Why was the United States unprepared for the attack on Pearl Harbor?

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

AnswerNo. MLM

ANSWER:

This depends on the level of preparedness. The US was anticipating a Japanese attack at the command level, however the Admiral of the Pacific Fleet at the time thought it was from sabotage so took different defensive postures. The US was well aware that the Japanese were being forced into an attack, however the rank and file Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, were not informed. As Secretary of War Stimpson noted in his diary BEFORE the attack "The question was how we could maneuver them (the Japanese) into firing the first shot without too much danger to ourselves."

The US policy had been to maneuver the Japanese into an engagement in the Pacific to trigger war. In 1940 a general call up of US reservists and National Guardsmen had taken place and the US was beginning mobilization posture within the industrial base by the time the 7th of December attack began.

So at the leadership levels, the US was prepared for the attack, but the individual servicemen at Pearl Harbor were not.

Answer 3

The US was at peace, the military wasn't well trained, it had been a long time since the US had been on a war footing and the Japanese Fleet wasn't at sea (Japan had prepared an elaborate communication deception plan which continued ship to shore signals from Japan while their fleet sailed under radio silence). The arrogance of the commanders, the complacency of the commanders and the failure of the commanders to practice due diligence.

Answer 4

The attack of Pearl Harbor was inevitable. the United States were cutting back on oil supplies from the Japanese in return was retaliation of Japan. Knowing of the attack on pearl harbor maybe but going to a no. An attack on the United States from the Japanese, yes because of retaliation.

Answer 5

By late 1941, U.S. officials believed war with Japan was imminent. However they did not think Pearl Harbor would be the initial target, but rather the Philippines; with it's air bases posing a threat to the shipping lanes.

As it turned out, both were attacked simultaneously.

Answer 6

the president knew about it, sent a notice to the officials their, to give them time for an ambush, but never labled it "urgent". it was put in a pile with other papers and not read until hours after the attack.

Answer 7

The United States was beginning to increase its preparations for war with Japan, which included increasing defenses in the Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, Midway Island, Hawaiian islands, and several other islands to the southwest of Pearl Harbor.

The US Navy & Army forces at Pearl Harbor & elsewhere in Hawaii were surprised when the Japanese attacked them in Hawaii on 7 December 1941, however they were somewhat prepared for war. US defenders were able to shoot down 29 Japanese aircraft, and damage another 74. US ships also sank several Japanese mini-subs that attempted to attack the US fleet.

There were dozens of US ships not at Pearl Harbor, during the attack, because they were at sea engaged in various operations preparing for war. This included two US Aircraft Carriers, USS Lexington & USS Enterprise.

One of the great ironies of the war: Although the Japanese chose the time(s) & place(s) to start the war with the United States/Great Britain/Netherlands; it was the Japanese that were the most unprepared for the war that would develop. Although this fact was not obvious in 1941, it became much more apparent by 1943.

Answer 8

The US thought that Japan would attack the Philippines instead

Answer 9

Ask me one moe time :|