Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, December 7 1941

Japanese Navy attacks Pearl Harbour
7th December 1941

The attack on Pearl Harbour was part of the Imperial Japanese Navy’s surprise military attacks ‘Hawaii Operation’ or ‘Operation Al’ on the U.S Pacific Fleet. Intended to disable the U.S from interfering with Japan’s invasions into South-East Asia in order to attack the territories of England and the Netherlands to win the war quickly, the attacks resulted in the US declaring war on Japan thereby bringing the U.S into World War Two.

The Attack on Pearl Harbour consisted of 353 Japanese fighters, bombers and torpedo planes in 2 waves launched from 6 aircraft carriers. During the attack all 8 U.S Navy battleships were damaged, with four being sunk. Six of the ships were later repaired and returned to service in the war. The Japanese also successfully destroyed or damaged 3 destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship, a minelayer, 3 cruisers and 188 aircraft. There was also major life loss during the attack with, 2,402 Americans killed and 1,282 wounded.

The Japanese were impacted lightly during the attack with 29 aircraft and 5 midget submarines lost, 65 men wounded or killed and 1 captured, but this would all change when the U.S responded.



The next day the 8th of August 1941 the U.S declared war on Japan and made its entry into W.W.II and huge turning point in the war. The following operations by the U.S prompted Germany and Italy to declare war on the U.S on the 11th of December.

The fact that the U.S had now entered the war and joined the Allied Forces resulted in a huge turn of power in the Allies favour. U.S commitment to the war contributed greatly and caused the defeat of the Axis Powers.

For this reason the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour had a huge impact on the world causing the entry of the U.S into W.W.II, the rise of the Allied Forces and defeat of the Axis Powers and in effect the world as it is today. As a result the world did not become controlled by the Fascists.