Primarily, the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, was a devastating surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Territory. The goal was to cripple the U.S. Pacific Fleet, thereby preventing American interference in Japan’s planned military actions in Southeast Asia against overseas territories of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States. The attack, though a tactical success for Japan, proved to be a strategic blunder, as it galvanized American public opinion and led to the United States’ formal entry into World War II.
The scale of destruction was immense, with numerous U.S. Navy ships suffering damage or total loss. Analyzing the specific numbers of ships destroyed provides a clear picture of the attack’s impact.
| Ship Type | Name of Ship | Status After Attack |
| :————— | :—————— | :—————— |
| Battleship | USS Arizona | Destroyed |
| Battleship | USS Oklahoma | Capsized & Destroyed|
| Battleship | USS Utah | Capsized & Destroyed|
| Battleship | USS West Virginia | Sunk, later salvaged|
| Battleship | USS California | Sunk, later salvaged|
| Battleship | USS Maryland | Damaged, repaired |
| Battleship | USS Pennsylvania | Damaged, repaired |
| Battleship | USS Tennessee | Damaged, repaired |
| Light Cruiser | USS Honolulu | Damaged, repaired |
| Destroyer | USS Helm | Damaged, repaired |
| Repair Ship | USS Vestal | Damaged, sunk |
| Minelayer | USS Oglala | Sunk, later salvaged|
| Seaplane Tender | USS Curtiss | Damaged, repaired |
| Barracks Ship | USS Haleakala | Damaged, sunk |
A total of eight U.S. Navy battleships were present at Pearl Harbor during the attack. Of these, three were sunk and considered destroyed: the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, and USS Utah. The USS Arizona suffered a catastrophic explosion and sank in shallow water, still resting at the bottom of the harbor as a memorial. The USS Oklahoma capsized and was too damaged to be salvaged. The USS Utah also capsized and was declared a total loss.
Four other battleships – USS West Virginia, USS California, USS Maryland, and USS Tennessee – were sunk or heavily damaged but were subsequently salvaged and repaired, returning to service later in the war. The USS Pennsylvania, which was out of the harbor undergoing repairs at the time the attack began, sustained damage but was repaired and returned to duty.
Beyond the battleships, the attack also inflicted damage on other vessels. Several cruisers, destroyers, and auxiliary ships were damaged or sunk. The USS Vestal, a repair ship, and the USS Oglala, a minelayer, were sunk. The USS Curtiss, a seaplane tender, was heavily damaged but repaired. In total, approximately 18 U.S. naval vessels were damaged or sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
### The Devastation at Pearl Harbor
The aerial assault on Pearl Harbor was meticulously planned and executed with devastating efficiency. In just over an hour, waves of Japanese dive bombers, torpedo bombers, and fighter planes struck the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The primary targets were the battleships moored in “Battleship Row.”
The element of surprise was crucial to the Japanese success. The American forces were caught completely off guard, with many sailors and officers still asleep or engaged in their morning routines. This lack of readiness meant that defensive measures were slow to be implemented.
#### Types of Aircraft Used
The Japanese employed a variety of aircraft for the attack:
* **Nakajima B5N “Kate” torpedo bombers:** These were instrumental in delivering torpedoes that caused significant damage to the battleships.
* **Aichi D3A “Val” dive bombers:** These aircraft carried bombs and targeted the American vessels with precision.
* **Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighters:** These provided air cover, engaging American planes and defending against any potential counterattacks.
The attack on Pearl Harbor resulted in the loss of 2,403 American lives, including civilians, and wounded 1,178 others. This human cost was a stark reminder of the brutal realities of modern warfare.
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### Impact and Aftermath
The attack on Pearl Harbor had profound and far-reaching consequences. It not only united the American public in a desire for retribution but also fundamentally shifted the course of World War II. The United States immediately declared war on Japan, marking its official entry into the global conflict.
The damage to the fleet, while severe, was not as crippling as the Japanese had hoped. The U.S. Navy’s aircraft carriers were not present at Pearl Harbor during the attack, as they were at sea on operational missions. This absence proved to be a critical factor in the subsequent recovery and eventual Allied victory in the Pacific.
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The USS Arizona Memorial, built over the sunken hull of the battleship, is a poignant reminder of the sacrifice made on that day. Over 1,100 men remain entombed within the wreck.
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#### Key Figures in the Pearl Harbor Attack
* **Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto:** Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Combined Fleet, he conceived the plan for the Pearl Harbor attack.
* **Admiral Chuichi Nagumo:** Commander of the First Air Fleet, he led the actual strike force during the attack.
* **President Franklin D. Roosevelt:** The U.S. President who famously declared December 7, 1941, “a date which will live in infamy.”
### Frequently Asked Questions
**Q1: How many ships were sunk at Pearl Harbor?**
A1: A total of three U.S. Navy battleships were sunk and considered destroyed: the USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, and USS Utah. Several other vessels were damaged and sunk but later salvaged.
**Q2: Were all the ships at Pearl Harbor destroyed?**
A2: No, not all ships were destroyed. While significant damage was inflicted, many ships were salvaged and repaired, and some sustained only minor damage.
**Q3: Did the attack destroy the U.S. aircraft carriers?**
A3: No, the U.S. aircraft carriers were not at Pearl Harbor during the attack. They were at sea, which proved to be a fortunate circumstance for the U.S. Navy.
**Q4: What was the most significant loss of life at Pearl Harbor?**
A4: The USS Arizona suffered the greatest loss of life, with 1,177 sailors and Marines killed when the forward magazine exploded.
**Q5: What is the status of the USS Arizona today?**
A5: The USS Arizona rests at the bottom of Pearl Harbor and serves as a memorial. It is a protected historical site and a solemn reminder of the attack.
**Reference:**
United States Navy [https://www.history.navy.mil/our-stories/the-attack-on-pearl-harbor.html](https://www.history.navy.mil/our-stories/the-attack-on-pearl-harbor.html)
