Admiral Yamamoto's Attack On Pearl Harbor

Attack on Pearl Harbor attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941. The sneak attack sparked outrage in the American populace, news media, government and the world. On December 8, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the American Congress, and the nation, to detail the attack. The attack took place before any formal declaration of war was made by Japan, but this was not Admiral Yamamoto's intention which he thought that the attack should not commence until thirty minutes after Japan had informed the United States that peace negotiations were at an end. It was intended to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and hence protect Japan's advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, where it sought access to natural resources such as oil and
408 aircraft were intended to be used: 360 for the two attack waves, 48 on defensive combat air patrol including nine fighters from the first wave. Before the attack commenced, two reconnaissance aircraft launched from cruisers were sent to scout over Oahu and report on enemy fleet composition and location. Another four scout planes patrolled the area between the Japanese carrier force and Niihau, so they could prevent the task force from being caught by a surprise counterattack. At 6:00 a.m. on 7 December, the six Japanese carriers launched a first wave of 181 planes composed of torpedo bombers, dive bombers, horizontal bombers and fighters. The first wave approached land, and one at least radioed a somewhat incoherent warning and other signs were ships off the harbor entrance were still being processed or awaiting confirmation when the attacking planes began bombing and strafing. The second wave consisted of 171 planes and 90 minutes after it began, the attack was over 2,386 Americans died and 1,139 wounded there were 18 ships that sunk or run aground,