Pearl Harbor

December 8, 1941, the day after Japan's sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.

It is a natural harbor at Oahu is in a strategically important location for any country which wanted a naval presence in the Pacific.

It occured at Pearl Harbor on the Island of Oahu, in the State of Hawai'i in the United States of America. Or at 21.3619° N, 157.9536° W.

"December 7 1941 - a date which will live in infamy" - President Franklin Delano Roosevelt

The attack on Pearl Harbor relates to the theme of triumph and tragedy. It was a triumph for the Japanese, but also for the Americans, who managed to save many ships and shoot down many Japanese. However, it was also a tragedy because the attack came as a complete surprise, and many American soldiers died in it.

deep enough for ships to sink and go all the way under

they were both the initial strikes in the first signs of a world war

To the Congress of the United States:

Yesterday, Dec. 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with the government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleagues delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday, the Japanese government also launched an attack against Malaya.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night, Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night, the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

This morning, the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As commander in chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us.

No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost, but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounding determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, Dec. 7, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire.

As a woman commented during the burying of dead Japanese pilots near Pearl Harbor, just after the attack, "...they were some mother's sons."

Although the Japanese attack suceeded in crippling the U.S. Pacific Fleet for the short term, the U.S. had certain advantages in rebuilding its Navy. First, a new navy was already being built. Due in part to the Naval Expansion Act of 1938, a significant number of new ships were already being constructed in shipyards on the West Coast. Further, only three battleships were permanently lost due to the attack. Almost all of the damaged ships were floated and repaired.

The war created that situation through its own momentum.

Hitler did not feel enmity towards Britain, only towards France and Russia.

Britain declared war on Germany only because it had guaranteed the security of Poland. After that, the Battle of Britain and the huge overseas campaigns made Britain and Germany bitter enemies.

In fact I think I am right in saying the Japanese attack by amphibious landing in northern Malaya slightly precedes the air attack in the Hawaiian Is. This led to the attack on Singapore. Subsequently Hong Kong & the Philipines would be taken.

Yes, the U.S. got a letter 2 days before but ignored it because they were talking peace with Japan. Also right before the attack a radar station at pearl harbor saw the planes coming in and blew it off because they figured it was a group of American planes bringing in Christmas presents and letters for the upcoming holiday.

Second answer.

This is pure speculation.

First Wave: 183 attacked Oahu, 9 shot down, 174 returned to carriers.

Second Wave: 169 attacked Oahu, 20 shot down, 149 returned to carriers.

Total 323 returned to carriers, however 74 of these were damaged (some were pushed overboard after landing).

6 or 7, depending if you count the USS California, which was moored on the same side of Ford Island, but was in a different location.

The 6 other ships that were moored together as "Battleship Row" were:

USS Nevada (beached to prevent sinking)

USS Arizona (destroyed)

USS Tennesse (damaged), USS West Virginia (sunk upright, later repaired)

USS Maryland (damaged), USS Oklahoma (sunk - capsized, later raised but sank while under tow)

Tennessee / West Virginia and Maryland / Oklahoma were moored in pairs, with the second-named ship in each pair outboard (away from the island) and therefore vulnerable to torpedo hits.

The war ended more than 60 years ago! Now the new generation is working hard to improve life in the Asia region.

Of course, China and Japan are true allies. I also have a Chinese working in the left desk and he is very funny. I live in Japan helping the Americans to export too. Need to think more positively :)

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No way....China is still pissed about the Japanese invasion in WW2. In general, most Oriental countries have disputes with all the others. Vietnam hates the Chinese AND the Japanese, the Koreans hate the Japanese but are okay with the Chinese. The Tibetans and Chinese are having BIG problems. The Taiwanese and PDR China don't speak with each other....on and on....

So you thought the Westerners had problems?

The Pacific .

In the US it created a sense of righteous anger and a thirst for vengence. It also created a distrust of all Orientals which resulted in the internment camps.

That was where the entire US pacific fleet was based at the time. The hope was to completely destroy the US ability to fight a naval war, leaving the pacific entirely under their control.

During the attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the Japanese used war planes and submarines to bomb the United States Naval Base there. Many people lost their lives that day. Some of them were caught on a ship that sank in the harbor known as the USS Arizona. The attack happened on December 6, 1941.

The USS Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor. It precipitated the US and Spain into the Spanish-American War.

Chaotic conditions made accurate accounts most difficult. Some victims were vaporized instantly, many survivors were horribly disfigured, and death from radiation was uncertain-it might not claim its victims for days, weeks, months, or even years.

The initial death count in Hiroshima, set at 42,000-93,000, was based solely on the disposal of bodies, and was thus much too low. Later surveys covered body counts, missing persons, and neighborhood surveys during the first months after the bombing, yielding a more reliable estimate of 130,000 dead as of November 1945. A similar survey by officials in Nagasaki set its death toll at 60,000-70,000. (Its plutonium bomb was more powerful, but its destructive range was limited by surrounding hills and mountains).

Additional counts indicated high levels of short-term mortality in both cities:

-Over 90% of persons within 500 meters (1,600 ft.) of ground zero in both cities died.

-At 1.5 km (almost one mile), over 2/3 were casualties, and 1/3 died.

-Of those at a distance of 2 km (1.2 mi.), half were casualties, 10% of whom died.

-Casualties dropped to 10% at distances over 4 km (2.4 mi.)

Atomicbombmuseum

At Pearl Harbor, the Japanese used the HA-19 (type A) which had a complement of two crewmen; was 78 feet long, 6 feet wide, and a draft of 6 feet. It was armed with two torpedo tubes, which fired a 45cm type 97 torpedo. It was powered by a one shaft electrical motor which could move it at 23 knots at the surface, and 19 knots submerged. While submerged at 2mph, it had a range of approximately 100 miles. Mini subs (Midget Subs) had to be carried by mother submarines. I Boats, such as I-24, carried some of the attacking Mini-Submarines to their pre-attack areas for the Pearl Harbor assault on 07 December 1941.

The reason for Japan's attack (on the US, the British Empire & the Dutch) was the Japanese Army's obsession with their on-going brutal conquest of China. The United States had been taking diplomatic and economic steps against Japan for several years to convince (or force) the Japanese to end their war of conquest in Asia. The Japanese Army actually controlled the Japanese Government since the early 1930's. The Japanese Army refused to end its war of conquest & extreme brutality in China.

Beyond China, the Japanese Army had plans to take advantage of the weakness of the British, French, Dutch & Soviet Union in Asia because of Hitler's conquests in Europe. The Japanese wanted to be free of American interference, and create a vast Asian empire that would have eventually included China, eastern Siberia, Mongolia, Korea, Formosa, Indo-China, Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo, Sumatra, Java, Philippines, Guam, Wake Island, & New Guinea; and possibly India.

The Japanese military thought that the best way to keep the United States from interfering in their plans in Asia, was to deliver a surprise attack on various US bases throughout the Pacific to do as much damage to the US military capability in the Pacific. At Pearl Harbor, they intended to sink as many battleships, cruisers & aircraft carriers as possible. At Manila they intended to follow-up with an invasion and capture of the Philippines. At Wake Island they intended to seize the island. The Japanese also attacked the bases, ships & troops of the British Empire. All this was intended to persuade the United States & Britain to negotiate a settlement giving the Japanese most of the western Pacific territories, and most of Asia. They hoped that the US & Britain would not want to fight a prolonged & costly war in Asia to liberate what territory the Japanese could capture in the first six months of the war.

Read more: Why_did_japan_attack_pearlharber

"We have nothing to fear, but fear itself", is often attributed to him. Although he actually said this "So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."