Japan had prepared war plans to deal with any military intervention by America. The Japanese plan was to conduct one large naval battle against the American Navy, destroying it and resulting in the inability of America to interfere with Japanese expansion throughout Asia. Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto assumed command of the Japan's Combined Fleet in August of 1939. Having lived in America for several years he understood the type of people the Americans were and was able to formulate a attack plan that would catch America off guard.
On January 27, 1941 Joseph C. Grew, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, wired Washington that he had learned information that in the event of trouble with America, Japan, was planning a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. No one in Washington believed the information and did not believe that the Japanese could surprise them. Most senior American military experts believed that the Japanese would attack Manila in the Philippine Islands. Another thought to location of attack was toward the north into Russia because of the war in Europe between Germany and the Soviet Union.
On Saturday, December 6 1941, the U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt made a final appeal to the Emperor of Japan for peace. There was no reply. Late the same day, the U.S. code-breaking service began intercepting a 14-part Japanese message and deciphered the first 13 parts, passing them on to the President and Secretary of State. The Americans believed a Japanese attack is imminent, most likely somewhere in Southeast Asia.
The attack began at 7:53 a.m with the Americans being taken completely by surprise. The first attack wave targeted airfields and battleships. The second wave targeted other ships and shipyard facilities. The air raid lasted until 9:45 a.m. Eight battleships are damaged, with five sunk. Three light cruisers, three destroyers and three smaller vessels were lost along with 188 aircraft. The Japanese only lost 27 planes and five midget submarines which attempted to penetrate the inner harbor and launch torpedoes.
Exercises:
On a new page in your books put the Heading “Pearl Harbour”. Under the heading write a 1/2 page summary based upon the information above. After you have completed the summary, write the following sub-heading and the questions in your books and answer them in full sentences using the link to the website listed below.
Note: you will need to click on "Attack Map".
The Events
1. What did the U.S. Minesweeper Condor encounter?
2. What was U.S. Marine Bert Davis' reaction?
3. What happened to the U.S. destroyer Ward?
4. What was U.S. Sailor Will Lehner's reaction?
5. What happened to the radar operators and their report?
6. Explain what happened to each of the moored boats at 7:55 a.m.
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