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What was going to be the third wave of Japanese attack planes' targets?
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, there was no "Third Wave" attack planned or ready to attack. This is a post-war myth. The Japanese used all their strike aircraft (Kates, Vals & Zeros) to operate in two waves only.
The Third Wave, if desired, would have required the First Wave to land & rearm (below deck in hanger deck), then re-spot on flight deck before being launched as a Third Wave. The first two waves attacked all the intended targets that were planned for, with the exception of the two US aircraft carriers that were not in Pearl Harbor. The port facilities, dry dock, & fuel storage tanks were never considered to be the targets of the attack. Not even the US oiler Neosho anchored next to battleships was targeted.
The potential "Third Wave" would have had only a small window of time to land, rearm, re-spot & launch before the second wave started to land. The "Third Wave" would have had to start launching at 1100 hrs & complete launching 20 minutes later to avoid interfering with the returning Second Wave. The problem was that the First Wave only starting landing at 1010 hours and the landings continued for many minutes afterward. There was not enough time to resend the First Wave out as the Third Wave. It takes at least 45-60 minutes to turn-around the aircraft for the next strike. Japanese aircraft were armed below decks & warmed-up on the flight deck. In addition Japanese Combat Air Patrol (CAP) Zero fighters would also have to land & take-off during this period of time.
If by some magic the Third Wave had launched before the Second Wave returned, the Third Wave would not have struck Oahu (incl. Pearl Harbor) until 1230 hours, which is almost three hours after the Second Wave completed its attacks. This would have allowed the US defenders plenty of time to prepare their air-defenses for another attack. As it actually happened, the Second Wave lost more than double the number of Japanese aircraft than the First Wave (20 vs 9). The Third Wave's losses could have been much higher.
Also the original Japanese plan was for their fleet to prepare for a battle with US aircraft carriers (if at sea) after landing the two strike waves, and not linger around Hawaii waiting to be attacked. Other considerations: Besides the loss of 30 aircraft (1 on take-off, 9 on 1st Wave & 20 on 2nd Wave), there were at least 74 aircraft damaged from both waves.
Bottom-Line: No Third Wave & no additional targets to those already attacked.
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
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How did pearl harbor begin and end?
Japan thought that the US was going to attack them so Japan attacked us first even though we were not going to attack them. And pearl harbor ended when Japan ran out of planes on there carriers.
Why was the Japanese attack on pearl harbor such a surprise?
The December 7, 1941, attack by the Japanese upon Pearl Harbor was a great surprise for primarily one reason: the Americans expected a Japanese attack to happen much farther west or south in the Pacific region. General hostilities had long been expected, but no one foresaw that the Japanese would dare to venture so far eastwards in order to start a war. The strict secrecy in which the attack was wrapped by the Japanese was yet another key factor.
On Pearl Harbor did the US ever undo the code?
Yes, the code was already broken right before the attack on Pearl Harbor even started. President Roosevelt already knew about the Japanese was going to attack Pearl Harbor, but he didn't know for sure if it was true. Yes, the code was already broken right before the attack on Pearl Harbor even started. President Roosevelt already knew about the Japanese was going to attack Pearl Harbor, but he didn't know for sure if it was true.
Why did the US fight back when bombed at pearl harbor?
because Americans had pride for their country and they weren't going to let the Japanese get away with the attack. the attack on that US naval base cost America many battleships planes and other supplies. thousands of Americans lost their lives on that day- both soldiers and civilians. also the us wanted to set up democracies in many countries. this is what happened to japan after its military leader was brought down.
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the Japanese didn't talk on there radios.
How did pearl harbor begin and end?
Japan thought that the US was going to attack them so Japan attacked us first even though we were not going to attack them. And pearl harbor ended when Japan ran out of planes on there carriers.
How did the Japanese army feel about the attack on Pearl Harbor after it happened?
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How did the US know the Japanese were going to attack Pearl Harbor?
They intercepted a mesage from Japan to its naval fleet.
Why was the Japanese attack on pearl harbor such a surprise?
The December 7, 1941, attack by the Japanese upon Pearl Harbor was a great surprise for primarily one reason: the Americans expected a Japanese attack to happen much farther west or south in the Pacific region. General hostilities had long been expected, but no one foresaw that the Japanese would dare to venture so far eastwards in order to start a war. The strict secrecy in which the attack was wrapped by the Japanese was yet another key factor.
How did the US know that japan was going to atttack in the battle of midway?
The Allied Forces had a cryptographer. He deciphered the Japanese messages. He learned they were going to make an attack. However, he was unable to learn where the attack would be. Someone came up with the brilliant idea of sending a phony message (since they knew the Japanese were deciphering their messages). The phony message said that Midway Island's desalinization machine was not working so there is limited fresh water. Please send a new machine the message requested. So the Japanese sent a message to mainland Japan to tell them the desalinization machine was broken at the attack location. Then the Allied Forces knew the Japanese were going to attack Midway. So they got ready to attack the Japanese back and they won the battle.
Was the attack on Pearl Harbor a surpise?
Yes, the attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise attack. The nation of Japan was going to tell America that it was coming but the Japanese man typing the message was having problems with the English language. NO DIP SHERLOCK!
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What were the shorten-term causes of the battle of Iwo Jima?
In the summer of 1944 the US captured the Mariana Islands, and built several huge airfields on these islands. From these the US 20th Air Force began bombing Japan, using the B-29 long range bomber. About halfway from the Marianas to Japan was Iwo Jima. The Japanese had an airfield on Iwo, from which fighter planes rose to attack the American bombers going to and from Japan. The Japanese on Iwo could radio Japan and warn them that an attack was coming. It was a long round trip for bombers based in the Marianas to go to and return from Japan. Planes damaged over Japan had little choice but to crash in the vast Pacific, and their crews were seldom rescued. So, to eliminate the Japanese fighters based on Iwo, to end the warnings of American raids on Japan from Iwo, and to provide an emergency landing strip for damaged bombers returning from Japan, were the short range goals. After Iwo was taken US fighter planes were based there, and escorted the US bombers on the raids to Japan, to protect the bombers from Japanese fighter planes over Japan.
On Pearl Harbor did the US ever undo the code?
Yes, the code was already broken right before the attack on Pearl Harbor even started. President Roosevelt already knew about the Japanese was going to attack Pearl Harbor, but he didn't know for sure if it was true. Yes, the code was already broken right before the attack on Pearl Harbor even started. President Roosevelt already knew about the Japanese was going to attack Pearl Harbor, but he didn't know for sure if it was true.
Why did the US fight back when bombed at pearl harbor?
because Americans had pride for their country and they weren't going to let the Japanese get away with the attack. the attack on that US naval base cost America many battleships planes and other supplies. thousands of Americans lost their lives on that day- both soldiers and civilians. also the us wanted to set up democracies in many countries. this is what happened to japan after its military leader was brought down.
