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The circumstances surrounding Japan’s invasion of Pearl Harbour are fascinating. Their strategy changed the role of the battleship and heavy cruiser in sea warfare forever.
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Commander of the Combined Japanese Fleet, had attended Harvard and served as Naval Attaché in Washington. He was fully aware America was potentially stronger than Japan, and initially, opposed war against the United States.
In November 1940, naval pilots from Britain’s aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious, successfully demolished the Italian navy in the Mediterranean. Thus inspired, Yamamoto conceived the notion of Japan successfully attacking the American fleet as it lay at anchor in Pearl Harbour. He realised success would depend on catching the US forces completely by surprise. He immediately began to plan his revolutionary attack.
Secrecy was vital. Top level leadership was established, battle plans were masterminded and preparations for ‘Operation Z’ moved into high gear. Plans were rehearsed and fine- tuned.
Yamamoto set the time for the attack on the isle of Oahu in Pearl Harbour, at early morning on Sunday December 7, knowing that Americans like to relax on weekends when the fleet has put to port. In the early hours, ships at anchor, the airfields and the military installations would be most vulnerable.
Admiral Nagumo, who had a highly successful career in the navy, was appointed to command the First Air Fleet. A brilliant naval strategist, he would rely heavily on the judgement and advice of Commander Genda, a brilliant air tactician. The First Air Fleet comprised four modern, fast aircraft carriers, the Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu and two older carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, the Akagi serving as Admiral Nagumo’s Flagship. 9 light cruisers and destroyers provided a protective screen for the carriers. 400 aircraft would be engaged in the operation.
Poised and ready, the First Air Fleet headed for Hawaii.
On the American home front, the State Department and their Ambassador in Tokyo warned President Roosevelt of the possibility of an attack on Pearl Harbour. At this stage, war had not been declared so Diplomatic relations were most sensitive. Messages were obscured by misconception, together with the President’s instruction to maintain good relations with Japan. Caution ruled.
On November 26 an American scout plane sighted the Japanese Fleet heading south and alerted Washington, which in turn, passed the message on to Pearl Harbour. The Commander in chief of Hawaiian forces and the Commander of the US Navy, reporting to separate commands, both regarded the message as another war warning and once again, through misunderstanding and overlapping responsibilities, nothing was done.
On 6 December, the First Air Fleet changed course and headed for Pearl Harbour. Nagumo ordered the historic ‘Z’ flag to be hoisted on the Akagi. It was the flag Admiral Tojo used to signify victory over the Russian Fleet. AdmiralYamamoto then signalled a message for another great victory. “The rise and fall of the Empire depends upon this battle. Every man will do his duty”.
An undercover Japanese agent in Honolulu, radioed Nagumo that the aircraft carriers had left the harbour. The carriers USS Enterprise and Lexington were engaged on exercises at sea. The destruction of these carriers had been Nagumo’s attacking planes’ top priority. He was depending on their elimination to have a free hand in destroying the remainder of the US fleet.
The absence of the carriers was a blow to Nagumo, but the fleet steamed on and reached its attacking destination. Supremely confident of surprise and success, Genda assured Nagumo, “Admiral I am sure the men will succeed.”
Just before dawn on Sunday 7 December, under murky skies and rough seas, the first of the attack force took off. They were two reconnaissance sea- planes launched from the escorting cruisers. Their mission was to provide advance information to the first wave of attack planes.
Shortly after 6 00 am, all six carriers launched their planes for the first attack wave. ‘Val’ dive- bombers, ‘Kate’ torpedo and horizontal bombers, and ‘Zero’ fighters. 180 aircraft in all.
On the same morning Admiral Bull Halsey, homeward bound for Pearl Harbour from Wake Island, launched a squadron of dive- bombers from the carrier USS Enterprise to scout the waters ahead.
At the same time, a flight of twelve new Boeing Bombers from the US was flying to Hickham airfield on Oahu, for refuelling on their way to the Philippines.
Two operators at the US radar station at Kahuku on the northern point of Oahu, picked up a huge blip on their radar screen at 7 00 am and reported it to their duty officer. He mistakenly judged the blips to be the flight of Boeing Bombers from the US and advised them not to worry.
The plan to attack Pearl Harbour included a pack of submarines to patrol the entrance of the harbour for US ships attempting to leave, and were already in position.
One of the submarines was sighted and identified by the commander of the destroyer USS Ward. He opened fire hitting it from close range. As it sunk, he blew it up with depth charges. It was first blood to the Americans, but strangely, the event wasn’t seen as important enough to alert the fleet.
Moored along the south east of Ford Island, were seven prize battleships of the US Navy, the Nevada, Arizona, Tennessee, West Virginia, Maryland, Oklahoma and California. Anchored line ahead in two columns, they were known as battleship row. A vast collection of smaller vessels lined the wharves nearby.
At anchor on the north west of the island lay the Utah, Tangier and an assortment of many other naval vessels. Together the ships represented the pride of America’s Naval power.
The flight of 180 aircraft from Nagumo’s carriers arrived over Oahu. The leader of the attacking formation, seeing the American fleet lined up peacefully lying at anchor in the harbour below, radioed excitedly to Tokyo, “Tora, Tora. Tora.” They had caught the tiger napping. The squadron dived in with devastating fury.
Nagumo’s torpedo planes went straight into attack on battleship row and within minutes had sunk or badly damaged five battleships and dealt crippling blows to two cruisers and other small vessels.
Nagumo’s dive bombers then blasted the airfields at Hickam, Bellows, Haleiwa, Wheeler and Ewa, concentrating their attack on the tactical aircraft lined up on the runways. At Ewa, 47 out of 48 planes never got off the ground. In the first ten minutes most of the planes on the runways had been destroyed. Twelve US fighter pilots did make it into the air and they accounted for over ten kills.
The second wave of 170 fighters and torpedo bombers now closed in. It came screaming in, attacking the lines of anchored ships. Other ships in battleship row were torpedoed, blasted, overturned, torn, gutted or sunk. Bombs plummeted down on the naval craft moored at the docks and soon ships and wharves were engulfed in fire.
In 110 minutes, Nagumo’s planes had sunk five battleships and seriously damaged three others. They had severely damaged three light cruisers, several destroyers and sunk a multitude of smaller vessels. In all they had sunk or crippled twenty -one naval vessels.
The US losses of air- planes numbered 165, and the damage to the airfields, wharves and military installations, was tremendous.
The greatest hurt comes in American lives, 2400 were killed. 1200 were wounded.
Admiral Nagumo had accomplished achievements way beyond his wildest imaginings.
He had devastated America’s great Naval Base, for the loss of twenty-nine aircraft – nine fighters, five-dive bombers, five torpedo planes and one of its task force’s submarines.
Admiral Yamamoto had shown the destructive force of a carrier-launched attack, and changed the nature of naval warfare forever. He had now firmed the strategy for his future naval battles in the Pacific. He had all but obliterated America’s naval power, and demolished their stronghold in the Pacific. He had paved the way for Japan’s drive to control the Pacific. Japan’s confidence soared.
Yamamoto’s earlier fear about war with America was about to unfold with a vengeance. President Roosevelt addressed the Congress of the United States with great solemnity. “Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date that will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by the naval and air forces of Japan.” America declared a state of war with Japan.
Seen by Americans, Japan’s attack was unprovoked and dastardly. ‘Remember Pearl Harbour’ became an oath that stirred up the American people, and brought disgrace to Japan. Nothing could have fired up more hatred than this ‘cowardly’ attack. Nothing could have steeled America’s determination for revenge to bring the Japanese to their knees, more than this contemptible act. The wrath of America was about to unfurl on Japan.
The Japanese were ecstatic over their success and moved quickly and effectively on their way to achieve their global objective. Time was now their enemy. America’s strength would inexorably build up, to halt and ultimately overpower Japan’s Juggernaut.
With Australia’s lack of preparation and our happy go lucky attitude, there was no earthly way we could have defended ourselves against an invasion by Japan. Had Japan not provoked America to enter the war and had America not succeeded in vanquishing Japan, Australia would not be enjoying the freedom we have today.
We do indeed, live in a lucky country.
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