The 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 attack led to the United States entry into World War II. .
Motivated by the victorious spirit of Togo, the Japanese maneuver when attacking Pearl Harbor was conducted by using its utmost power, and as the core power to strike was the aircraft carrier. The attack leader was directly entrusted to Vice Admiral C. Nagumo, by then was in a position as Japanese Carrier Fleet Commander. The sum of 33 ships were mobilized and formed a task force formation. There were 6 carriers functioning as air attack force, under the command of Nagumo at the same time.
It was reinforced by a task force of escort ships, consisting of 9 destroyer ships and 1 heavy cruiser ship under the command of Rear Admiral S. Omori. A task force of the supporting ships consisting of 17 warships, namely: 2 battle ships, 2 heavy cruiser ships, 2 destroyer ships, 3 submarines and 8 tanker ships and ancillary ship, led by Vice Admiral G. Mikawa.
Three submarines were given a special task to secure and neutralize the sailing lane along the voyage towards Pearl Harbor. Whereas two destroyer ships were specially assigned to neutralize the possible meeting with the patrol ships from Midway.
The Japanese had been hoping to catch U.S. aircraft carriers at Pearl Harbor, and the next major important naval target was the battleships.
The Japanese attack to Pearl Harbor had caused a tremendous loss for the US side. Twenty-one ships of the U.S. Pacific Fleet were sunk or damaged. Aircraft losses were 188 destroyed and 159 damaged, the majority hit before the had a chance to take off. American dead numbered 2,403. That figure included 68 civilians, most of them killed by improperly fused anti-aircraft shells landing in Honolulu. There were 1,178 military and civilian wounded.
However, the dream of Yamamoto to imitate the victory of Togo in Tsushima was still far away from the expectation. The Japanese success was overwhelming, but it was not a strategic victory. They failed to damage any American aircraft carriers. It was because by a stroke of luck, some U.S. aircraft carriers having the base in Pearl Harbor during the time of attack were still available at the sea.
The carrier Lexington escorted by three heavy cruiser ships - Chicago, Portland and Astoria - and five destroyer ships, under the command of Rear Admiral J.H. Newton, by then was in the position of 420 miles southeast of Midway Island. Newton directly took his task force to Pearl Harbor after receiving the news about the attack from Admiral Kimmel.
The heavy cruiser ship Indianapolis together with five destroyer ships under the command of Vice Admiral Wilson Brown by then was at the position of 700 miles southwest of Oahu Island, and after knowing Pear Harbor was attacked directly moved in full speed to join Newton.
The carrier Enteprise escorted by three heavy cruiser ships and nine destroyer ships led by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey JR, was also safe from the attack. Halsey by then was on his way from Wake Island towards Pearl Harbor, around 200 miles on the west.
Read More at Other Views of Naval Battles :The carrier Lexington escorted by three heavy cruiser ships - Chicago, Portland and Astoria - and five destroyer ships, under the command of Rear Admiral J.H. Newton, by then was in the position of 420 miles southeast of Midway Island. Newton directly took his task force to Pearl Harbor after receiving the news about the attack from Admiral Kimmel.
The heavy cruiser ship Indianapolis together with five destroyer ships under the command of Vice Admiral Wilson Brown by then was at the position of 700 miles southwest of Oahu Island, and after knowing Pear Harbor was attacked directly moved in full speed to join Newton.
The carrier Enteprise escorted by three heavy cruiser ships and nine destroyer ships led by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey JR, was also safe from the attack. Halsey by then was on his way from Wake Island towards Pearl Harbor, around 200 miles on the west.
Edisi Januari, 2015
