Fact Sheet: Pearl Harbor
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began at 7:55 am on December 7, 1941. Japanese naval forces compiled for the raid included 4 heavy aircraft carriers, 2 heavy cruisers, 35 submarines, 2 light cruisers, 9 oilers, 2 battleships and 11 destroyers.
The attacking forces came in two waves, the first consisting of 183 aircraft which included 40 torpedo planes, 49 level bombers, 51 dive bombers and 43 fighters. The second wave included 170 planes, 54 of them level bombers, 80 dive-bombers and 36 fighters. Over 350 Japanese planes were involved in overall attack, which surprised the United States. At the end of the day, over 2,000 men lost their lives.
from left:
USS Maryland and USS Oklahoma after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Sailors watch USS Shaw explode from Ford Island.
Wrecked destroyers USS Downes and USS Cassin in dry dock for repairs after the attack
Battleships
A warship used mainly for naval bombardment and protection of the fleet against air and surface attacks. Roughly equal to the size of three football fields, they floating fortresses eventually were replaced by aircraft carriers. Battleships were named for states.
Cruisers
Smaller than a battleship, cruisers are mainly deployed to conduct raids and protect members of the task force from enemy ships with naval bombardment and gunfire. Cruisers were named for territories, islands, cities and towns.
Destroyers
Small, highly maneuverable and lightly armored. Usually nicknamed the "tin can," destroyers are used to conduct anti-submarine operations. Destroyers were named for deceased Navy and Marine Corps personnel or distinguished civilians.
U.S. Personnel Casualties
Service | Killed | Wounded | Total |
Navy | 2008 | 710 | 2718 |
Army | 218 | 364 | 582 |
Marines | 109 | 69 | 178 |
Civilians | 68 | 35 | 103 |
Summary of U.S. Ship Damage
Battleships
Arizona sunk, total loss
California sunk, raised, repaired May 1944
Maryland damaged, repaired Feb. 1942
Nevada heavily damaged, repaired Dec. 1942
Oklahoma capsized, total loss
Tennessee damaged, repaired Mar. 1942
West Virginia sunk, raised, repaired July 1944
Pennsylvania slightly damaged, repaired Aug. 1942
Destroyers
Cassin heavily damaged, rebuilt Feb. 1944
Downes heavily damaged, rebuilt Nov. 1943
Helm damaged, repaired Jan. 1942
Cruisers
Helena heavily damaged, repaired June 1942
Honolulu damaged, repaired Jan. 1942
Raleigh heavily damaged, repaired July 1942
Minecraft
Oglala sunk, raised, repaired Feb. 1944
Auxiliaries
Curtis damaged, repaired Jan. 1942
Sotoyomo sunk, raised, repaired Aug.1942
Utah capsized, sunk
Vestal heavily damaged, repaired Feb. 1942
YFD-2 sunk, raised, repaired May 1942
U.S. Aircraft Damage Summary: Lost and Damaged Aircraft
Navy 92 31
Army Air Corps 77 128
from left:
The burned out wreck of a P-40 pursuit aircraft at Wheeler Air Force Base.
Battleship Row under attack by Japanese, December 7, 1941
Three civilians killed while on their way to work by shrapnel from a Japanese bomb.
Ships at Pearl Harbor Lost in World War II
Arizona (BB 39) December 7, 1941
Blue (DD 387) August 23, 1942
Gamble (DM 15) February 18, 1945
Grebe (AM 43) December 5, 1942
Helena (CL 50) July 6, 1943
Henley (DD 391) October 3, 1943
Hull (DD 30) December 18, 1944
Jarvis (DD 393) August 9, 1942
Monaghan (DD 354) December 18, 1942
Neosho (AO 23) May 11, 1942
Oklahoma (BB 37) December 7, 1941
Perry (DMS 17) September 13, 1944
Reid (DD 369) December 11, 1944
Thornton (AVD 11)* May 2, 1945
Tucker (DD 374) August 4, 1942
Utah (AG 16) December 7, 1941
Ward (DD 139) December 7, 1944
Wasmuth (DMS 15)* December 29, 1942
Worden (DD 352)* January 12, 1943
PT 22* January 12, 1943
PT 28* January 12, 1943
Japanese Ships Assigned to "Hawaii Operation"
Akagi June 5, 1942 Midway
Kaga June 4, 1942 Midway
Shokaku June 19, 1942 Philippine Sea
Zuikaku October 25, 1944 Leyte Gulf
Hiryu June 5, 1942 Midway
Soryu June 4, 1942 Midway
Hiei November 13, 1942 Guadalcanal
Kirishima November 15, 1942 Guadalcanal
Chikuma October 25, 1944 Leyte Gulf
Tone July 24, 1945 Kure
Abukuma October 26, 1944 Surgao Strait
Katori February 17, 1944 Truk
Akigumo April 11, 1944 Celbes Sea
Arare July 5, 1942 Aleutians
Hamakaze April 7, 1945 South of Kyushu
Isokaze April 7, 1945 South of Kyushu
Kagero May 8, 1943 Solomons
Kasumi April 7, 1945 South of Kyushu
Sazanami January 14, 1944 Yap
Shiranuhi October 27, 1944 Leyte Gulf
Urakazi November 21, 1944 Formosa
Ushio Surrendered at Yokosuka Naval Base