Moreover, the Pearl Harbor assault had left the base’s most vital onshore facilities-oil storage depots, repair shops, shipyards and submarine docks-intact. (Some had returned to the mainland and others were delivering planes to troops on Midway and Wake Islands.) By the 1940s, battleships were no longer the most important naval vessel: Aircraft carriers were, and as it happened, all of the Pacific Fleet’s carriers were away from the base on December 7. Most importantly, more than 2,000 people died.īut the Japanese had failed to cripple the Pacific Fleet. Dry docks and airfields were likewise destroyed. In all, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor crippled or destroyed nearly 20 American ships and more than 300 airplanes. (All but USS Arizona and USS Utah were eventually salvaged and repaired.) Impact of the Pearl Harbor Attack Less than two hours later, the surprise attack was over, and every battleship in Pearl Harbor- USS Arizona, USS Oklahoma, USS California, USS West Virginia, USS Utah, USS Maryland, USS Pennsylvania, USS Tennessee and USS Nevada-had sustained significant damage. With 400 sailors aboard, the Oklahoma lost her balance, rolled onto her side and slipped underwater. Next, torpedoes pierced the shell of the battleship USS Oklahoma.
The ship exploded and sank with more than 1,000 men trapped inside. At 8:10, a 1,800-pound bomb smashed through the deck of the battleship USS Arizona and landed in her forward ammunition magazine. Bombs and bullets rained onto the vessels moored below. On December 7, after months of planning and practice, the Japanese launched their attack.Īt about 8 a.m., Japanese planes filled the sky over Pearl Harbor. That way, the Americans would not be able to fight back as Japan’s armed forces spread across the South Pacific. The Japanese plan was simple: Destroy the Pacific Fleet.
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