Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor


My report is about the attack on Pearl Harbor.   In this report I will
explain what happened and why it happened.   So you know, Pearl Harbor is located
on Oahu island, Hawaii.

Pearl Harbor was the operating base of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.   The
Japanese pulled a surprise attack on the U.S. on December 7, 1941 at 7:50 A.M.
during the beginning of World War II.   On November 26 a powerful Japanese task
force, under the command of vice Admiral Chuichi Nagumo, left the Kuril Islands;
on December 2 it received a coded message issuing the attack order.   The
undetected Japanese force arrived off the Hawaiian Islands on the morning of
December 7.   In two successive waves more than 350 Japanese bombers, torpedo
planes, and fighters struck.   More than 75 U.S. warships(including battleships,
cruisers, destroyers, submarines, and auxiliaries) were based at this "Gibraltar
of the Pacific." All U.S. aircraft carriers were elsewhere. Observing radio
silence, it reached a launching point at 6 AM, December 7.   At 7:50 AM, the
first wave of Japanese planes struck Pearl Harbor, bombarding airfields and
battleships moored at the concrete quays.   The U.S. totally taken off guard had
to defend themselves in pajamas.   They used anti-aircraft guns in an attempt to
stop the Japanese.   A second wave followed.   The surprise attack was over before
10 AM.   The results were devastating;   18 U.S. ships were hit, and more than 200
aircraft destroyed or damaged.   The battleship Arizona was a total wreck;   the
West Virginia and California were sunk;   and the Nevada was heavily damaged.
Approximately 2,400 Americans were killed, 1,300 wounded, and 1,000 missing.
Japanese losses were fewer than 100 casualties, 29 planes, and 5 midget
submarines.   The Japanese totally destroyed the U.S. naval power in the Pacific.
The attack was, however, a colossal political and psychological blunder, for it
mobilized U.S. public opinion against the Japanese and served as the catalyst
that brought the... [continues]

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