Pearl Harbor: Why and How Japan Attacked the U.S.

Human and military losses to the U.S. at Pearl Harbor

Why and how Japan attacked the U.S.

It was a significant victory for the Japanese army. The U.S. had to lick its wounds. Two battleships were completely ruined (USS Oklahoma and USS Arizona). The battleships that needed massive repair works were 6 in total. The U.S. also lost three cruisers. 3 of the nation’s destroyers were also damaged. The U.S. lost 188 army and navy aircraft. 159 aircraft were damaged as well. A significant number of other minor vessels also went under.

The human cost mounted to about 3,400. That figure includes about 2,300 deaths and 1,143 injuries. There were some 68 civilian deaths as well. 35 civilians sustained varying levels of injuries.

Japan’s losses at Pearl Harbor

In total, the Japanese lost about 60 to 100 men. The lost aircraft figure was in the range of 29 to 60. They also lost five midget submarines, and two fleet submarines were grounded. 29 of its aircraft were completely destroyed while 74 sustained damages.  In the first wave, the Japanese were so efficient. Luckily for them, the U.S. was way unprepared for the first attack. As a result of this, only a few men and planes were lost in the first wave of attack. The second wave was where the majority of their losses came from.

The USS aircraft carriers that luckily missed the attack at Pearl Harbor

The USS Enterprise and the USS Lexington were not at the harbor at the time of the attack. Enterprise was at the Wake Island garrison while Lexington was transporting marine dive-bombers. Enterprise could have been at Pearl Harbor had the weather not been bad. Another third aircraft carrier, the USS Saratoga was also not at the harbor during the attack.