20, 22, 23, 24, & 27 1941) and occasionally shell US West Coast locations (such as February 23, 1942-Ellwood, CA).
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∙ 14y agoPearl Harbor was the home of the US Pacific Fleet and the first point of departure for the US to project power into the Pacific Ocean to thwart Japanese expansionist policies in the Pacific theater of war .
It was necessary to hinder the US's chance of stopping these policies that made Pearl Harbor the first choice for Japanese attacks in the Pacific thus giving the Japanese the chance to consolidate their gains in the hopes that the US would sue for peace .
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∙ 15y agoThe largest battlefleet was there.
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What are the causes of the attack of pearl harbor?
the japanse attack pearl harbour because the amricans block the Japanese oil suppliy so they chose to attack and did so on the pacific fleet and this was after japan just signed a peace agreement with amrica and so after the attack amrica got even and bomed japan i hope this answers all
What ship made a run for it?
During the attack on Pearl Harbor the U.S.S Nevada tried to make a run for it but they were damaged and too close to the harbor entrance to make it without blocking all passage in or out of the harbor. They chose to ground near the hospital to keep the harbor entrance open and have a chance to save the ship.
Why were so many ships in pearl harbor?
The origins of the tension between the US and Japan, which ultimately led to the attack on Pearl Harbor, dates back to the early part of the 20th Century. In summary: In response to Japan's declaration of war on China, which occurred in 1937, and then in 1940, further advancing their troops into northern Indo-China, the US demanded that Japan withdraw from China. Japan refused the demands of the US. In July, 1941 after Japan had refused to withdraw from China, the US, (who supplied Japan with approximately 80% its oil resources, and many of the country's other resources) imposed a complete oil embargo on Japan. This decision, and event is what triggered Japan to attack Pearl Harbor. The reason Pearl Harbor was chosen, as point of target, was, in May of 1940, the US Navy had moved its US Fleet headquarters from San Pedro, California, to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Ironically, the move was a planned one on President Roosevelt's part, to counter Japan's increasing maneuvers and presence in the South Pacific. This decision, and the United States' under estimation of the ability of Japan's military to successfully attack the Navy's fleet at Pearl Harbor, was critical to Japan's successful plan and attack.
To what extent was the bombing of Pearl Harbor the start of the Japanese defeat in World War 2?
By attacking Pearl Harbor the Japanese .. in their own words( or nearly so ) "awoke a sleeping giant." The US chose not to be part of the war because they did chose not to but were willing to support the allies by providing much needed funds and weapons. By attacking the US it brought out a spirit and a military force that had unknown strength -which we proved was a significant force and helped turn the tide for the allies - maybe not right away, but our presence was truly felt from the beginning.
Why was the United States unprepared for the attack on Pearl Harbor?
The United States was not prepared for an attack on Pearl Harbor. Preparations for an expected attack were being made on Wake and Midway Islands -- both located closer to Japan. (Check a map of the Pacific Ocean area) In fact, the U.S. was in the middle of peace negotiations with Japan, when Pearl Harbor happened. It was a complete surprise
Why did the Japanese chose pearl harbor as the first target in their attack?
to take out the Pacific Fleet, especially the aircraft carriers like the Enterprise
What are the causes of the attack of pearl harbor?
the japanse attack pearl harbour because the amricans block the Japanese oil suppliy so they chose to attack and did so on the pacific fleet and this was after japan just signed a peace agreement with amrica and so after the attack amrica got even and bomed japan i hope this answers all
Did Americas allys help in the attack of pearl harbor?
Yes, an Australian naval war ship located the Japanese fleet on route to Pearl Harbour and attempted to send out a warning of the fleets movements. However, the Americans never answered our call and instead chose to ignore the signal.
Why is war a product of a man's choice?
Because all men choose to do the things that cause war. Hitler chose to try and take over the world. Japan chose to attack Pearl Harbor. War is not started by the innocent.
What ship made a run for it?
During the attack on Pearl Harbor the U.S.S Nevada tried to make a run for it but they were damaged and too close to the harbor entrance to make it without blocking all passage in or out of the harbor. They chose to ground near the hospital to keep the harbor entrance open and have a chance to save the ship.
Why were so many ships in pearl harbor?
The origins of the tension between the US and Japan, which ultimately led to the attack on Pearl Harbor, dates back to the early part of the 20th Century. In summary: In response to Japan's declaration of war on China, which occurred in 1937, and then in 1940, further advancing their troops into northern Indo-China, the US demanded that Japan withdraw from China. Japan refused the demands of the US. In July, 1941 after Japan had refused to withdraw from China, the US, (who supplied Japan with approximately 80% its oil resources, and many of the country's other resources) imposed a complete oil embargo on Japan. This decision, and event is what triggered Japan to attack Pearl Harbor. The reason Pearl Harbor was chosen, as point of target, was, in May of 1940, the US Navy had moved its US Fleet headquarters from San Pedro, California, to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Ironically, the move was a planned one on President Roosevelt's part, to counter Japan's increasing maneuvers and presence in the South Pacific. This decision, and the United States' under estimation of the ability of Japan's military to successfully attack the Navy's fleet at Pearl Harbor, was critical to Japan's successful plan and attack.
To what extent was the bombing of Pearl Harbor the start of the Japanese defeat in World War 2?
By attacking Pearl Harbor the Japanese .. in their own words( or nearly so ) "awoke a sleeping giant." The US chose not to be part of the war because they did chose not to but were willing to support the allies by providing much needed funds and weapons. By attacking the US it brought out a spirit and a military force that had unknown strength -which we proved was a significant force and helped turn the tide for the allies - maybe not right away, but our presence was truly felt from the beginning.
Why did the japs choose Hawaii to bomb?
there were a lot of u.s. battleships so that's why they chose to bomb pearl harbor.
Why did Japan choose to bomb Hawaii?
They did not choose Hawaii. They chose to destroy the US Navy fleet, which was based in Pearl Harbor, HI.
Why was the United States unprepared for the attack on Pearl Harbor?
The United States was not prepared for an attack on Pearl Harbor. Preparations for an expected attack were being made on Wake and Midway Islands -- both located closer to Japan. (Check a map of the Pacific Ocean area) In fact, the U.S. was in the middle of peace negotiations with Japan, when Pearl Harbor happened. It was a complete surprise
What was the theme of Pearl Harbor movie?
Always volunteer to stand up against evil, love one another, and forgiveness are the themes of the Pearl Harbor movie set in WW2. One soldier chose to forgive the other and raised his son after he died.
Why did japan believe it was forced into war with the US?
The Japanese didn't want to get into a war with the US. The plan was to take out Pearl Harbor, a major U.S. naval base, unexpectedly, thus crippling the giant and keeping them out of Japan's hair while Japan went on to conquer East Asia. It was also the Japanese intention to take control of the Philippines which meant that they would have to oppose the United States at some point. They chose to make it an engagement on their terms as opposed to one where the Americans could have a strong showing.
