World War Two was well under way when the Japanese bombed Pearl Habour. It came as a shock to many and is a very reminiscent incident. The event that took place on December 7, 1941 has and always will be a very significant event in American and world history. It shaped the way of the war and left a huge impact on society. Just the name Pearl Harbor brings to mind the infamous day when the United States were forced into World War Two. During the 20?s Japan suffered greatly due to industrial overcapacity and increased competeion in Asia. Japan was left struggling to get back on top and was desperate for ecomonic growth. Also, there was a shortage of foreign food supplies to keep up with their growing population. And, with the Depression in 1931, this desolate country took a major blow, especially in terms of their trading economy. Japan was left with little and was forced to acquire new resources from China. Although times were bad in Japan, they were motivated by their quest for supremecy. In 1931 The Japanese Imperial Army invaded Manchuria and set up a puppet state, Manchuko. The League of Nations comdemned this attack and Japan replied by withdrawing from the League.
By the easy conquest of Manchuria, the Japanese were eager to obtain more. By 1937, they were ready for a full invasion of China. Large areas were occupied along the coast as well as the Hainan Islands in 1939. Meanwhile, plans for war were underway lead by Japanese Admiral Yamamoto. President Roosevelt was beginning to sense the possibility of war and began to ready his armed forces. He increased the U.S defence forces fund by $500 million as he was concerned of German threat as well. Also, by May 1940, Roosevelt ordered the U.S. Pacific Fleet from California to Pearl Habor as a warning to Japan. Relations between these countries had fallen apart and Japan felt it needed reassurance. In September of the same year, Japan joined the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy. This agreement gave them the srength they needed to force major issues with thr U.S. Japan pushed its luck in 1941 when they invaded French Indochina. The U.S. government issued a total trade embargo. All assets were frozen but most harmful was lack of oil. This greatly threatened Japan?s industries as 80 percent of its oil came from the United States. To Japan this was the event that would cause them to realize war was necessary.
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In the 1960s, 1970s or even 1980s, if you ask someone, which countries produce the best wine in the world? They would have said France, Italy or Spain. However, if you ask someone the same question nowadays, the answer would be different. The new wine industry players such as Australia, the United States and Chile are changing the global industry structure, leading the global industry trend, and ...
Yamamoto began devising his master plan- Operation Hawaii. He began his plan in January, 1941. He believed the attack on Pearl Habour was the first step of seizing the oil-rich Netherlands, East Indies and to break the trade embargo. Yamamoto conversed with other Japanese officers and came to the coclusion that an attack on Pearl Habor was possible but would be hard. The Admiral realized though, that he had an advantage over the American Navy. Although they were smaller in size, the U.S. ships were spread throughout the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. It turned out the Japanese had a numerical advantage. And, in the spring of 1941, the German U-boat crisis forced the U.S. to send a quarter of their force to the Pacific Ocean. This was Japan?s opportunity. Yamaoto?s total objective in this battle was to sink all three aircraft carriers, at least four of the nine battleships and to immobilize the fleet for six months up to a year. He hoped to devastate the fleet while the Imperial Army made their move to conquer more territory. He planned his secret attack for December 7, 1941. Yamamoto relied on Japan?s new weapon, the aircraft carrier. 355 planes would take off from 6 aircraft carriers: the first time in history this sort of tactic was used.
It was hoped to take the emeny by surprise. But, a risk was involved since this had never been done before. The Japanese naval fleet consisted of the six aircraft carriers: Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu, Shokaku, Zuikaku, 2 fast battleships, 2 heavy cruisers, 1 light cruiser, 9 destroyers and 3 picket submarines. Also, eight tankers were brought along to refuel the destroyers. The weapon of choice for the ships was the torpedo which was specially improved for this battle. Since this sort of attack was new to the Japanese, Yamamoto was a little uneasy. To ensure success, he brought along 3 submarines to protect the bigger ships. They each carried a two-man battery operated mini sub to just outside of the harbour. They were released in the early morning and sat at the bottom until the battle began. They would then launch their torpedos. The mini-subs were then picked up at night by the mother-subs. The plan for the aerial attack was lead by Lt. Comdr. Fuchida. Fuchida was an obvious choice as he was considered an expert in high-level bombing. He had three planes: Nakajima B5N2 (Kate), Aichi D3A1 (Val), and the superior of the three, Mitsubishi A6M2 (Zero).
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He had planned to attack the U.S. fleet in two waves. In the first wave, Fuchida would send out forty-three Zero?s to shoot down any U.S. fighters that escaped the dive bombers. He also planned to use the Zero to shoot any planes on the ground with 7.7mm machine guns. Twenty-fiveVals would target Wheler Field, seventeen more to Ford Island and nine more at Hickam Field. In the second wave, fifty-four Kates were to concentrate on the bombing of airfields. Twenty-seven Kates, each loaded with a 550 pound bomb were to be sent to Hickam Field, eighteen more to Ford Island and nine to Kanoehe Naval Air Station. Eighty Vals would then dive-bomb undamaged ships. Thirty-six Zero?s also accompanied on the second wave to protect the bombers. In all, Yamamoto believed there were two main components in order for victory: secrecy and surprise. But, this attack was not kept a secret. On January 27, 1941, Joseph Grew, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan found out about the ?secret? plan to attack Pearl Harbour. No one believed his information and in fact thought that the Japanese were planning an attack on Manila instead.
Japan tried once more in November of 1941 to try to lift the embargo with the U.S. and would call of the war if they were successful. The Americans and Japanese did not come to an agreement and the battle was underway. On November 26, the Japanese fleet left home on their journey to Hawaii. Their 4000 mile trip would take 12 days and would prove quite difficult. The winter weather was stormy and the high winds caused several sailors to be swept overboard. But, their voyage was successful and the men were ready for battle as their Admiral said to them: ?The rise or fall of the Empire depends on this battle. Everone will do his duty to the utmost.? (Larry Kimmett, pg.28) On December 7, the ships had anchored 220 miles north of Oahu and prepared for the launching of the planes. At 6:00am, 183 planes launched all within fifteen minutes and only two failed to get into the air. At 7:30, 170 more planes took off for their 90 min fligth to Pearl Habour. The Americans had two early warnings of the attack. At 6:30, a supply ship noticed a small submarine and the captain notified the American destroyer, Ward. The ship hit the sub and then notified the Navy, but the warning was ignored.
The Essay on Why Did The Japanese Attack Pearl Harbor?
The start of the Second Sino-Japanese War, in 1937, generated friction between the Japanese Empire, the United States and the British Empire. The United States and the United Kingdom reacted to the Japanese military actions in China by imposing an embargo on raw metal followed by oil also sent covert military aid to the Kuomintang government. When Japan occupied Indochina, a French colony in 1940, ...
The second warning occured at 7:02am when the Army radar picked up a large formation of planes. They were believed to be B-17?s coming in from California. The Americans again missed a crutial opportunity to prepare themselves for an attack. December 7, 1941 at 7:40 am Fuchida fired a single rocket to signal surprise. Not two minutes later marked the first mistake of the Japanese. The dive-bombers began attacking instead of the slower torpedo planes. Fuchida was very angry and grew even more to see that that the main target was absent. None of the U.S. carriers were in port. The Enterprise followed by three cruisers and nine destroyers were supposed to return to Pearl Harbor at 6:00 am but were delayed by a storm. Every other plan had seemed to go well for the Japanese though and havoc was spread throughout the island. The Americans were indeed surprised and shocked with the attack. They were no where near ready or prepared for this type of battle forced upon them. The Japanese targets, Wheeler Field, Ford Island, Hickam Field, Wheeler Field, Kaneohe Naval Air Station, Ewa Marine Corps Air Station and Bellows Field each suffered tremendous damage. Hickam Field was especially intense as the first wave caused it to turn into flames in just fifteen minutes, and the second left many dead.
The Essay on Were Blundering Politicians The Main Political Cause Of The American Civil War
Discuss the view that the main political cause of the American civil war was the leadership failings of a blundering generation It is felt by many that the main cause of the American civil war was the failings of politicians such as Stephen Douglas, Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. They are considered to have made a series of political blunders, such as Douglass handling of the Kansas - ...
In terms of losses, the Americans were clearly devastated. A lot vessels had been either severly damaged or destroyed. They lost close to 200 planes and over 2000 soldiers and civillians died with almost as many injured. Japan had lost little and had proved victorious. The Japanese had clearly succedeed with what they wanted to happen. One country was left in victory and the other in turmoil. With the end of the battle, the Imperial Army returned home triumphant with their country proud of their victory. Although, some crucial errors were made. The absence of the carriers was a disapointment as it was the purpose of the battle. Also, the Japanese failed to fire at the 4,500,500 barrels of oil around the harbor and left the ship repair facilities intact. This could have caused more severve damage to this ships and in return could not be reapaired with the absence of the repair unit. Nevertheless, Yamamoto and Fuchida were pleased with their devastation of the Americans. It had seemed that the troubles with the U.S were over. The Japanese had once again felt like a surpreme power. With the Pearl Habour victory, they proved to be a capable and strong country to the rest of the world.
But, what they didn?t understand was what the outcome would eventually bring. The Americans were devastated and embarrased by their loss to the Japanese. It was evident that sort of loss was not necessary and could have been avoided. The Americans, Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and Lt. General Walter C. Short were blamed for this horrible tragedy but the whole country was in shame. With their ego to uphold, the Americans felt like they needed revenge. An extreme hate of the Japanese was spread throughout the country and a military rebuttal was in the works. Although the Americans remained neutral for the first part of the war, the Japanese had forced them in. On December 8, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S. declared war. They proved to be a crucial component in the victory of the Allies and part of their success was thanks to Japan. Because of the large amount of battleships lost, the Navy had to depend on their undamaged carriers instead. This was actually a better tactic and helped tremendously in the war. The Americans also used their part in the war as a way to get back at Japan.
The Essay on Atomic Bomb War Japanese Japan
Was it Necessary for the United States to Drop Atomic Bombs on Japan to End World War II The year was 1945. World War II was nearly over. Germany had been defeated and the allied forces were sure to win the war. The only unsure thing was how many lives would be lost in defeating Japan. The United States decided to drop the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. On that day the Enola Gay dropped "Little ...
What Japan thought was a vitorious and profitable day, turned out to be the turning point in their hope for success. Their dreams of supremecy had perished as the day came when the U.S. took their revenge by bombing Hiroshima and later Nagasaki. Japan was left in ruins after the devastating bombing and left their future looking desolate. There are many opinions of the actual outcome of the Pearl Harbor attack. Some believe it was a great victory for Japan, to others a horrible tragedy to the U.S. To me, it signifies the turning point in World War II. Although I don?t believe in war and feel it was wrong for the Japanese to attack Pearl Harbor and especially in turn, the Americans bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it changed history. If the Americans were not forced into the war who knows where we would have been now for they played a significant part in the Allied victory.
It is still important though to remember Pearl Harbor. Many lost thier lives in this battle and although the Americans lost, they fought bravely for their country. December 7 1941 lives in peoples minds as ?The Day of Infamy,? but really it is the day changed the course of history and the world as we knew it.
