Pearl Harbor Attack - Essay Example

Friction between Japan and America had been escalating for several years due to America's annoyance over Japan's brutal war against China. The U.S. provided moral support to China which included: a fateful step to cut off sales of oil, scrap metals, and tin to Japanese industry. Japan didn't own its oil resources, therefore, the leadership sought after lucrative oil fields of the Dutch East Indies in the South. In 1940, Nazi Germany occupied Dutch native soil in Europe. They left Dutch colonies in Asia in a relatively segregated and exposed position (Lee).

Considering American opposition to war with China, the Japanese leader presumed that America would intervene in their attacks on Dutch. U.S. military forces stationed in the Philippines (located between Japan and the Dutch East Indies) and based out of Pearl Harbor posed a huge threat. Therefore, Japan initiated her Pacific War with a "knockout blow" at Pearl Harbor, with subsequent attacks planned for U.S. forces in the Philippines and anywhere else. Japan held similar fears from Britain; therefore, they attacked British forces in Hong Kong, Malaya, and Singapore (Lee).

Japan's major objective was to cripple the American Navy base to keep them from intervening Japanese invasion of the Dutch East Indies (Lee). They wanted to neutralize American power in Pacific Basin for at least six months (Burbeck, 1). Another objective was to get time for Japan to strengthen its position and enhance its navy before losing its chances of victory. Moreover, Japan wanted to blow American morale. To maximize the effect, Japan targeted the most prestigious battleships of the U.S. Navy. The overall objective was to occupy Southeast Asia without any interference (Willmott, 14).

To achieve their goals, the Japanese military crafted a detailed plan in which they took advantage of the information about the U.S. fleet. Such as America Navy's routine to return to its main waterfront at Pearl Harbor every weekend. Other alternate plans included: targeting U.S. fleet units in the Hawaiian Islands and attacking the American fleet's underwater anchorage at Lahaina Roads. The Hawaiian plan was the worst-case scenario since it required the Japanese carrier fleet to fight its way to the attack zone. Major planning of the Pearl Harbor attack was conducted by Commanders Mitsuo Fushida and Minoru Genda. With time, it became clear that war was inevitable in those circumstances. American government continued to get prepared for the war, but they also kept struggling to avoid war (Burbeck, 1).

OPNAV sent a warning to Kimmel's Pearl Harbor command on December 3. It was evident that war is approaching. A great number of the Japanese fleet was moving toward Southeast Asia. Other fleets had left Japan; it seemed that the Japanese Imperial Navy was deploying (Burbeck, 2). The first wave of 183 aircraft was launched in only 15 minutes at 0615. Fuchida flew South over Akagi which was followed by 40 Kate torpedo bombers, 43 fighters, and 49 Kate high-level bombers at 0630. This was a critical attack that committed the Japanese Navy to plunge into the war against the world. First reports of empty anchorage and no American aircraft carriers at the harbor frustrated the Japanese Commander. With no signs of alert, the task became quite clear to the commander. Fuchida confirmed the deployment of a full surprise attack. With a complete hold of the situation, Fuchida relayed a radio message to Japanese Commanders in the Pacific, "Tora, Tora, Tora" which meant that complete surprise is achieved. A few seconds after dropping the first bomb, torpedo bombers arrived to inflict the worst damage. The attack was further enhanced by high-level bombers. Their objective was to drop heavy bombs which were specifically designed to explode battleships and leave no chances to repair the damage (Burbeck, 2).