Pearl Harbor: Attack, Casualties & Facts

Running head: ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR
ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR
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ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR1
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Thesis:..............................................................................................................................................2
Background......................................................................................................................................3
Military Planning.............................................................................................................................3
Objectives........................................................................................................................................4
Attack...............................................................................................................................................5
Japanese War Declaration................................................................................................................6
American damages and casualties...................................................................................................6
Japanese losses and Possibility of third wave..................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR2
Introduction
Pearl Harbor‘s attack was preemptive surprise military attack by Navy Air Service of
Japan against the naval base of United States on 7th December, 1941 in Hawaii. This attack led in
formal entry of United States in World War II following day. The military leadership of Japan
referred to the attack as Operation AI, Operation Z and Hawaii Operation during the planning
phase. Japan looked the attack as a preventive action for keeping Pacific Fleet of United States
from interfering the military actions within Southeast Asia against Netherlands and United
Kingdom’s overseas territories1. Over time period of almost seven hours, coordinated attacks of
Japan were there on Philippines, Wake Island and Guam. Pearl Harbor’s attack is still ranked as
most successful surprise military attack in combined aerial/naval combat. This attack resulted to
launch of atomic bombs over Nagasaki and Hiroshima which became disaster for Japan. After
almost 80 years, this question remains: “Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbor?”
Thesis:
The Pearl Harbour Attack of the United States of America is the consequences of the
Hiroshima Nagasaki Nuclear Bomb blast initiated by America. The result of the attack is still
considered to be one of the most successful catastrophic results of all time and has achieved the
tag most successful military expeditions in the world history. The assignment tends to unveil the
reasons behind the attack in the mid-twentieth century.
1 Boggs, Carl. "From Pearl Harbor to the “Asian Pivot”: Contours of us Imperialism in the
Pacific." Perspectives on Global Development and Technology 16, no. 1-3 (2017): 217-
240.

ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR3
Background
War between United Stated and Japan had ben possibility that both nations were aware
of as well as planned, since 1920s. Relationship among two nations was cordial that they were
trading partners. There was no serious tension till invasion of Japan on Manchuria in year 1931.
Japan spent enough effort for attaining victory on mainland 2. United Stated ceased exports of oil
in 1941 to Japan. United States and Japan engaged to negotiate since 194, trying to improve the
relation between two nations. Japan intended this attack as a preventive action for keeping
Pacific Fleet of United States in interfering with the military actions within Southeast Asia
against United Kingdom’s overseas territories Netherlands and United States. Japan coordinated
attacks on Philippines, Wake Island and Guam for seven hours. The attack begun at 7.48 am
(Hawaiian Time). 353 Japanese aircraft attacked the base through two waves which were
launched from aircraft carriers 3. 2403Americans and 1178 others were killed and wounded.
Military Planning
The preliminary attack of Pearl Harbor’s attack begun quite early in year 1941, where
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto led the attack. There was full planning in early 1941 by Ryunosuke
Kusaka, who was Rear Admiral along with Captain Kameto Kuroshima and Captain Minoru
Genda. Over next few months, training was provided to the pilots, information was gathered and
there was adaption of equipment. Despite the preparations, attack plan was unapproved by
2 Chappell, Shelbey, Hannah Hart, William Pruitt, Chris Linneman, Alex Vermillion,
Colby Belcher, and John Ernst. "Japanese Intentions for the Pearl Harbor Bombing."
(2018).
3 Grasso, June. Japan's" new Deal" for China: Propaganda Aimed at Americans Before
Pearl Harbor. Routledge, 2018.