bombing of pearl harbor
A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY.
On December 7, 1941, just before the clock struck eight a.m., hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pear Harbor, located near Honolulu, Hawaii. The bombardment lasted about two hours, leaving behind devastating effects. The Japanese had managed to destroy about twenty American naval vessels, including about eight massive battleships, and almost two hundred airplanes. The attack resulted in a death toll of more than 2,000 American soldiers and sailors, and another 1,000 wounded. The day after this onslaught, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare a war on Japan, which Congress approved of, with just one dissenting vote. Just three days later, Japanese allies, Germany and Italy, also declared war on the United States, which again Congress responded in agreement. With more than two years into this conflict, America had finally joined World War II.
Days leading up to the incident
Although the attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise, Japan and the United States had been insinuating towards the idea of war for decades. The United States had been exceptionally despondent with Japan's increasingly hostile attitude toward China. The Japanese government, however, believed that the only way to solve its economic and demographic problems was to enlarge its neighbor's territory and take over its import market. This led to the declaration of war on China in 1937. American officials then responded to this belligerence with a battery of economic punishments and trade ban. The American government argued that without any access to money and goods, and necessary supplies such as oil, Japan would have to rein in its enlargements. Instead, however, the deterrents gave the Japanese more determination to stand their ground. During these few months of struggles with negotiations between Tokyo and Washington, D.C., neither side would budge, making the war an unavoidable decision.
The attack
The Japanese plan was simple, or at least it seemed like so; destroy the Pacific Fleet. This way, with the Americans nursing what was effected by the attack, they would not be able to fight back as the Japanese armed forces expanded across the South Pacific. After months of planning and practice, on December 7th, the Japanese finally initiated their attack.
At about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor, dropping bombs and bullets onto the vessels that docked below. Then. at 8:10, a 1,800-pound bomb shattered through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona, and landed in her forward ammunition magazine. As a result, the ship exploded, sinking with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. Then, if that wasn't enough, torpedoes punctured the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma, causing her to lose her balance, roll onto her side, and slip below the surface of the water, with about 400 sailors aboard. By the time the attack was over and the Japanese retreated back to their base, all of the battleships in Pearl Harbor were destroyed.
In all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had left destroyed remains of about 18 American ships, and almost 300 airplanes. Dry docks and airfields were also destroyed, leaving simply rubble behind. Almost 2,500 men were killed, and another 1,000 were wounded. However, with all the devastations present, the Japanese had failed to paralyze the Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessel, instead, aircraft carriers were. Luckily, as the attack was taking place, on December 7, all of the Pacific Fleet's carriers were away from the base. Furthermore, the Pearl Harbor attack had left the base's most important onshore facilities-oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards, and submarine docks- intact and not destroyed. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to
Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault had left the base’s most vital onshore facilities–oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks–intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack.
At about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor, dropping bombs and bullets onto the vessels that docked below. Then. at 8:10, a 1,800-pound bomb shattered through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona, and landed in her forward ammunition magazine. As a result, the ship exploded, sinking with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. Then, if that wasn't enough, torpedoes punctured the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma, causing her to lose her balance, roll onto her side, and slip below the surface of the water, with about 400 sailors aboard. By the time the attack was over and the Japanese retreated back to their base, all of the battleships in Pearl Harbor were destroyed.
In all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor had left destroyed remains of about 18 American ships, and almost 300 airplanes. Dry docks and airfields were also destroyed, leaving simply rubble behind. Almost 2,500 men were killed, and another 1,000 were wounded. However, with all the devastations present, the Japanese had failed to paralyze the Pacific Fleet. By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessel, instead, aircraft carriers were. Luckily, as the attack was taking place, on December 7, all of the Pacific Fleet's carriers were away from the base. Furthermore, the Pearl Harbor attack had left the base's most important onshore facilities-oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards, and submarine docks- intact and not destroyed. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to
Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault had left the base’s most vital onshore facilities–oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks–intact. As a result, the U.S. Navy was able to rebound relatively quickly from the attack.