The Attack on Pearl Harbor In less than three hours, Japanese planes crippled the U.S. Pacific fleet. Images from the raid — and the aftermath

Japanese Motivations for Attack Secure oil supplies and build defenses in the Pacific Have few diplomatic responses to US embargos Japan’s Goals cripple the US fleet Force the US to rebuild Delay the US’s entry into the Pacific theater (Japan’s sphere of influence)

Attack on Pearl Harbor Conflict: World War II, Pacific War Date: December 7, 1941 Location: Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Outcome: Japanese tactical victory Combatants United States of America Empire of Japan Commanders Husband Kimmel --Admiral, U. S. Navy Walter Short -General--U.S. Army Chuichi Nagumo --Admiral, Japanese Imperial Navy Strength 8 battleships 6 cruisers, 29 destroyers 390 planes 9 submarines 6 carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 9 destroyers, 441 planes, 5 midget submarines http://www.historyguy.com/battle_of_pearl_harbor.html

The Attack on Pearl Harbor At 7:58 A.M., the alarm went out: "Air raid, Pearl Harbor. This is not drill!" Later that morning, the magazine of the USS Shaw exploded after being struck by a Japanese bomb. http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/pearlharbor/index.html

Aboard a Japanese carrier before the attack Aboard a Japanese carrier before the attack. Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku hoped that a quick, surprise attack on the U.S. fleet would make the Americans petition for peace, leaving the Pacific open for Japanese expansion

One hundred and eighty-three aircraft took part in the first wave of the Japanese attack: "It was like the sky was filled with fireflies," bomber pilot Abe Zenji recalled. "It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen

At 7:56 A. M. the USS Arizona was rocked by two explosions At 7:56 A.M. the USS Arizona was rocked by two explosions. "The bridge shielded us from the flames," Pfc. James Cory said. "I think that at this moment I wanted to flee, but this was impossible. You're on station, you're in combat."

The wreckage at Pearl Harbor's Naval Air Station after the attack, in which 347 U.S. planes were destroyed or damaged.

The USS West Virginia and the USS Tennessee burn The USS West Virginia and the USS Tennessee burn. "A huge waterspout splashed over the side of the ship and then tumbled down like an exhausted geyser," remembers Japanese commander Matsumura Midori, who fired one of the torpedoes that hit the West Virginia. "What a magnificent sight."

By 9:40 flames on the West Virginia had reached as high as the foretop By 9:40 flames on the West Virginia had reached as high as the foretop. The fires were not brought under control until 4:30 that afternoon

Lt. Comdr. J.F. Thomas beached the sinking USS Nevada in order not to block the only channel leading out of Pearl Harbor

A midget Japanese submarine beached at Bellows Field after the attack A midget Japanese submarine beached at Bellows Field after the attack. U.S. ships detected and sank one of the Japanese subs just hours before the attack

Battleship Row two days after the attack.

The USS Oklahoma. "You did a little praying and thinking things," said Seaman Garlen W. Eslick, who was for a time trapped aboard the ship. "We could hear the boys, some of them, in this one compartment next to us, and they were hollering for help for a good long time. There wasn't anything we could do about it, and then they became quiet. They evidently drowned."

Pictured above: The USS Arizona engulfed in smoke and flames. Pictured right: The USS Oglala. Eighteen ships either sank or were damaged in the harbor.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt responds: “A day that will live in infamy…”

The mass destruction wrought by the surprise attack — 2,403 killed, another 1,178 wounded — turned American popular sentiment firmly behind entering into war with Japan

Combatants Strength Casualties United States of America Empire of Japan Strength 8 battleships, 6 cruisers, 29 destroyers, 390 planes 9 submarines 6 carriers, 2 battleships, 3 cruisers, 9 destroyers, 441 planes, 5 midget submarines Casualties 3,581 military, 103 civilians killed or injured 5 battleships sunk, 3 damaged 3 cruisers sunk 3 destroyers sunk 188 planes destroyed 155 planes damaged 55 airmen killed 9 submariners killed 1 captured 29 planes destroyed 5 midget submarines sunk http://www.historyguy.com/battle_of_pearl_harbor.html