At the beginning of the 20th century, American political circles provided moral and diplomatic support to the Japanese Empire in its confrontation with the Russian Empire. But as soon as the Japanese declared their claims to hegemony in Southeast Asia in the 1930s, the United States transferred the samurai to the category of potential enemies.
In July 1940, US President Roosevelt imposed an embargo on the supply of aviation gasoline, steel and scrap iron to Japan. In the same year, the Americans demonstratively moved their main Pacific naval base from the continental city of San Diego to the Hawaiian Islands - to Pearl Harbor.
In response, on September 27, 1940, the Empire of Japan signed a Triple Pact with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy on the division of spheres of interest, where it stipulates freedom of action in East Asia.
In turn, in July 1941, the Americans imposed an embargo on the supply of all types of petroleum products to Japan, freeze Japanese accounts, and also banned Japanese ships from entering US ports. This was the actual beginning of the cold phase of the war.
According to the canons of iajutsu
In the 18th century, many schools (ryu) of martial arts arose in Japan, which studied various aspects of the handling of cold weapons. So, kenjutsu studied the art of swordsmanship, kyujutsu - archery, sojutsu - the use of a spear. Among other martial arts, Iaijutsu stood out - the art of instantly drawing a sword with a subsequent blow. It was especially appreciated if the samurai succeeded in hisatsu - the kill on the spot from the first blow.
The suddenness and lightning speed of the attack on Pearl Harbor was in keeping with the spirit and tradition of Japanese iajutsu. On November 5, 1941, Isoroku Yamamoto signed Directive # 1, which approved a plan to attack the main US Navy base in the Pacific. The Japanese carefully prepared for the attack, the pilots of their carrier-based dive bombers and torpedo bombers constantly improved their combat skills. Especially for the attack on the shallow Pearl Harbor, the descendants of the samurai developed the Type 91, Model 2 torpedo with wooden stabilizers, which made it possible to reduce the diving depth after being dropped.
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And what about the Americans? It should be said that their scouts managed to uncover a Japanese diplomatic code even before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Therefore, at the end of November, Admiral Hazband Kimmel was instructed to increase vigilance and take measures to repel a surprise attack. Moreover, on February 15, 1941, Admiral Kimmel himself wrote a memo to the command about a possible Japanese attack on their Pacific base.
On November 26, an aircraft carrier strike force under the command of Vice Admiral Tuichi Nagumo left the Hitokappu Bay of Iturup Island and, observing complete radio silence, through the northern waters, bypassing busy trade routes, headed towards Pearl Harbor. The Japanese formation included 30 ships, including six aircraft carriers with 353 aircraft on board.
On the day of the attack, the American forces in Hawaii were not only not inferior to the Japanese, but also surpassed them: about 100 warships (including 8 battleships, 8 cruisers, 29 destroyers, 5 submarines, 9 minelayers and 10 minesweepers), 394 combat aircraft, plus ground air defense forces and naval base garrison.
By a strange but happy coincidence, all of the US aircraft carriers were absent from the main US Pacific naval base on the day of the attack. Later, this played an important role in the US victory over the Japs …
Bloody morning
At 6 a.m. on December 7, 1941, Vice Admiral Nagumo's fleet was 200-230 miles from Pearl Harbor. At that moment, the first attacking wave of 183 aircraft started from the Japanese aircraft carriers: 49 bombers, 40 torpedo bombers, 51 dive bomber and 43 Zero fighters.
Lieutenant Commander Mitsuo Fuchida divided his forces into two parts: one aimed at destroying US battleships, the other at striking American airfields.
At 07:51 bombs began to fall on Weller (after another two minutes, the Kaneohe, Eva and Bellows airfields were attacked; and four minutes later, the Hickam and Pearl Harbor airfields). Weller airfield underwent a severe defeat, almost all aircraft on it were destroyed or damaged.
But the main events unfolded around Ford Island in the center of the East Bay of Pearl Harbor. On the island there was a naval airfield, and around there were anchorage of ships. The Japanese attack on the parking lot itself was fleeting (the attack ended at 08:12), but furious. Two battleships ("Oklahoma" and "Arizona") and several other ships were sunk; others received injuries of varying severity. The Japanese lost only 9 aircraft in the first attack.
Before the Americans had time to catch their breath, at 9:00 am, the attack of the second wave began, in which at least 167 Japanese aircraft took part: 54 bombers, 78 dive bombers and 35 Zero fighters.
The samurai finished off two battleships badly damaged during the first attack ("California" and "West Virginia"), and several more ships of the lower class were sunk or damaged.
True, this time the losses of the Japanese were already 20 aircraft.
The planes of the first wave returned to their ships at 10:00. The last, at 13:00, as it should, returned Lieutenant Commander Mitsuo Fuchida. He immediately suggested that Vice Admiral Nagumo organize a third raid on the American base, but he refused. Modern historians and military experts explain Nagumo's decision for various reasons.
First, aviation fuel was running out (the consequences of the American embargo made themselves felt). Secondly, none of the American aircraft carriers were sunk, their location was unknown, and it was worth fearing a retaliatory attack at any moment. Thirdly, even according to the most rosy estimates, about half of the American planes remained intact, which means that they could also inflict their fatal blow on the Japanese fleet. And most importantly, further attacks would lead to new, even greater losses.
At 16:30 the Japanese commander gave the order to retreat.
Dumb, dumber …
A first glance at the results of the Japanese attack suggests that the samurai won a significant military victory of strategic importance. They sunk 4 battleships, 2 destroyers and 1 minelayer. Another 4 battleships, 3 light cruisers and 1 destroyer were seriously damaged. The losses of American aviation amounted to 188 aircraft destroyed, 159 more were seriously damaged. 2,403 Americans were killed (of which 1,102 were killed aboard the exploding battleship Arizona) and 1,178 were injured.
The Japanese losses were small: 29 aircraft (another 74 were damaged of varying severity), 5 small submarines, together with 64 dead and one captured serviceman.
However, the United States had about 100 ships in the Pacific, and the loss of 14 of them was not fatal. In addition, of these 14 ships, the Americans failed to restore only four - the battleships Arizona (exploded), Oklahoma (capsized) and 2 destroyers. And the aircraft carrier forces of the United States, this main strike force, did not suffer any losses during the operation!
Yes, the Japanese effectively dealt with American ground-based aircraft, but they did not fully take advantage of this. In addition, the Americans still had an effective air defense system.
You can make fun of the stupidity of Admiral Hazbend Kimmel as much as you like, but evaluating the actions of the Japanese, it should be admitted that in terms of stupidity they gave the Americans a head start. So, setting the task of destroying battleships and aircraft, the Japanese command completely ignored other goals that were no less important for the further course of the war and, at the same time, goals that were quite achievable within the framework of a surprise attack: 11 submarines, huge reserves of oil in storage facilities, repair shops and docks were not attacked.
The power plant, shipyard, torpedo storage, piers, as well as the headquarters building did not suffer from the attack. This became the key to the rapid revival of the American naval base.
So, summing up the results of the attack on Pearl Harbor, it should be admitted that the Japanese inflicted significant losses on the Americans with a minimum of their own. But no hisatsu came close. Figuratively speaking, Vice Admiral Nagumo crept up to an American tiger with an ax, but instead of a head he chopped off its tail …
Andrey Podvolotsky