Japanese Attacks on Pearl Harbor - Coursework Example

Japanese Attacks on Pearl Harbor Number: Japanese Attacks on Pearl Harbor US started movement of its vessels in pacific in early years of the 20th century. Situation started deteriorating by Japanese attack of the northern most Chinese province Manchuria in 1931. America protested against Japanese attack on china but Japan continued its venture. Japan launched a full-scale attack on Chinese territory in 1937. Concrete measures were not taken by the big powers to halt Japan’s advance in china due to their interests in Far East Asia. Japan started preparations to attack US navy present in pacific. After the preparations and practice of six months, Japan launched a secret attack on Pearl Harbor Hawaii on 7 December 1941. Besides other reasons, Japan had lost 90% of its oil supply due to American economic sanctions (Borch & Martinez 2005). American navy suffered huge losses as they were taken by surprise. Pearl Harbor resulted in American participation in World War II. On the next day of attack, US declared war against Japan with equal support of American congress. US did not respond as per the requirements because US had already promised Britain support against Germany. Aim of this paper is to study the reasons that compelled Japan to launch a surprise attack on US naval forces in pacific with a view to study American response to Pearl Harbor attack. Japan moved its aircraft carriers for about 4000 miles deep into the ocean to help the air force to take off for launching attack on Pearl Harbor. The dawn of 7 December 1941 witnessed the destruction of American naval fleet at Pearl Harbor. It was a great the in the history of military combats. Japanese air force launched attack in two waves. Japan used six aircraft carries for launching its air force against the US fleet (Clausen & Lee 2001). Japanese air force played havoc in the first wave and caused sudden destruction of American battleships. Total destruction could not be caused as main air craft carriers of American naval forces were sailing hundred miles away from the Pearl Harbor. Commander Mitsuo led the attack on Pearl Harbor. Attack caused 3500 hundred death and wound injuries to American troops. Eight main battleships including USS Arizona were destroyed in the attack (Borch & Martinez 2005). US Arizona got blasted because of fire in ammunition magazine of the ship and then sunk in a short time. There were numerous objectives behind Japanese attack on pacific fleet. Main reasons of attack were as under. US president Roosevelt had imposed economic and military sanctions on Japan in retaliation to Chinese invasion by Japan American continuously warned Japan to end the war in China through peaceful negotiations (Prange, et al 1988). All exports of oil, robber and iron were banned on Japan. This started severely damaging economy of Japan. Japan could no longer bear the crippling effects of American sanctions on it s economy and military. Sanctions put real strain on oil supply to Japan as Japan lost more than 90% of oil supplies due to crippling sanctions (Clausen & Lee 2001). These American sanctions filled hatred for Americans in the hearts of Japanese and they started preparing for teaching America a bitter lesson in Pearl Harbor. Breakout of Second World War cleared the western intentions towards Japan. Japanese government had noticed western hostilities towards its territory (Wohlstetter 1962). This made Japan more vigilant for its security in the region. Japan never wanted its forces to withdraw from China. US were pressing hard to start negotiations with Chinese authorities to end the conflict. Japan was not ready to take serious notice of American protest against the invasion of China. Japan was keen in expanding its borders for economic needs (Morison 2001). US never wanted expansion of Japan because of its own vested interests in the region. Japan also adopted the diplomatic way to convince US but US did not agree on Japan’s terms. Japan wanted its territorial expansion in Asia, free of American interference. Huge American navy was a greatest threat to Japan’s influence in the area. Therefore, Japan never wanted presence of American fleets in pacific. Development of Pearl Harbor as strong American base in the pacific was again viewed with concern by Japanese government. Japan wanted to hurt America at such a place from where it could not recover (Borch & Martinez 2005). Japan could not declare the war on America as it was not possible for Japan to destroy such a large navy without surprise. For the same reason, Japan launched surprise attack on American fleet in order to demoralize the American forces. Surprise attack was the only option available for destruction of US forces in order to gain time for military and political campaigns. Japan wanted destruction of American forces to suppress American will to face Japan in the battlefield (Clausen & Lee 2001). Japan believed capability of its air force in destruction of American naval fleets. Japan launched a cracking attack to put a question mark on American stability and existence (Prange, et al 1988). Another reason of attack was to cripple US navy at Pearl Harbor to avoid American intervention in the Japanese conquest of Dutch East Indies including the western pacific and Philippines (Morison 2001). American navy had also threatened Japan’s approach to western pacific for oil. Japan wanted to build defensive parameters and to gain time for facing remainder of American navy. Japan remained successful in gaining time for making the defense strong against the American navy (Borch & Martinez 2005). Japan never wanted total destruction of American navy in the pacific, as it was not possible. Therefore, Japan’s success rate is satisfactory. Japan wanted destruction of US forces in order to start the negotiation process with the US (Clausen & Lee 2001). Negotiation process with US would help Japan to avoid American aggression in the region. Two Ocean navy acts of 1940 were taken as a major threat to existence of Japanese naval forces. Japan wanted naval domination in the area. Japan gained her control over the Philippine, Indonesia, Guiana, Solomon Island, Guam and other strategic regions after the attack on Pearl Harbor (Wohlstetter 1962). Japan was also aiming to get some part of Alaska, which it got soon after the war. Japan’s reasons were solid but it could not damage much of the American naval forces in the pacific. Japan managed to achieve some very important objectives after the battle was over. Japan tactfully visualized American post war efforts and prepared accordingly (Borch & Martinez 2005). American response to the attack was shock and disbelief. American forces could not believe a large-scale surprise air attack by Japanese air force. Distance traversed by aircraft carriers for waging attack was unbelievable for Americans. Just after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor a group of B-25 took off to from Oregon base to cause some damage to Japanese air force but could not find any enemy machine in the air of Pearl Harbor (Clausen & Lee 2001). American response to Pearl Harbor attacks was a bit slow due to various reasons. Main reason was the rebuilt of its destroyed battleships and second was US president’s commitment to Britain for provision of forces against Germany. President Roosevelt remained successful in uniting the divided nation for a national cause. Complete nation supported the decision of war against the empire of Japan. American president Roosevelt delivered his famous speech labeled as “a date which will live in infamy” (Morison 2001). Complete senate voted for war against Japan. President Roosevelt declared war with Japan in a joint session of congress. Germany and Italy declared war against US just after three days of Pearl Harbor attack. Thus, US fully got involved in the World War II at the end of 1941 (Prange, et al 1988). Japan continued it success in pacific war by landing at manila in 1942. Japanese forces forced American forces to surrender in May 1942 and number of American soldiers were made prisoners (Wohlstetter 1962). This was not acceptable to American nation including President Roosevelt because it was matter of loosing American prestige in the pacific. President was under great pressure as he had committed availability of troops to Britain for her campaign against Germany (Clausen & Lee 2001). Finally, surrender was accepted by the US and more emphasis was laid on making a defensive triangle by incorporating Alaska, Hawaii and Panama. It did not take much time for America to recover from the blows of Japanese forces in Pearl Harbor and then at Manila. US aircraft carriers did a great job in summers of 1942. Aircraft carries delivered long distant blows on the Japanese naval forces in the famous battles of the Coral Sea and the Midway (Morison 2001). Pearl Harbor attacks will be remembered as a remarkable event of war history. American fleets were taken by total surprise. They could believe the Japanese presence in the airs of Pearl Harbor. Surprise did help Japan to succeed in the attacks. Japan was able gain time for its defense (Borch & Martinez 2005). Japan also managed to achieve certain objectives set prior to attack. On the other side, American president delivered memorable speech, which united the divided nation against the Japan. American response was a bit slow as America was unable to recover from the catastrophe. American navy finally managed to deliver hard blows from aircraft carriers on to the Japanese navy. Bibliography Borch, Frederic L. and Martinez, Daniel. Kimmel, Short, and Pearl Harbor: the final report revealed. New York: Naval Institute Press, 2005. Clausen, Henry C. and Lee, Bruce. Pearl Harbor: Final Judgment. London: HarperCollins, 2001. Morison, Samuel Eliot. History of United States Naval Operations in World War II: The rising sun in the Pacific, 1931-April 1942. Illinois: University of Illinois Press, 2001. Prange, Gordon William; Goldstein, Donald M. and Dillon, Katherine V. December 7, 1941: The Day the Japanese Attacked Pearl Harbor. London: McGraw-hill, 1988. Wohlstetter, Roberta. Pearl Harbor: Warning and Decision. London: Stanford University Press: 1962. Read More